Brad Hughes Inc.
1982-2001 I owned and operated Brad Hughes, Inc. furniture restoration and repair. In 1980 I moved back to Charlottesville to work for the C&O Railroad. It was good money and work but I had problems with some people I worked with. Several looked down on my Vietnam service and I was called different names. My hobby at that time was refinishing furniture. I rented a small shop and started working on furniture. It worked out well so I decided to quit the railroad. I went from a small sop of 400 squ. ft. to 1800 squ. ft. At about that time, a salesman for restoration supplies came in my shop. He was very helpful to me. He explained I needed a system and had the supplies that made easy what I was doing the hard way. His company also offered several classes on how to use there products to restore damaged furniture.
This experience brought a whole wealth of knowledge. I learned about furniture finishes, what damages a finish, how to care for a finish and how to repair a damaged furniture finish without a complete refinish job. This company offered a in-home furniture repair kit which I purchased. Then, I was able to do many in-home furniture repairs which lead to moving damage repairs for many moving companies.
With this knowledge, I began to donate time teaching classes on restoration, refinishing and furniture care. I would most often begin a class with a magic trick. The point being, if you knew a few tricks about furniture, you could do good things for the furniture in your home.
In 1989, I went on a tour of Ashlawn-Highland, home of Pres. James Monroe. I could not but help notice all the furniture that needed work so I called Jim Wooten, curator. I asked about working on the furniture to which he replied, "We have no budget for furniture restoration, just trying to stabilize things". To which I replied I was willing to donate some time. After working on the furniture there for some time, the local newspaper wrote a rather large piece on what I was doing with pictures. Later, the newspaper called asking if I would like to take a try at writing a monthly column. This lead to years writing columns and a book on furniture restoration.
I always wanted to be the biggest and the best. Whenever I had some extra money, I invested it in new tools or supplies. I went from a little one man shop to 5 employees and 3800 squ. ft. What I didn't understand till years later was all this changed me in many ways. From my hobby to a business, I was now having to turn about $300,000 a year to meet expenses and make a living. My life became furniture restoration and all the joy was slowly being taken away. Sadly, at the end, I closed the business and have not worked on another piece of furniture for almost 10 years now.
Four years wrote a monthly column for The Charlottesville Observer.
One year wrote a monthly column for The Daily Progress.
One year wrote a month column for Collector Magazine.
One year, weekly internet chat, American Woodworker
1993 published a book, Complete Guide to Restoring Wood Furniture and Cabinets.
Furniture Restorer, Ashlawn-Highlawn, home of Pres. James Monroe
Chair sat on in 1824 by Marquis de Lafayette in 1824 on his final visit.
Restored furniture owned by Pres. James Madison, Charles Dickens, Harry Houdini, The Rotunda, Uva.
