Business Details
31 Years
experience
Heritage Restoration Specialists in Belfast
Decowell Restoration, established in 1995, is a Belfast-based specialist in the conservation and restoration of historic interiors and painted surfaces. Our approach combines meticulous craftsmanship with scientific analysis, ensuring interventions respect original materials and techniques while meeting modern standards. With expertise spanning gilding, decorative painting, and architectural paint research, we serve public institutions, private clients, and ecclesiastical bodies across the UK, Ireland, and internationally. Our team of qualified conservators and craftspeople operates from a secure studio in Belfast, delivering bespoke solutions for easel paintings, frames, and large-scale heritage projects. We prioritise client collaboration, offering consultancy, training, and lectures to share knowledge and preserve traditional skills.Over 25 years, we have built a reputation for excellence through projects requiring precision, from marbling and trompe l'oeil to mural restoration. Our work adheres to rigorous conservation ethics, balancing retention of historic layers with functional restoration. Clients benefit from tailored services, including condition reports, paint analysis, and on-site interventions. As mentors in decorative arts, we train emerging professionals, ensuring continuity of expertise. Our affiliations with bodies like ICON and IHBC underscore our commitment to industry leadership and best practices.
Services
Gilding
Frame Restoration
Painting Restoration
Wood Graining
Marbling
Trompe L'oeil
Broken Colour
Decoupage
Stencilling
Mural Painting
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in historic interior restoration.
- Our team includes specialists trained in painting conservation and building conservation.
- We use scientific analysis and traditional techniques for authentic results.
- We operate a secure conservation studio in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- We provide training and mentorship in decorative arts and restoration skills.
Services
Gilding
Gilding involves applying gold leaf to surfaces using oil or water techniques. Decowell's master gilders specialise in water gilding for studio pieces and oil gilding for architectural features. We use traditional materials and methods to restore historic gilded objects or create new decorative elements, ensuring durability and authenticity.
Frame Restoration
We restore historic picture and mirror frames using conservation-grade materials. Our process includes structural repairs, cleaning, regilding, and patination. Each intervention balances preservation of original detailing with functional restoration, carried out in our Belfast studio or on-site for large installations.
Painting Restoration
Our studio provides professional conservation for oil paintings on canvas, panel, and unconventional supports. Services include varnish removal, paint consolidation, and canvas repair. We document treatments thoroughly, using reversible materials to ensure long-term preservation of artworks from the 16th century to contemporary pieces.
Wood Graining
Decowell recreates exotic wood finishes using traditional and modern techniques. Our specialists apply layered glazes to mimic oak, mahogany, and rare timbers. This decorative art enhances architectural features while preserving original surfaces, maintaining historical accuracy in period properties.
Marbling
We replicate marble and granite surfaces to 19th-century standards using pigment-based glazes. Our marbling technique creates realistic textures for architectural elements, achieving indistinguishable results from natural stone. Projects range from small decorative items to large-scale interior schemes requiring multiple layers for depth and authenticity.
People
Ruth Bothwell
Founder & Director
Established Decowell in 1995 after training at the Institute Superior de Peinture Van der Kelen in Brussels, London conservation programs, and York's historic building courses. She leads a team of specialists in decorative arts and heritage conservation.
Questions
What types of restoration services do you offer?
We specialise in gilding, frame restoration, painting conservation, wood graining, marbling, and trompe l'oeil. Our services cover both decorative arts and structural conservation of historic interiors.
Do you work outside Northern Ireland?
Yes, we operate throughout the UK, Ireland, and internationally, with experience on diverse heritage projects across different climates and architectural styles.
How do you approach historic paint analysis?
We conduct detailed paint analysis and architectural research to determine original colour schemes and materials, ensuring authentic restoration while documenting findings for conservation records.
Can you restore damaged oil paintings?
Yes, our Belfast studio provides comprehensive oil painting restoration, including canvas repair, varnish removal, and retouching, using reversible materials to preserve artwork integrity.
Do you offer training in decorative arts?
We provide internships and short courses in gilding, marbling, and historic painting techniques, mentoring students from institutions worldwide to preserve traditional craftsmanship skills.
