Here at Kipper we pride ourselves on our workmanship and in particular on the methods of our craft. When we think of carpentry we think of the carpenter, pencil lodged behind his ear working for hours lovingly preparing his furniture for the final stage, the polish. We see him using strange Victorian tools, brown glass bottles with stoppers and many other implements until finally he creates a work of art ready for any grand dining room. Unfortunately today, the art of carpentry is being reduced more and more to production style pieces, so that the workshop resembles a car factory more than a carpenter's workshop.

At Kipper, we actively promote the craft of woodwork and quality handcrafted workmanship. All our pieces are hand made and finished with attentive loving care and an innate understanding for the material that cannot be achieved with production line techniques.

French polish is considered by the majority of woodworkers to be the ultimate in wood finishing. It is synonymous with high quality furniture the world over and as a technique it is a must know for any antique restorer worth their salt. At Kipper we pride ourselves on our knowledge of this, the Rolls Royce of finishes.

Kipper was founded in 1996 by Niall Bourke, who learned his trade under a master of the craft in England, restoring and polishing antiques in the homes of the British aristocracy. Niall is originally from Limerick, Ireland, but now makes his home in California, U.S.A.

If you have any questions you can email us or contact us by phone at 310 313 4000.