apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

For everyone who just has to have granite countertops: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?ex=1374638400&en=60959de77427e35c&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Question: Does anyone know of a local place to take classes in furniture refinishing? I just know there has to be one!

Here's a question for fellow Asian-Revival-philes... I need to touch up my new-to-me black wicker Japanese nesting coffee table. If I try to match the black, it'll be a disaster. Any general suggestions on a good color of paint to rub into the chipped bits?

For wicker? If you really love them, the best might be to take them to a refinisher who works in wicker. It'll be worth the money to have a real fix.

Otherwise, I might try some light rubs of black shoe polish - the old-school paste kind that comes in the little tub. Because yeah, the paint matching never works right, and all you want to do is make the chipped bits more subtle, yes?

local place in san francisco? not sure about there, but seattle central community college has a woodworking school: http://www.seattlecentral.edu/wood/index.php