Make Do and Mend: Introducing Our Renovate and Repair Service
My grandad always professed to be a rich man. He wasn’t, at least not in the way most people define wealth. He was rich because he, as he put it, "straightened nails and untied knots in string." If something couldn’t be repaired, repurposed, or salvaged for parts, only then would he consider letting it go. After all, he had spent his hard-earned money on it in the first place.
The make-do-and-mend ethos wasn’t a trend for his generation; it was a way of life. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of watching him at work, crafting meticulous repairs with steady hands. I was his helper, his apprentice in the art of restoration, rummaging through boxes selecting the perfect screw. Those moments shaped me, instilling a love for craftsmanship and a deep respect for the things we own.
I carry that philosophy with me today. It feels not just right, but necessary. The gate to our cottage, pictured above, bears my own visible repair—my version of Kintsugi, the Japanese tradition of mending broken pottery with gold, celebrating rather than concealing the imperfection.
At Pilgrim House, we don’t just craft new furniture—we breathe new life into the old. In between projects, we repair vintage and antique pieces, uncovering the techniques and materials of generations past. Many of these pieces have been repaired countless times before, each mend adding to their story. The idea of disposable furniture simply didn’t exist then. Repairs were made with ingenuity and whatever materials were at hand, often creating something even more beautiful in the process. Where appropriate, we honour that tradition, making repairs visible—an artistic testament to longevity. Fortunately, our clients share this love of story telling, seeing each repair as a continuation of a piece’s history.
When I founded Pilgrim House, I was determined to create furniture designed to wear in, not out. We don’t believe in disposable design. Instead, we believe in getting more life out of what we already have. And we’re inspired by brands that share this ethos - like Patagonia, which offers a repair service for its clothing, and Vola, the Danish tap manufacturer that has kept spare parts for every model it has ever produced since 1968.
In that same spirit, we are proud to introduce our Renovate and Repair Service. For our products, we offer replacement parts on a non-profit basis, along with a redecoration service for if your colour preferences change, and a refresh service - because well-made furniture deserves a long and storied life.
Imagine this: years from now, someone carefully restoring a Pilgrim House cabinet, adding another chapter to its journey, ensuring it lives on for another generation. That’s the future we believe in.
