Fifty Three Restorations, inc.

Fifty Three Restorations, inc. Fifty Three Restorations restores, reconstructs, and rehabilitates historic and traditional architectural woodwork.

Our work can focus on an entire building or a single element such as a doorway, a staircase or a window. We love the challenge of an elliptical staircase and enjoy the simple beauty of a clapboard facade. Successful historic restoration demands attention to details. Each project offers a unique experience which requires versatile approaches and a daily commitment to learning. We excel and love the

ever-changing nature of restoration work. Historic interiors are reconstructed; moldings are matched; handrails carved; facades & cornices are restored; hardware is reconditioned & repaired; and wood windows are carefully disassembled and restored to their original conditions. Fifty Three Restorations offers a wide range of services associated with our trade. We fabricate and install new & historic architectural woodwork. This work includes but is not limited to wood framing, panel & case work, stair buildings, carvings, finishing and custom millwork fabrication and installation. For more than 30 years, Fifty Three Restorations has been providing thoughtfully executed craftsmanship and top tier service. We have worked at many iconic landmark buildings in New York City and throughout the northeast. Notable projects include work at The Cloisters, Gracie Mansion, The Woolworth Chapel at Woodlawn Cemetery, The Frick Collection, The Wagner Free Institute of Philadelphia, The Sandy Hook Coast Guard Station, Belvedere Castle & The Dairy in Central Park and many more. In addition to our public & commercial work, we bring the same high level of craftsmanship & service to residential projects. Inquiries and consultation requests can be sent to [email protected] or please call (212) 566-1053. We look forward to collaborating with you on your next restoration project.

These benches have witnessed generations of New Yorkers and Visitors — now it’s their turn for a new chapter.We’re proud...
06/15/2026

These benches have witnessed generations of New Yorkers and Visitors — now it’s their turn for a new chapter.

We’re proud to begin work on the restoration of the benches surrounding the Naumburg Bandshell, having been entrusted with the project by the Central Park Conservancy.

Originally restored more than 3 decades ago, many of the benches had fallen into disrepair. The white oak backs had suffered significant loss, decorative floral carvings had begun to disappear, and many of the seat slats were damaged, missing, or no longer safe for use.

These early photos highlight the beginning stages of the project — careful disassembly, evaluation, and milling — as we begin the process of bringing these historic benches back to life.

At this stage, we’re keeping the details close to the chest, but we’re honored to be trusted with such an important piece of the park’s history. We look forward to sharing more about the materials, methods, and incredible collaborators involved as the project progresses.


Good restoration has a way of supporting you without drawing attention to itself.(Be sure to check out the last video to...
06/01/2026

Good restoration has a way of supporting you without drawing attention to itself.

(Be sure to check out the last video to see our final product)

Recently, we completed stabilization work on an original stair railing in a 100-year-old home in Tarrytown.

Over time, movement and wear had compromised the connection between the balusters and the railing, particularly around the volute where generations of hands had naturally placed the most stress on the assembly.

To strengthen the railing while preserving its historic fabric, each baluster was carefully removed and reinforced with a 1/2-inch dowel extending approximately 1 1/2 inches into the wood. Additional blocking was installed beneath the stair landing, and new dowels were added at the base of each baluster to tie the assembly securely into the new structure below.

The completed repair is largely hidden from view, which is exactly the point. Thoughtful restoration isn't always about what you can see — sometimes it's about ensuring another generation can safely enjoy what is already there.


Some techniques stay alive because someone took the time to teach them.This week in the shop, we’re working on a veneere...
05/07/2026

Some techniques stay alive because someone took the time to teach them.

This week in the shop, we’re working on a veneered ceiling panel for the Tack Room at the Carriage House of the Jay Heritage Center. The panel will replace a damaged section within the room’s coffered ceiling, helping return another piece of the space back to its original rhythm and character.

For this work, we’re using a vacuum press. While the tool itself may not seem particularly remarkable, it’s a process and piece of equipment that was taught to us by Rob Feldner.

Rob was one of the most talented men to ever walk through our shop doors. His knowledge ranged from fine woodworking and machinery to joinery, drafting, and construction as a whole. He had an incredible ability to understand not just how something went together, but why it was built that way in the first place.

Much of restoration work is built on knowledge passed from one generation of craftsmen to the next. Techniques survive because someone is willing to share them, teach them, and trust others to carry them forward. This is the first time this press has been used since Rob’s passing, and it serves as a reminder that craftsmanship is more than the finished work — it’s also the people who leave their knowledge behind in the hands of others.

This panel is just one small part of a much larger restoration, but it carries with it the memory of someone who helped shape the way we work.


Residential Building, Manhattan, NYC 2026Built to match the past — and last into the future.We started with careful fiel...
04/21/2026

Residential Building, Manhattan, NYC 2026

Built to match the past — and last into the future.

We started with careful field measurements of the existing doors — believed to be original — working alongside to replicate and replace them with precision.

The leaded glass panels were removed, restored, and reinstalled into the new doors, preserving a key part of the original character while strengthening the overall assembly.

Extensive corrosion at the metal jamb was addressed by , while additional restoration work by our team included new peripheral weatherstripping and a threshold in architectural bronze.

The installation was completed with a new hardware package, thoughtfully designed around the original Norwalk rabbeted lock body.

Projects like this rely on strong collaboration and shared attention to detail — and we’re proud to have worked alongside a great team to bring it all together.

(doors)
(metal jamb repairs)
(leaded glass restoration)
Simons Hardware (hardware consultants)


We’re bending the rules — this one couldn’t wait until Thursday.Looking back at a project we completed in early 2020 at ...
04/15/2026

We’re bending the rules — this one couldn’t wait until Thursday.

Looking back at a project we completed in early 2020 at Belvedere Castle.

Perched high above the landscape, this iconic structure has served as both a scenic lookout and a working weather station since the 19th century. Designed to capture some of the most striking views in Central Park, it blends function and ornament — a reminder that even utilitarian spaces can be built with intention and beauty.

This project remains one of our favorites. Every angle of the structure offers something different, and being part of its ongoing preservation was an experience we’re proud to be part of.

Sometimes it’s worth revisiting the work — not just to see where we’ve been, but to appreciate the places that continue to stand the test of time.


Holding it together, one bowtie at a time.Out at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we recently completed restoration work on ...
03/19/2026

Holding it together, one bowtie at a time.

Out at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we recently completed restoration work on a pair of black locust log benches.

Over time, natural splitting had begun to open up through the logs. To stabilize and preserve them, we installed bowties and large Dutchman repairs — carefully laid out and fitted to stop the movement while respecting the original form of the benches.

The photos show the process: from layout to installation, each repair is cut, fit, and finished by hand. The benches are left to age naturally, allowing the material to continue developing its patina with the surrounding environment.

A big thank you to the team at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for trusting us with this work.


A clear view of what careful craftsmanship can do.These casement windows were carefully brought back to life by strippin...
03/16/2026

A clear view of what careful craftsmanship can do.

These casement windows were carefully brought back to life by stripping them down to nearly bare wood, performing Dutchman repairs where needed, and rebuilding the finish from the ground up.

We installed new glass with traditional glazing putty, gently polished the original hardware to preserve its natural patina, and reinstalled the original metal weather stripping to keep everything working as intended.

While we’ll eventually be installing new windows and doors from Hirschman Windows & Doors throughout the residence once they complete production, restoring these original casements ensures the historic character of the home continues to shine in the meantime.


Just another day at the office — if your office smells like sawdust.Back in the shop this week building a custom set of ...
03/04/2026

Just another day at the office — if your office smells like sawdust.

Back in the shop this week building a custom set of shutters for a client’s home in Brooklyn.

These are constructed with floating panel joinery and custom-built louver sections — designed to move properly, breathe with the seasons, and stand the test of time. Every joint, every profile, and every detail is carefully executed before these pieces ever leave the bench.

A lot of craftsmanship happens long before installation day.

More to come once these shutters make their way to their new home.


Some stories deserve to slide back into view.For the past few months at the Jay Heritage Center, we’ve been focused on t...
02/12/2026

Some stories deserve to slide back into view.

For the past few months at the Jay Heritage Center, we’ve been focused on the two monumental pocket doors that divide the carriage house.

Each door stands nearly 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide, weighs over 500 pounds, and is constructed with mahogany book-matched veneer panels. Though they share the same opening, their stories were very different.

One door — a screen door that hadn’t seen daylight in decades — was carefully hand cleaned, stripped of its failing finish, and refinished with multiple coats of shellac made in-house and applied by brush.

Its sister panel door required far more intervention. Years of water damage had caused the veneer to fail. We removed the deteriorated veneer, reglued the cores, rebuilt sections of the bottom rail that had rotted away, and applied species-accurate mahogany veneer. The panels were carefully colored and finished to match not only the restored screen door, but also the ceiling we recently completed in the space.

From unearthing these doors from their pockets to seeing them fully restored, this has been one of the most rewarding chapters of our work at the Carriage House.

Swipe through to see the transformation. A remarkable before and after.


We’re brushing history back to life at the Jay Heritage Center.We’re deep into the finishing stages of our work at the J...
01/14/2026

We’re brushing history back to life at the Jay Heritage Center.

We’re deep into the finishing stages of our work at the Jay Heritage Center, hand brushing a few coats of shop-made shellac across more than 3,000 square feet of ceiling and over 250 linear feet of architectural crown molding, all crafted from Honduran mahogany, including the beautifully exposed pocket doors. Each coat is carefully brushed on to bring depth and warmth back to the wood while honoring the historic fabric of the space.

Our work here follows the spirit of The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, which emphasize retaining historic materials, finishes, and craftsmanship, and using the gentlest means possible when treatment is required. These principles guide every decision we make on site — from material selection to application technique.

Being part of this long-term project has been both a responsibility and a privilege. Every brush stroke, every molding profile, and every restored surface plays a role in preserving the character and story of this remarkable place. The client requested we keep some of the original finish on the ceiling to show the contrasting before and after, which you can see in one of the last photos.

More to come as we continue our work at this incredible site. (PS: last photo is a preview of the second pocket door, we are currently re-veneering.)


Address

3816 Skillman Avenue
New York, NY
11101

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 3pm
Tuesday 7am - 3pm
Wednesday 7am - 3pm
Thursday 7am - 3pm
Friday 7am - 3pm

Telephone

+17187864371

Website

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