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.

I ordered a piece from Laurel Crown Furniture and had a very disappointing experience. After weeks…read moreof slow responses, I finally received an invoice that was missing measurements I had specifically requested and had already been agreed to. I also asked multiple times over several emails about the stain color for my order and never received an answer to that question. When I followed up asking for the missing information, the representative told me they "could not accommodate" my measurements -- despite previously agreeing to them -- and suggested I find another company instead of resolving it. When I called to speak with a manager, I was told he wasn't available and asked for a way to reach him directly. Instead, I was disconnected without any further information. I never even got to the point of placing payment, and I'm glad I didn't given how this was handled. I'd think carefully before ordering a custom piece from this company.

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.

Correct address has been updated in Yelp…read more This is a great antique shop filled with treasures.

On behalf of our family, I want to thank Kevin, Vicky and the entire staff for a job well done…read more They turned an insurmountable task with 56 years of accumulations into a successful event. After calling other estate sale companies we decided on The YES Co. We are glad we did as they did not disappoint doing our sale. They exuded expertise and effort in all the aspects including organizing, advertising, pricing, customers, etc. Since we lived out of the area we were glad Kevin kept us informed constantly through regular emails with photos, It was a great comfort to our family that our mother's life long possessions were handled and displayed in a dignified manner. Seeing is believing. They did everything they said they would. The financial results were also most rewarding and the house was left cleanly condensed. The YES Co does what they promise!

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.

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.

David is a true master and an honest person. He rescued my century-old grandfather clock from a bad…read moresituation and made it like new. I hired David to fix my antique grandfather clock which had been left with a number of issues as a result of poor work done by another clockmaker. When I called around to find someone to fix it, some said they don't do house calls, while one candidly told me that they would "stay away" from my clock as it had evidently been "mistreated" by the other clockmaker. So you can imagine how discouraged I was feeling when I called David. David did not hesitate for a moment when I told him the situation over the phone. He said he would gladly take a look and was optimistic that we could fix the issues. He arrived on time, carrying three carefully organized boxes of tools, which, he told me over the course of the afternoon, he had selected after decades of work in the field. "Some people see me carry two of the same tool and ask, why do you have two?" He told me, as he picked up a grappling tool. "Because one is lighter and the other is stronger." In the field, he said, the goal is to solve problems using the tools available. It's important to bring the right assortment and to be resourceful, since going back to the shop isn't an option. I listed the problems: the clock was failing to sound the "8 bells" chime and would get stuck; one of the chime notes wouldn't sound at all; the moon phase dial wasn't calibrated; and, most confoundingly, the clock would sometimes have a rogue "stuttering" strike on the hour while the chimes were still playing. He quoted a reasonable price to address these issues. He worked on the clock for several hours, explaining in great detail everything that he was doing whenever I asked. As an aspiring hobbyist myself, I asked a lot of questions. David blew me away with his theoretical and practical expertise, and his generosity in sharing the tricks of his trade. He never hesitated to involve me if I wanted to be involved, and to answer all of my questions throroughly --- a true mark of confidence. After a while, I was getting tired and hungry. When I asked if he'd like to take a break and have some lemon loaf cake that I had set out, he replied, "I'll enjoy loaf cake when this clock is working!" I really appreciated his resolve, especially after all that this clock (and I) had been through, at a moment when I wasn't even sure that the clock could be restored. Over the course of the afternoon, he identified several problems in addition to the ones I'd pointed out. The leather pads for the chime hammers were worn, creating a sharp and metallic tone (he replaced them, after demonstrating the improvement). The movement as a whole was "thirsty" and needed oil (he lubricated all the moving parts). One of the chime hammers had slipped off its restraint (restored). And regarding the "stuttering" strike, the strike train was being prematurely released for the duration of a single strike, due to a pad slipping out of place (he made the adjustments to fix it). This was not an easy thing to spot, and was the greatest source of my worry. But the malfunction didn't evade David's careful eye, and it didn't take him long to fix it. At this point, I mentioned how I had noticed that the pendulum was slightly out of beat --- slight enough that most people wouldn't notice, but I'm OCD about things like that and it bothered me. David listened carefully and then said that the issue was minor enough that clockmakers consider it to be "in beat," and that the clock wouldn't stop as a result of it, but he still adjusted the pendulum until we both listened together and agreed that it was perfect. We enjoyed the well-earned lemon loaf cake at last, while the clock presided over the gathering, proudly tick-tocking and chiming away. My century-old clock is now chiming the 8 bells chime on the quarter hour, sounding warm and proud and joyful. It strikes precisely and authoritatively on the hour, after the chimes have played their full melody. The moon phase dial is accurate. The clock is in beat, on time, and fully restored. David brought youth and energy back to this old grandfather clock. A master of his craft, and a true professional. Don't hesitate: hire David.

This was a nightmare. He told me he could repair my cherished century old carriage clock with…read morebroken hairspring that has been in my family for 80+ years. Several months went by. He told me every time that he had ordered the parts and would call me back soon. He never did. I lived out of town and patiently waited. After a year, my calls went unanswered. Finally it was three years, that's right - 3 years! I threatened to take legal action if he didn't respond and tell me exactly when I could pick up my clock. When I finally did, he told me he had lost the hands!! There were also screws missing. It was in parts! I was told by an out of state expert repair facility that it would take over $2000 to repair in its present state because basically it was ruined!