How We Restore Family Heirlooms

Book restoration isn’t just about “fixing old books.”
We don’t restore them to make them look new.
We restore them so they can keep being loved.

The books that arrive at our bindery are often more than books. They’re memory-keepers — family Bibles with handwritten family trees, cookbooks with smudged fingerprints and pencilled notes in the margins, wedding guest books full of messages and meaning. Some are sent with old newspaper clippings tucked inside. Others carry pressed flowers, letters, even a lock of hair.

Broken spines, stained with use, their covers worn — these books come to us already well-loved.
Our job is to help them last.

When a Book Arrives

Before anything is done by hand, we begin with a photo-based assessment. From anywhere in Australia, you can begin by visiting our Book Restoration page and submitting a few pictures, especially of the parts that need work. Simon will look through them carefully, sometimes reaching out for more details before offering a quote and plan.

The Restoration Process

Every book is different, but there are patterns to the process. Here's what most restorations involve:

— Careful assessment and documentation
— Taking the book apart or partial disassembly, when needed
— Repairing torn or replacing missing pages
— Re-sewing or strengthening the spine
— Rebuilding the covers — matching tone and texture where possible
— Finishing touches: endpapers, labels, tooling, and titles

Sometimes, the goal is invisible repair — stitching things back together in a way that can’t be seen.
Other times, it’s about honouring the book’s age while making it strong enough to be handled again.

Thinking About Restoration?

If there’s a book you’ve been wondering about — even if you’re not sure it’s “worth fixing” — we’d love to take a look.
There’s still time to restore heirlooms before Christmas, but our calendar is filling fast.

Submit your enquiry and book photos here.