Furniture Restoration Shop Serves New Orleans Residents

Local homeowners can preserve heirloom chairs through specialized caning repairs at this Marigny-based business.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Local Services

Gouache-painted illustration showing a close-up of hands expertly weaving natural cane into a wooden chair frame. — New Orleans artisan Elizabeth Seleen preserves household heirlooms by providing specialized caning and weaving repair services for damaged furniture in the Marigny neighborhood. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you choose to repair a broken piece of furniture instead of replacing it?

New Orleans artisan Elizabeth Seleen continues the craft of traditional furniture restoration at her shop, Able to Cane, located in the Marigny neighborhood. The business helps local homeowners maintain heirlooms by offering specialized repair services for caning, fiber rush, and herringbone weaves.

Why it matters

Choosing to repair damaged furniture rather than replacing it helps homeowners extend the life of their household goods while reducing waste. This restoration work allows families to preserve sentimental or historic pieces that might otherwise be discarded due to worn materials.

Able to Cane charges $3.60 per hole for hand-caned repairs, with typical restoration costs of $250 for hand-caned chairs and $120 for pressed cane replacements. The shop operates out of the Marigny neighborhood and serves clients across New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Mississippi.

The players

Elizabeth Seleen

A furniture restoration professional who operates Able to Cane in New Orleans after moving from Wisconsin.

Bill Seleen

The founder of the original Able to Cane business located in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The details

The restoration process begins with a structural assessment of the piece to ensure the frame remains sound before the old, damaged cane is removed. After clearing the surface and existing holes, the artisan carefully weaves new material back into the frame to restore both form and function. This specialized repair work focuses on preserving the integrity of antique or well-loved furniture pieces.

1325 B.C. marks the era of woven daybeds found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
1666 is when caning grew in popularity across England following the Great Fire.
2007 is the year Elizabeth Seleen relocated her operations to New Orleans.
2020 was the year Bill Seleen retired from his professional career.

The Home Front

This restoration work aligns with the growing furniture sustainability movement, which prioritizes the long-term repair of household assets over frequent replacement cycles. By maintaining heirloom pieces, homeowners can preserve the value and history of their home interiors.

Homeowners with damaged caned seating should inspect their furniture for loose weave or structural frame cracks to determine if repair is needed. You may want to contact a professional restorer to assess the specific hole count or weave style required to restore your chair to working condition.

The takeaway

Restoring vintage or damaged furniture remains a practical way to keep household items functional while honoring their history. If you own chairs with worn weaves, note that repair costs are typically calculated based on the hole count or the specific style of cane replacement required.