A few words from clients...
Alain beautifully repaired a French farm table for me that was in rough shape due to age and neglect. Being very old, the table had no metal parts, and Alain repaired and strengthened the table without adding any new metal parts. He carefully took it apart, cleaned the pieces, and replaced the long spline in the center of the table without compromising the character of the table. He has an impressive knowledge of antiques from different countries and an expert understanding of proper preservation/restoration of furniture, identifying types of wood, and how wood expands and contracts over time. Alain clearly explained how his pricing works and provided an accurate estimate of how much the project would cost and how long it would take. He came to my house to look at the table, emailed me an estimate, picked up the table, and dropped it off exactly on time each time. He advised me how to care for and preserve the table properly.
I feel lucky that someone with his level of skill and detail-orientedness helped me with this project. He is a true artist and craftsman, and it's fascinating to talk to him about his background and current work. I very highly recommend him, especially for tricky, technical works and projects of sentimental value.
Sophia Brueckner | www.sophiabrueckner.com
Alain is a consummate artist and craftsman. He presents his plan for a project with passion, clarity and knowledge, giving the client an organized explanation of how he proposes to accomplish the work. His technical prowess is off the charts, inspiring confidence that he will complete an endeavor professionally, on time, and within budget.
On the one occasion when a project of mine proved unusually challenging (straightening a warped antique curtain pole) and took much longer than expected, Alain resolutely refused to accept payment beyond his estimate. His technical skill, attention to detail, integrity and artistic vision combine to make him a local treasure!
Meg Kennedy Shaw
Alain is a one-of-kind artist, and as I think of his multiple talents, I don’t even know where to start. His incredible skills, infinite knowledge and exquisite taste are the proof that there is such a thing as the true ‘renaissance man’ in today’s world, and that the human mind can wonderfully integrate aesthetics, engineering, production, creation, problem solving and much more in a unified, magical chemistry.
Throughout the past decade, I have had the chance to work with Alain on multiple projects, each one of them presenting tremendous challenges. All of these projects, including the construction from scratch of a concert grand piano, reached completion beyond my expectation, thanks to his ability to methodically and skillfully resolve every issue, whether technical, aesthetic or economic, in an ingenious and efficient way.
Alain’s skills range from fine woodworker to metalworker, mechanic, chemist, painter, finisher, photographer, jeweler, restorer, constructor and designer. There is no material he can't work with, no process he doesn't know (or know how to figure out).
Should you need a challenging restoration performed, especially on valuable collectables, or if you have a special project involving unforeseen or unusual issues – or if you are simply looking for a finely crafted custom piece – I would undoubtedly recommend contacting Alain and making sure he is the one who will take care of your needs.
Arno Patin | Arno Patin Studios LLC | www.arnopianos.com
Alain Mai is a wonder worker. I had some antique pieces that had been damaged on shipment. I called Alain and he repaired every piece to perfection. He was excellent and reasonable with the intricate work on all of the pieces I had to repair. I would refer him to anyone and surely they would be amazed at his craftsmanship. He truly is a wonder worker.
Carol Chaconas
Mr. Mai has done myriad projects for my company and our clients, from historic restorations involving metal work, to carvings, moldings, patches, replications, and even gold leafing. His passion for detail, and his wide ranging knowledge on many topics and techniques, makes his talent and workmanship unrivaled.
Reynold Lowe | President, Materials Unlimited | www.materialsunlimited.com