Why calathea?

The name Calathea is very special.

Calathea is a very graphic green plant, native to South America, in the virgin forests of Amazonia.

At sunrise, the leaves open to capture the light. They close in the evening and the plant thus saves its energy.

This is how it symbolizes hope and a "new beginning". This comes from the English expression "to turn a leaf" literally "to turn the leaf", which would translate into French as "to turn the page".

It symbolizes the new life of your furniture but also this journey which led me to cabinetmaking today.

the creator

After a career in business management and several years spent in merchandising, I felt an irresistible need to work with my own hands and devote myself to creative and technical projects.

I naturally gravitated towards the profession of cabinetmaker, to combine my desire to discover professional techniques with my passion for furniture and decoration. Aware that excellence in this field requires rigorous training, I decided to follow a serious and professional course in Revel.

Today, with this expertise, I develop my desires and techniques during creative projects.

Sèverine Vidal

Calathea cabinetmaking, a know-how

Founded by Sèverine, who holds a vocational certificate in artistic cabinetmaking from the IMARA school (Institut des Métiers d'Art et l'Artisanat d'Art) in Revel (31) and trained in a workshop specializing in the restoration of period furniture, our workshop guarantees you quality service.

At Calathéa, each furniture restoration, repair or modernization project is handled with meticulous precision.

Respectful and Ethical Know-How
Furniture restoration is a delicate process that requires a commitment to ethical rules. We not only respect the past history of each piece of furniture, but we also ensure a sustainable future history. Each piece is carefully analyzed and treated with materials and techniques that honor its past while meeting contemporary requirements.

Why Choose Atelier Calathéa?

Professionalism: With specialized training and extensive experience in artistic cabinetmaking, we provide quality services.
Respect for Heritage: We preserve the history and integrity of each piece of furniture while giving it a new life.
Ethical Approach: We apply restoration methods that respect ethical rules and environmental requirements.

Entrust your furniture to Atelier Calathéa for expert restoration or makeover, and let us transform your pieces while preserving their unique history.

The techniques used

techniques in furniture restoration and renovation

After studying the condition of your furniture, its treatment against wood-eating insects will be carried out either by injection and impregnation in the workshop or by anoxia with certified service providers. This will be determined during the Quote.

The veneers and marquetry are glued back together with animal glue. This animal glue, made from a mixture of bone and nerve, has the property of allowing reversible gluing. The direction of the grain and the geometry of the veneer are respected.

A broken part, a cracked frame, a drawer that doesn't open properly? All the elements of your furniture will be inspected and repaired.

The marquetry can tear or peel off. Depending on the condition of the marquetry, I will work by simple grafting and re-gluing or by complete detachment and leveling of the surfaces of the frame and the marquetry.

Depending on the condition of your furniture, cleaning and stretching of the original varnish or very fine sanding followed by filling and polishing with a French polish will be carried out.

Cleaning bronzes or gilded bronzes will be carried out using appropriate techniques to avoid damaging the pieces.

techniques in furniture modernization

At Atelier Calathéa, we favor wood veneer and stained veneer for furniture makeovers. Why? Because as a cabinetmaking workshop, we are committed to offering you truly unique creations. Veneer, whether natural or stained, allows you to obtain rich and varied colors, but also to guarantee incomparable originality and elegance. A refined and sophisticated finish that stands out for its exclusive and timeless character.

eco-friendly paint for furniture makeover

The workshop has chosen 100% French CAMAËLLE, for its 95% bio-sourced resin paints with more than 200 matte or velvet shades.

In order to choose your color palette, the workshop will draw inspiration from your interior, your desires but also from the skills acquired during its color training.

installation of natural cane on furniture

The installation of caning on vintage furniture is trendy. The workshop uses exclusively natural caning and not PE (polyethylene).

You can choose between several types of caning.

Ecology at the heart of concerns

Sèverine's change of direction was accompanied by a deep desire to adopt a more responsible consumption, lifestyle and work. In this approach, she integrates ecology into the heart of the practices of the Calathéa workshop, as well as in her personal life.

The Calathéa workshop is participating on its scale in reducing the millions of tons of furniture waste generated each year. By giving new life to your furniture through renovation and makeover, the workshop helps to extend its lifespan, limit its impact on the environment, and transform each piece into a unique and sustainable creation. Together, let's choose responsibility, the circular economy, and creativity.
The workshop works on its creative processes in order to generate little waste (Mainly manual processes / sanding with reusable anti-fouling papers / Reuse of plating scraps in jewelry PROJECT 2024/2025 / Selection of local or French players for paint or beeswax / Sourcing of second-hand furniture locally).
Workshop recognized as a ZERO WASTE company by the CMA du Gers.

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