Specialized Services - Archival Preservation and Restoration
Rescuing Beauty. Restoring History. Discovering Joy. Happiest Kid Finds preserves and restores!
Have a painting that needs cleaning and restoration, or a family photo that could use some attention? We'll find the best solution to preserve your treasures.
You don't need to take my word for it. Below are before-and-after results from the Wilmington studio — pieces brought in by collectors, families, and anyone who wasn't quite ready to let something go. Every project is handled here by me, Milagros, using archival-grade materials and the same techniques museums rely on. Scroll through, see the transformations, and when you're ready to talk about your own piece, reach out.
NOW OFFERING :
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Art Restoration - General cleaning or minimal touch-up of -Works on paper, from $100-Original artwork on canvas, from $150(This involves the removal of dust and obvious particles not intended to be part of the art that are on the back and front; minimal touch-up refers to minor pigment loss along the corners and edges, and small imperfections on the body of the work. Water damage to paintings requires more care and detailed work to ensure that the pigment is stabilized and that the presence of mold is addressed.) |
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We clean, repair, and restore paintings using archival-grade materials. Every piece is treated in our Wilmington studio with museum-quality care. The example above is an acrylic painting rescued from acetone damage. |
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| See full before-and-after gallery for this project → | |
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Photo Restoration - -General cleaning and minimal touch-up, from $100-Gloss photos may require a digital scan - from $50 |
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| Torn, faded, or water-damaged photographs brought back to life. We repair physical prints and can provide high-resolution digital copies of the restored image. Materials can become brittle over time, and more vulnerable with handling and improper storage such as this antique family portrait on a convex board. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
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Book Restoration - -Leather-bound cleaning and repair, from $150;-Cloth-bound cleaning and repair, from $100 |
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| Loose bindings, torn pages, damaged covers — we repair it all. Each restoration uses conservation-grade materials that respect the book's age and original construction. In this example, it is suspected that the chemicals used in the foam liner under the covers of this family bible may have contributed to the deterioration of the material along the edges and spine. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
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Furniture Restoration - Touch-up of scratches and minor chips for wood furniture, from $50 |
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| Wood, veneer, and upholstery repairs that preserve the character and enhance the natural beauty of your piece. We stabilize structures, match finishes, and bring worn furniture back to its original form. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
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Leather Restoration - Touch-up of scratches and minor abrasions, from $50 |
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| Cracked, dry, or stained leather goods — handbags, jackets, bound books, and more — cleaned, conditioned, and color-matched by hand in our studio. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
| Ceramic Repair - from $100 | |
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Chipped, cracked, what seems like it may be broken beyond repair, we take the time and care to bring it all together. |
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| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
| Fabric Treatment - from $100 | |
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| Water stains, soot, and smoke, are removed with gentle cleaning and attention to detail. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
| Lamp Shade Repair - re-gluing, minor stitching - from $100 | |
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| From simple fixes to big rips and tears, we apply creative solutions so that you can continue to enjoy your lamp without the unsightly damage. | |
| See full before-and-after gallery → | |
