Antiques: When to restore them yourself, when to call the pros

How to know whether you should you tackle a job yourself, call the professionals — or leave well enough alone

An easy up-cycle that’s just as easily undone. Paint detailing to the splat of a commonplace British mid-century chair made in the tens of thousands. Annie Sloan Green Mid Century Chairs Painted In Chalk Paint, Pattern Made Using Detail Brushes. anniesloan.com

For all its sustainable merit, over the last 20 years, up-cycling took a rude bike ride over the charms of millions of pieces of old furniture and objects. These vintage oddities are starting to drift through auctions. Rain grey, paint-job antiques — not all of it reads well.

Since the 1980s, late Victorian furniture has been regularly gutted, sawn up and repurposed for its ornamental parts. There’s no law against this imaginative play. You can find your own materials — dilapidated “as is” buys at auction in the outer rooms of the sale — often left for the last bids of the day (that covers most of my household ballast).