Refinishing Furniture Finds

Refinishing_BuffetLeg.jpgI tend to fall in love with run-down objects. I look right past the chipping paint and wobbly frame and see (with rose-colored glasses) a decorating project. Last week I mentioned how we went on an antique furniture spree at the Old Country Store outside Rhinebeck, NY—and this weekend was the restoration aftermath. Mike and I attempted to refinish 13 pieces of furniture in two days. Crazy, but doable. We staked out the common backyard in our shared brownstone with a 20’x15′ tarp, cans of paint, stripper, thinner, saws, drills, tons of sandpaper and set to work. I wish I had all the finished pieces to show you, trust me, but they are still drying in a scattered heap behind our house.

Here is a bit of this work in progress and pieces that inspired a paint-covered weekend:

Refinishing_Desk_before.jpgI adore this desk! I was told it is early Stickley but the clean lines and open sides (they’re bookshelves!) are what sold me. This piece was in pretty good condition, all we had to do to doctor it up was give it a sand down and a new coat of white.

Refinishing_BuffetBefore.jpgThe wood veneers were peeling from all sides of this buffet but I took one look at those legs, the original hardware, and the embossed detailing (see above) and I had to have it. If you sense a theme, I adore French flair in my furniture.

Refinishing_Windows.jpgMike is a fantastic photographer so knowing that photos will be big part of our wall decoration, we had to think of different ways to display them. We saw these 1940s windows and decided to turn them into 12-image picture frames. We bought two, painted them white, and have plans to hang one on each side of our living room-to-kitchen archway.

Refiniishing_MirrorWhite.jpgThe lattice work makes this regal piece light and chic. It will go nicely in our living and it only needs a few paint touch-ups.

Refinishing_Mirrorsmall.jpgThis mirror originally had a decorative wood overlay along the top but when we found it, only a chunk remained. So we pried off what was left, sanded the mirror frame down and painted it a rich red to match the flowers in our guest bedroom wallpaper.

Repainting_overall.jpgThis was the state of my backyard last night as we waited for the paint to dry. Hopefully in a few blogs all the drawers will be back in place and the furniture will be adorning my apartment with as few scuffs as possible.

5 Comments

  1. Anonymous said:

    I just bought a art deco style furniture. I would love to get some help on decorating. The house is in great shape, hardwood floors, original plaster walls. There is a lot of green in the house—the original green tiled bathroom, etc. I am at a loss as to what to do in the living room. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    March 14, 2011
    Reply
  2. Anonymous said:

    Good post…!!!!
    captures of the furniture stuff is really beautiful.I reached her by searching about furniture.I found this blog good and impressive one and follow it in future for gather good designs and other aspects of furniture & other stuff.
    Wooden garden furniture

    June 14, 2011
    Reply
  3. Andrew Jayden said:

    In today’s modern world everybody wants to make their home
    the best one to live in and for that it will good to have best or modern furniture
    to place in your living room. As far the idea of placing a contemporary flair
    of coffee table is far being a good idea to make our living room much more live
    in to have you and your family. Thanks for the wonderful idea.
     

    interior decorators

    June 27, 2011
    Reply
  4. Anonymous said:

    Prisoners of the substance of furniture really came to him seeking beautiful. I furniture.I found it good and impressive blog and follow in the future to bring good design and other aspects of furniture and other things .

    August 6, 2011
    Reply
  5. Anonymous said:

    This piece is in excellent condition and to do to the doctor that was giving up a sand down and a new coat of white. The mesh makes this piece easy royal and elegant.

    August 19, 2011
    Reply

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