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Why certain hardwoods hold up better in Tokyo’s humidity, and how we prepare joints accordingly.
Read MoreTokyo Home Workshop
Furniture Restored, Built to Last
Lagoon Ember repairs what others discard and builds new pieces meant to outlast trends — furniture restoration, custom woodworking, and in-house metalworking under one roof.
Who We Are
Craft, patience, and a workshop that never sleeps
Lagoon Ember began as a single home workbench and grew into a full restoration and woodworking practice. We repair what others discard and build new pieces meant to outlast trends — solid joinery, honest materials, and a respect for the tools of the trade.
12+
Years at the Bench
480
Pieces Restored
96%
Repeat Clients
2–6
Weeks per Project
What We Do
Full-service workshop capabilities
From a wobbly antique chair to a full dining set, we handle every stage of restoration and fabrication under one roof. The result is furniture that feels considered in the hand, dependable in daily use, and easy to care for years from now.
Furniture Restoration
We stabilize loose joints, replace tired hardware, and repair damaged surfaces before choosing a finish. Every intervention is documented so the original character remains visible rather than covered up.
Custom Woodworking
We translate room measurements, sketches, and everyday habits into useful furniture. Solid timber is selected for stability, then shaped with joinery that can be maintained instead of discarded.
Metalworking
Our metal bench handles table bases, brackets, handles, and repairs that need more than an off-the-shelf part. We measure twice, weld cleanly, and finish steel to sit comfortably beside the wood.
Joinery & Assembly
Joinery is chosen for the load, the grain, and the history of each piece. Where a traditional joint is the right answer, we make it visible; where a discreet reinforcement helps, we hide it with care.
Our Process
Every project, handled with the same care
A careful restoration is not a rush from damage to finish. It is a sequence of small decisions that protect the object, explain the cost, and make the final result feel inevitable.
01
Assessment & Consultation
We inspect the piece or your design brief in person or by photo, and discuss material, timeline, and budget.
02
Disassembly & Stripping
Old finishes, hardware, and failing joints are carefully removed and catalogued before rebuilding begins.
03
Structural Repair & Build
Joinery is repaired or fabricated from scratch, with any metal components welded and fitted to size.
04
Finishing & Delivery
Sanding, staining, and sealing bring out the grain, then the finished piece is delivered or ready for pickup.
Inside the Workshop
A look at the bench
The workshop is where plans become touchable. Wood, steel, finish, and patience meet in a sequence of visible decisions that gives every piece its own record.
Hand-Sanded Restoration
Every restored surface is finished by hand to preserve original grain and character.
In-House Metalworking
Steel bases and brackets are welded and finished on site for durable, custom-fit hardware.
How It Works
From first photo to finished piece
You always know what happens next. We keep the work legible, from the first inspection through the final wipe of oil and the handover at your door.
1
Send Details
Share photos or drawings of your piece, or your idea for a custom build.
2
Get a Quote
We review scope, materials, and timeline, then send a clear written estimate.
3
We Build
Your piece is restored or built at the bench, with progress photos along the way.
4
Pickup or Delivery
Collect from our Shinjuku workshop or arrange local delivery once complete.
From the Workshop
Ready-made pieces
A small selection of finished work available now. Custom commissions follow the same materials and craftsmanship.
Solid Oak Dining Table
Full solid oak top with blackened steel hairpin legs, eased edges, and a finish chosen for everyday meals. Seats six comfortably and arrives ready to become the room’s anchor.
¥168,000 Enquire
Restored Antique Armchair
The original frame is opened, tightened, and refinished without sanding away its age. A new leather seat gives the chair a quiet second life at the desk, dining table, or reading corner.
¥52,000 Enquire
Steel & Wood Wall Shelf
A compact storage piece with a strong silhouette and useful depth. Reclaimed timber brings warmth to the blackened frame, while the open shelves keep books, ceramics, and tools within reach.
¥38,000 Enquire
Handmade Tool Cabinet
Built for the tools that make the work possible, with drawers sized for planes, bits, and small hardware. Solid walnut and brass pulls give the cabinet enough presence to live outside the workshop.
¥94,000 Enquire
Why Lagoon Ember
Built the way furniture used to be built
Good furniture earns its place through repairable construction, honest materials, and details that become more familiar with use. That is the standard behind every commission we accept.
- Solid joinery over glue and staples — pieces are meant to be repaired again, not replaced.
- Materials sourced and matched by hand for grain, tone, and structural soundness.
- In-house metalworking means hardware fits the piece, not the other way around.
- Small batch size — every project gets full attention at the bench.
Case Study
A grandmother’s writing desk, rebuilt
A family piece does not need to look new to work beautifully again. This restoration kept the marks that told its story while rebuilding the parts that made daily use unsafe.
Meiji-era Writing Desk
A client brought in a writing desk with a cracked top, three missing drawer joints, and decades of failing lacquer. We rebuilt the joinery from scratch, matched the original wood tone, and reinforced the legs with hidden steel brackets — returning it to daily use without losing its character.
Timeline: 5 weeks · Result: Fully restored, structurally reinforced, original finish preserved.
By the Numbers
A decade of work at the bench
Numbers matter here because each one represents a chair someone kept, a table someone gathered around, or a custom piece that solved a real problem at home.
480+
Restorations
210
Custom Builds
12
Years Running
96%
Client Satisfaction
Client Words
What people say about the work
The best measure of a restoration is what happens after delivery: the chair gets used, the table gathers people, and the owner stops worrying about what might break next.
“Our dining table came back looking better than the day it was bought new. The joinery is rock solid.”
Haruki M.“They rebuilt my grandmother’s chair without losing a single detail of the original design.”
Sana T.“Custom shelving unit fit our awkward alcove perfectly. Steel and wood work is excellent.”
Kenji O.Frequently Asked
Common questions
A few practical answers before you bring a piece through the workshop door. If your question is more specific, send a photo and we will take a closer look.
How long does a typical restoration take?
Most restorations take two to six weeks depending on the extent of the damage, materials required, and current workshop load.
Can you match an existing wood finish?
Yes. We hand-mix stains and finishes to match existing tone and sheen wherever the goal is to preserve original character.
Do you build fully custom furniture?
Yes, custom tables, cabinets, and shelving are built to your dimensions using solid wood and, where needed, welded steel components.
Do you offer pickup and delivery?
Pickup from our Nishi-Shinjuku workshop is always available, and local delivery in Tokyo can be arranged for larger pieces.
Trusted Suppliers
Materials we rely on
We work with suppliers who can explain where their material came from, how it was stored, and what it will do once it becomes part of your furniture.
Tokyo Timber Co.
Nishijin Steel Works
Shinjuku Hardware
Kanto Lumber Supply
Service Rates
Simple, transparent pricing
Every estimate separates assessment, materials, workshop time, and delivery so you can make a clear decision before the first cut or repair begins.
Assessment
¥5,000- In-person or photo inspection
- Written repair estimate
- Material recommendation
Restoration
From ¥28,000- Structural repair & joinery
- Refinishing & hardware
- 2–6 week turnaround
Custom Build
From ¥60,000- Design consultation
- Solid wood & steel fabrication
- Delivery available
From the Bench
Notes on the craft
Short field notes from a working bench: material choices, repair decisions, and the small techniques that make a finished piece feel quietly right.
Welding Steel Bases for Wood Tables
A look at how we fabricate and finish steel table legs to pair with solid wood tops.
Read MoreReviving a Century-Old Finish
The process behind matching lacquer tone on a Meiji-era cabinet without stripping its history.
Read MoreGet In Touch
Bring us your project
Workshop Address
2-11-9 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Phone
+81 78-331-5729
studio@lagoonember.example
Workshop Hours
Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 18:00