Retro Cactus Furniture is a family-run vintage and Ercol furniture business. Ben and his dad, Tony, began working with furniture in 2011 before founding Retro Cactus Furniture in 2017.
From our Derbyshire workshop, we carefully refinish distinctive vintage and mid-century furniture, preserving the character that makes each piece individual.
How Retro Cactus began
With a background in joinery, we became increasingly drawn to well-made vintage furniture and the quality of the woods and craftsmanship used to make it.
Many pieces arrived dark, tired and hidden beneath years of stain, lacquer, varnish and polish. And, quite often, orange.
Our refinishing approach
Every piece is different, with its own character, quirks and imperfections. Rather than giving everything the same standard finish, we adapt our approach to the furniture in front of us.
Alongside established refinishing methods, we have developed our own techniques through years of hands-on experience. Each piece is treated according to its materials, age and condition, resulting in the distinctive Retro Cactus finish while protecting it for years to come.
Because photographs cannot always show the true depth, colour and feel of the wood, customers are always welcome to arrange a viewing before buying.
A closer look at our refinishing work
Our work is about more than making vintage furniture look presentable. Each piece is assessed individually, with the finish, materials and condition guiding the approach we take.
The aim is to preserve the character of the furniture while bringing back the depth, colour and detail that can be lost beneath tired or unsuitable old finishes.
Recognising quality
before refinishing
Original maker’s marks and construction details help us identify a piece,
understand how it was made and decide how it should be refinished.
From our Derbyshire workshop to homes across the UK and beyond
Every piece that passes through Retro Cactus has its own story. We source vintage and Ercol furniture from around the UK, refinish it in our Derbyshire workshop and deliver finished pieces to customers across Britain and further afield.
Our furniture archive records some of those journeys, showing where pieces were found, the work behind them and where they eventually found a new home.