malatesta Woodworks

Fine woodwork refinishing. If anyone is looking to refinish/repair find woodwork, I'd highly recommend Malatesta Woodworks! Scott Malatesta is personable, knowledgeable, a craftsman and reasonably priced. Took our yellowed custom walnut coffee table and made it look like new!
Jun 23rd, 2020

I had an office desk for 27 years, which was a beautiful piece of wood with wood inlay on the top. It got a lot of use, and had gotten worn looking.Scott repaired it, including replacing some small pieces on the top. It is now gorgeous again! He did the work within the agreed upon time frame, and at the cost estimated. Will use him again without hesitation.
Jun 3rd, 2020

Scott Malatesta may be a competent woodworker, but he is not a trustworthy or responsible businessman. I inherited a beautiful mid-century modern dining set with table, chairs, and buffet. He refinished the table and chairs a few years ago, and this year (2022) I asked him to refinish the buffet. I'm the third generation to enjoy this set, and I was hoping to leave it to my heirs--but it's not a set anymore!The buffet is MUCH darker than the table, and Scott has not taken responsibility. He has blamed the wood (they are made from the same wood) and bleaching from the sun (the table isn't in the sun), and his constant refrain is "I used the same stain." He should have noticed as he was working that the results were much darker than the original or at least that the exterior was much darker than the interior. Scott eventually said that he would have to strip it back down and redo it. I agreed and offered to send a table leaf for reference, but now he's not even responding to email. I'm afraid my next step is small claims court.
Sep 18th, 2022

STOP! Don't search any further. What Scott crafted for me out of a family heirloom is priceless. I believe any wood working project you trust with Scott will be delivered with the same caliber of craftsmanship! Here's the scoop: We have a oak table top with delft tiles. It was made by my wife's father. The delft tiles are fragile and valuable to the family. Shortly after WWII, my wife's family immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands. The family would send back to their homeland desperately needed supplies, like clothes. In return, these delft tiles were sent back as a Thank You. In 1950, my father-in-law built this table top using the tiles. When I came into the picture there were two such table tops. The larger of the two was given to my wife shortly after we married. I restored it and painstakingly removed, then re-mortared the tiles - then attached some table legs. This table served as our family dining table for ten years. When we moved to New York we placed this table in storage. When we returned to the Seattle area, we were heartbroken to learn it disappeared in the warehouse. We were paid pennies per pound as compensation. So sad. Later, my father-in-law, who is in failing health, gave us the second, smaller delft table top. It was in far worse shape than the one I had restored and it sat in our garage for years. A month or so ago, my wife hinted strongly she's like it restored as her birthday present to be a coffee table. Knowing this time I needed help (most of my wood-working gear was sold before our move to NYC), I jumped on Yelp and Scott's business surfaced to the top. I reached out, sent him pictures, and begged him to do the impossible and restore this in a matter of a few weeks. He took the challenge!  He finished more than a few days before my wife's birthday, and he even stored it until the big day. What I picked up that day was fantastic! It looked perfect! I was amazed to hear the table legs were even crafted out of the original table top's backing boards (solid oak). Take a look at the before and after shots and tell me you are hesitant to trust Scott, I dare you! No way! Don't hesitate! We are so satisfied with the work, we are interested in commissioning him to help us finish our living room fireplace with some extra delft tiles.
Oct 14th, 2019

My father found an antique secretary in 1950 and spent the next decade refinishing it.  I don't know a world that doesn't contain this beautiful thing.  This is where the special holiday dishes were stored, important papers were kept and was a hugely important centerpiece of my childhood.  My parents gave it to me about fifteen years ago.  Time had taken its toll and the roll too had become unusable many other parts were not functioning well.  I was extremely apprehensive about anyone attempting to repair this valued item.We were about to move and it felt like it might not make the move without some expert attention.  I spent a lot of time searching for someone that I could entrust this with.  I chose Scott purely on reviews.  I contacted him and he asked for pictures and said that he had done work on similar pieces.  He was willing to pick it up from our old house and deliver it to our new house.  Was I nervous?  Incredibly!  Did I bug him for status?  Definitely!  What he delivered was much better than I hoped.  The roll too and drawers were significantly smoother than I had every experienced.  The new wood that was needed for one of the drawers was undetectable.  Scott was communicative and easygoing.  I am really grateful that I found someone that could bring new life to this 160 year old treasure.
Jun 7th, 2019