Love of history leads to new Milan antiques and restoration shop

A love of history has been a part of Cassandra Smith's family for generations. Her great-grandmother was a historical scrapbooker, and her grandfather was also a history buff. True to her family heritage, Smith became a social studies teacher with a history minor, and learned to restore historic furniture from her mother about 20 years ago. Now, all of that family knowledge and years of practice are available to everyone through her new shop, C.K. Antiques and Restoration in downtown Milan. 

 

"We've always done restoration for family and friends," Smith says. "Over the last ten years I've been considering opening my own store, so I rented a booth out at the Livingston Antiques Mall, and the bug hit me. So here I am."

 

C.K. Antiques and Restoration opened just in time for the holiday shopping season on Nov. 29. The 2,400 square foot unit gives her room for a 1,000 square foot showroom, as well as space to restore her pieces. Smith both accepts furniture from customers to be restored, as well as finds her own pieces to restore and resell. 

 

An Ypsilanti resident, Smith says Milan was the perfect location to open her shop, with a quaint downtown and a community in need of an antiques store. 

 

"The town has been so welcoming and encouraging," Smith says. "A lot of them are excited that we're here. The response has been really positive." 

 

Smith describes her taste as broad and eclectic, offering shoppers a wide variety of antique items from various time periods. Though she is particularly fond of 19th century furniture, she say customers will find any thing old and unusual that catches her eye in the store.