Just magical again
Chantal’s joy as Repair Shop experts restore parents’ antique Italian chair Starting tomorrow: Our brilliant 3-day Repair Shop series
A DAUGHTER devastated by the loss of both parents was overwhelmed when experts from hit show The Repair Shop restored a family treasure.
Chantal Taylor, 31, was grieving the death of dad David, when mum Perla passed away just months later in August 2018.
While clearing out their home she found an antique Italian chair brought from Perla’s home in Pisa.
The gilded piece of furniture was ripped and worn, until The Repair Shop experts Jay Blades and Hannah Weston Smith restored it to its “magical” best in emotional scenes to be shown on the BBC1 show tonight.
Chantal, of Stockton-on-Tees, said: “My grandad and uncle drove from Italy with their antique furniture. It was a fun childhood and I have such happy memories of that chair.
“It was in my parents’ room with a matching, ornate dressing table and mirror.
“I was so excited and nervous to see what they could do with the chair because I thought it was beyond repair. I just wanted it to be magical again.
“What they did is more than I could possibly have dreamt. My mother would have loved it and would have been amazed that it’s been brought back to life.
“It’s a fitting tribute to my parents and I’ll always think of them whenever I use it.”
David was an antiques dealer in London who would spent summers in India on the beach. He met Italian Perla there and they fell in love. Only child Chantal added: “They were hippy rockers.”
The pair moved to Middlesbrough and were married for 30 years. David died aged 67 and Perla at 57.
The Repair Shop returns tonight on BBC1, 8pm.
It’s a fitting tribute. My mother would’ve loved it
CHANTAL TAYLOR ON REPAIR OF THE CHAIR