Laurel Crown Furniture is a serious provider, despite modest advertising. My wife and I have been…read morebuying mahogany furniture from them for several years, but are writing about them only now, after time-proven reliability. The most important feature of Laurel Crown's furniture products is the quality of the material - solid Indonesian mahogany, as observable from the depth of the grain seen in full light. Unlike this, the mahogany veneered furniture has no depth of grain. Laurel Crown does not use veneer technology; they cut and carve into solid mahogany. Most recently we ordered a large custom bookcase that was required to be strong enough to support a Britannica set, with a shelf for a 48" LCD TV set above it and shelves for all kinds of audio/video equipment and media from LP to video disks below, all blended in harmony with the book on the shelves around. We could not find such a piece on the market in one year of research. Here is how we interacted with the provider, which we recommend to all people interested in having a quality custom bookcase or other custom piece in their homes: 1. We designed the bookshelf using the free Google Sketchup software for 3-D graphical rendering. Following the initial design, we improved it, based on the constructive criticism and suggestions for practical implementation from Mr. Peter Lok, the owner of the business. 2. When we got to a basic agreement on the specification [a 3.50 m (W) x 2.50 m (H) x 0.45 m (D) 3-piece assembly] and price, Mr. Lok himself created the professional drawings with dimensions of all components and details, for execution. Moreover, decorative features proposed by us (rosettes, window patterns, etc.), from our own inspiration of from company's catalog were all specified for execution. 3. The execution took place in Indonesia and the product was brought first in the store, for acceptance, and then delivered and installed in our house. In this process, we even asked several additional pieces, not included into the original specification, which were executed offshore and delivered with the first ship transportation. The installed and loaded bookshelf looks beyond expectations, with dimensions of the final product within 1 mm from the documented specification.

After a lengthy delay partly due to the pandemic and mostly due to my frequent revisions, the…read morefurniture arrived recently. I can truthfully say the pieces exceeded my expectations!! Laurence Lok could envision what was in my mind (something my husband cannot do!) and transfer that image to a concept drawing and then to the actual piece. I had ordered a French provincial style settee, a French Bergere chair, a coffee table similar to Laurel Crown's own nut table, and two end tables. The pieces are beautiful and the workmanship is exquisite! The selected hazelnut color finish blends perfectly with my French style dining room!! Laurence Lok is a most patient, kind, diplomatic and in my case long suffering person! I cannot say enough kind things about him!! It was a pleasure dealing with him throughout the entire process. I highly recommend this company if you desire exquisitely made custom furniture.

Gregory and his team were very helpful and pricing was super reasonable. I will definitely be on…read morethe look out for his next estate sale. Please check them out and I promise you wont be disappointed. Thank you Gregory and team.

Loved my experience today and thought Gregory was very reasonable. Walked away very happy and love…read moremy new finds.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my greatest appreciation to Kevin and the team…read morethrough the process of liquidating my parents' estate this past weekend. My parents were in the home for over 60 years and there were multiple surprises; the team separated those items for my review including items that had value and significance that were stashed away. My parents were merchants and in retirement had worked for a competitor estate sale company for over a decade where my father provided me with his (fatherly) advice to choose a compant with integrity. Kevin Black and his team showed integrity. The entire process took about six weeks where Kevin provided a balance between empathy and reality on execution of a successful sale in 2026. Kevin managed my expectations and the results were in line with his predictions. Kevin outlined what the strategy would be over the four-day sale and provided updates at each step. I see the critical success factors in this experience are as follows: Knowledge: A realistic approach on how to market and liquidate a large quantity and variety of goods in 21 hours over 4 days. Team: I was present for some of the preparation time and the team was extremely hard working and collaborative with one another to assemble and collate the merchandise for a coherent presentation. I feel like the team was there to maximize the return for the client. Marketing: Kevin is a master at marketing through all channels. For the items that could be challenging for effective sale over a weekend, he offered alternative solutions that I agreed to and was pleased with the results. Presentation: The initial opening of the sale, goods were effectively displayed and highlighted. Throughout the sale, as items sold, there was an executed strategy to bring the next items to the forefront. Communication: I wanted to give Kevin the space he needed to execute without being a high maintenance client and his updates put me at ease. As far as results, the proceeds were two times what I anticipated, no complaints from the neighbors, and the house was left in the condition promised. Kevin is the ultimate estate sale ringmaster from initiation to final clean-up.

A dear close friend of ours suddenly passed away leaving only one relative to deal with…read moreadministrating his estate. It was a very difficult time. We knew the situation called for an immediate estate sale. A call to the YES Co proved to be a blessing. The owner of the company, Kevin Black, responded to our needs without hesitation when most would have declined the job. Every room was filled to capacity with all sorts of personal property including artwork, jewelry, electronics, kitchen accessories and a hospital bed that took up most of the space in the bedroom. To us it all seemed too daunting a task, but not to Kevin! Within two days Kevin and his crew organized everything for viewing, with like items paired together, and created pathways for people to walk around. It was amazing what they were able to do in such a short period of time considering the hundreds of items for sale. Kevin's attention to detail remarkably included very clear signage throughout the premises. The sale was a true success in every way possible! The YES Co is a well-oiled machine thanks to Keven and his crew. We highly recommend Kevin Black's company for handling an estate sale of any size. They are the best!! Thank you so much.

I had a light fixture that stopped working. It was one of a pair and I really didn't want to buy…read moretwo new light fixtures so I was determined to find a business that would repair old fixtures. And then I found Ed at Ensler lighting. He beat his estimate and got my fixture back in good working order within a couple days. If you're anywhere near Berkeley go and check them out. Such a cool selection of light fixtures at their shop. It has been there for decades! And of course, if you have a fixture in need of repair go see Ed at Ensler!

Really appreciate Ed responding to my emails!…read more I managed to fix the lamp I emailed him about but I felt compelled to bring in my other pieces that needed rewiring. Ed and Roel were super friendly and it was a quick (less than 1 hour) turnaround. It's a bit of a drive for me so I really appreciate them getting it done in one trip. Highly recommended.

Meeting Matthew Shields was one of the highlights of my estate sale journey. Matthew is not only an…read moreincredibly knowledgeable expert in antique lighting and restoration, but also a true artist and craftsman. His specialty and personal passion is 18th-century antiques, while my taste leans more toward vintage Hollywood Regency and French-inspired décor. Even though this chandelier wasn't the style he would typically choose for himself, he restored it with extraordinary care, attention to detail, and respect for its history. When it was finished, he stepped back and said, "It came out beautiful," and he was absolutely right. He transformed my vintage Schonbek chandelier into a breathtaking centerpiece. Every crystal was thoughtfully placed, the brass finish is stunning, and his knowledge of Strass crystals, antique lighting, and restoration is exceptional. He shared his expertise generously and made the entire experience enjoyable. Beyond his talent, Matthew is simply a wonderful person--kind, honest, patient, and passionate about preserving beautiful pieces. It's rare to meet someone with this level of craftsmanship and integrity. I am so grateful our paths crossed. If you're looking for someone who treats every antique with the respect it deserves and delivers museum-quality work, I recommend Matthew Shields without hesitation.

Excellent advice and quality repair of my lamp. Fascinating shop from another era. Many wonderful…read moreantiques.