Dressers Painted Black

Dresser Before

Dresser After

I found this little treasure at an estate sale along with another dresser (at bottom, which also had a special design detail at the lower edge). I especially loved the top drawer, which was slightly longer than the other three and had a great curvy top, reminding me of an Art Deco style. The dresser was pine, and while the wood was in great shape and would have look good stained, I chose black paint instead.

I knew the two dressers would look great painted black, as long as I could find matching knobs. As always, a full stripping was necessary before priming and painting. I was fortunate to find online sixteen knobs that were light gray porcelain with a "crackled" look. This was the detail needed to link the two different style dressers together so that they made a matched set. It never ceases to amaze me how much paint changes the look and feel of a piece of furniture. In this case, choosing the right paint linked two totally separate pieces together as a matched set.

Dresser Before

Dresser After

Oak Mantel Stained Darker

Mantel Before

This beautiful oak mantel was quite challenging because of the intricate design with fluted sides and so much detail in the top. There was also a hearth, which I took no photos. (Unfortunately, I didn't get a vertical photo of the mantel before I began stripping it.) My customer wanted a darker finish, so the first step was to completely strip the wood surface of its coating, which proved to be time-consuming and labor intensive work.

Mantel After

The process was to first completely remove the old polyurethane with a strong gel stripper, first using a large brass brush, then going into the grooves with a smaller brass brush, then finally gently scrubbing the surface with a #0 steel wool before the final coat of sanding with a 200 grit piece of sandpaper.

It was a couple of days before I was ready to apply the stain, which was "General Stain Java Gel," the customer's choice. I had not worked with a gel stain before and found that not only was the stain spectacular to use, it had a "cherry" fragrance,  not the typical "chemical" odor you expect from a chemical stain. It was thick and easy to work with and left a deep, rich finish after two applications. The end result was an elegant, rich darker mantel which the customer loved!

Tiny Antique Chair

Antique Chair Before

Antique Chair After

A nice woman had contacted about a small chair she had wanted refinished. The chair had been caned at one time, but had since been reupholstered, a seat had replaced the caning. The replaced seat cushion had been done a very long time ago. She said the chair was very old, but didn't know how old. I told her I guessed it was from the 19th Century because of its structure and the way it was put together.

She simply wanted the seat cushion fabric replaced and the wood refreshed. I removed the old seat and replaced the fabric with a lovely paisley tapestry fabric I had left over from a previous job. It was the perfect color and texture for this chair. I completely sanded and stripped the wood and made minor repairs to the bottom rails (they were a bit wobbly) and then stained the chair with red mahogany. Once complete, this little chair became a real beauty.

My customer was thrilled! She also purchased another chair from me and I supplied her with additional fabric so that the two chairs, while different in design, had the same seat so they could be used as a pair. This was a fun project as I'm always pleased to make my customers smile.


Antique Chair Seat Before

Antique Chair Seat After

Peace Sign Mosaic Table

Table After Paint & Mosaic



Table Before Painting & Mosaic

I wasn't sure exactly what I had wanted to do with this table, but as I studied it, a plan took shape in my mind. The wood was nothing special, so I decided on painting it gloss black. Next, it needed a top. At one time there may have been a piece of glass in there, but it was long gone. After I replaced the top with a section of wood to fit the square-round shape, my idea became concrete. I would apply mosaic to the center and turn this old, worn out relic into a work of art.

As with all projects, it was necessary to first sand all the surfaces. I lightly sanded the entire table then primed it and painted it gloss black. It was the right choice as black lends itself to the most creative of choices for other applications. It also made my mosaic detail easy since I had decided on using mirror and cobalt blue glass.

Corner Before Painting

Corner After Painting

As the design took shape, I knew it needed a detail in the center so I selected a peace sign, an inspiration from my seven year old granddaughter. It was perfect. To complete the project, I painted the corner detail flowers with blue and white paint to accentuate the design, which was hidden until the paint revealed the hand-crafted detail that someone took a great deal of time to do a long time ago. The once worn and ugly table had been successfully turned into a usable work of art. I think you'd agree that this table took on an entirely different transformation and it only took two weeks!

Table Top Before

Table Top After
















Widdicomb Table

Widdicomb Table Before

Widdicomb Table After

This unique table was a special job I received shortly before Christmas. The client had extra tables he didn't need, but really wanted this one. Unfortunately it had been painted black, which covered up the gorgeous wood that lie beneath. He had started removing the paint, but didn't feel comfortable finishing it, so he called me. Of course I could take care of it!

He delivered it on a cold, snowy day. After he got it into the garage, I knew this table would be outstanding when it was done. I told him I'd have it done in a week, or possibly less. I got started sanding the table that afternoon and by the end of the day, it was ready for new stain. He wanted to go darker, so I suggested walnut. He loved the idea and agreed it would look good. While I applied the stain, I was amazed at how gorgeous the wood was. This table was made of solid oak, about 1-1/2" thick and had some weight to it. I applied two coats of semi-gloss polyurethane to protect the surface. The transformation was complete only a few days later, so I contacted my customer and assured him he would not recognize his table.

He picked it up the following Saturday and was astounded with the results. I mean, look at it! He was torn because his original plan was to eliminate some of the extra tables he had collected, but when he saw this one, he was undecided. Either way, he loved the way it tuned out. Ironically, later that evening, I received a text from him saying that if I wanted a good recommendation, he'd gladly give me one because he decided to sell the table on eBay and it sold only ten minutes after he listed it for $2,500!! I'd say it was the right choice. I love satisfied customers. It just makes my day!!

Widdicomb Table Before

Widdicomb Table After

Special Dresser Gets A Makeover

Dresser Before

Dresser After

This dresser belonged to my friend's mother who passed away in 2008. My friend had to put it in a storage unit after her brother passed away last October. She needed to empty the storage unit and asked if I was interested in this dresser. "Of course!" I told her. I liked the retro design and style of this piece, so I brought it home and began sanding it with the intention of staining it a shade or two darker.

Unfortunately, the wood wouldn't accept the stain and the piece got severely discolored. Before adding more stain and making it worse, I quit while I was ahead and made the executive decision to paint it instead. As much as I prefer staining to paint, at times it's the best solution, as it proved to be with this dresser. I chose semi-gloss white and after priming, I got busy painting it bright white. It was a good fit because it gave this old 1950's style dresser a fresh, clean and brand new appearance. I decided to have fun with it and add colorful polka dot knobs. The transformation was complete and the dresser was now a usable, yet smaller scale piece of furniture that functions well.

Dresser After

Furniture Goes to the Navy!

China Cabinet Before

China Cabinet After

I'm always up to a challenge, and this job was no different. I received a
call from a client who had an antique China cabinet and matching buffet she wanted painted a dark navy blue. When I arrived at her house, she showed me the two pieces, which were lovely, but worn out and tired looking. A new coat of paint was just what the doctor ordered!

She told me she wanted a very dark, almost black navy, so I gave her the Sherwin-Williams color palette so she could choose the color. She selected #6244, Naval. It was the deepest navy blue they offered. I told her I agreed it was the right color. She preferred a "high gloss" finish, which I also thought would be a perfect choice that would complement the original brass hardware.

The process was a long, tedious one which involved a lot of preparation. We removed all the hardware, which would have to be polished. All drawers had to be removed since they'd be painted separately. There was a broken center bottom molding on the buffet, which had to be repaired and reinstalled. Other than minor repairs, the furniture was in great shape.



Buffet Before

Buffer After

The next step was sanding all the surfaces smooth. Jim took care of this while I painstakingly removed the molding, glass and filigree wood inside of the China cabinet's doors. The glass was held in place with 1/4" trim molding and attached with 5/8" nails. Luckily there weren't a lot of nails, but the ones I removed were difficult, as I didn't want to damage the molding. I carefully slid a thin metal putty knife between the interior of the door and the molding and gently pried the molding forward, revealing each nail. When I was certain I could grab the nail, I used my vice grips and tugged, until all nails were out, then carefully peeled the molding away from the edge. This took over an hour for just two doors. After I had removed the molding, I then marked each edge so that reassembly would be easy. (When working on this type of job, it's important to think ahead!)

Stripping Tips

Partially stripped spindle

Stripping furniture presents many unique challenges. It can be very simple, or it can be very difficult, but it's always rewarding to see the final product. It doesn't have to be a daunting task since there are techniques you can use to make it easier, so I've written this article to share with you the tricks of the trade that I've found work best for me, with excellent results. I hope this helps you overcome your fear of refinishing because it's worth it!

When stripping, it's important to protect your skin, since a good quality stripper not only removes the paint or stain from furniture, it can irritate your skin and burn when it makes contact. I recommend you use gloves especially crafted for working with chemicals. If you use the thinner, flexible Nitrile gloves commonly used for painting or staining, the stripper will disolve the rubber and expose your hand to the harsh chemical, causing it to burn. (If it doesn't burn your skin, it's not strong enough to remove the old finish!) To avoid this, use good quality gloves, and if you accidentally get stripping solution on your skin, wash and rinse it immediately! 

If you plan on stripping a large, flat surface, have plenty of stripper on hand, because you're going to need it. I prefer to pour the stripper into a smaller container, then apply it with an inexpensive paint brush. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how long to leave the stripper on. Depending on how many layers you're removing, it could be from 15 to 30 minutes. The more layers you have to remove, the longer it takes and the more times you'll have to apply new stripper. In warm or hot weather, the chemical dries very fast, so don't try to cover an entire table. Choose a 12" x 12" section and finish that before moving on. Use the correct stripper for your project, since they are not created equally. Buy the best one you can afford, as this will save you time and give you better results. There are strippers specifically created for paint or stain, or both. I prefer the one that does it all. 

Once you have applied the stripper, you will see the paint or varnish bubble and crinkle on the surface. Take a putty knife and gently remove the stripper, going in one direction. You can use a plastic putty knife if you use a good quality stripper. A metal putty knife works well too, but be careful not to scratch the surface as you remove the old finishes. The layers of paint or stain will roll back away from the furniture as you swipe the putty knife across the surface, so you'll also have to use something to wipe the excess stripper/paint onto. I prefer a stiff piece of cardboard, or a thin piece of wood. Scrap off the debris, then swipe it into an empty coffee can. (You cannot reuse this, so dispose of it properly when your project is complete).

After you've removed as much paint/varnish as possible with the stripper, you can then use steel wool, #0, on flat surfaces, or a brass wire brush on curved surfaces, (sold at most home centers or hardware stores) to scrape off the residue left behind. Once you're satisfied that the residue is removed, you're ready to sand. The photo (above left) shows the arm of the chair after the old stain and varnish were removed and the spindle with the original finish. The old finish was so dark, you couldn't see any wood grain. Once the old finish was removed, the wood's natural beauty was revealed.

While working on this chair I also used paint thinner to "loosen" up and moisten the wood prior to applying the stripper, thus I discovered a solution to a dilemma that I'd been having since I first began furniture restoration; easily removing old finish from spindles! By applying the thinner shortly after applying the stripper, these two strong chemicals worked as a team to break through years and years of finish. As you can see in the photo below, together, they "melted" the old varnish right off the chair's leg so that it could easily be wiped away with a rag. Once this task was accomplished, I gently used the brass brush and steel wool to remove the old residue.
Then it was ready to sand and stain. I chose a red mahogany stain and semi-gloss polyurethane, and reupholstered the seat cushion with a traditional floral print. The hard work paid off since the chair is great!

Removing old finish

Finished Chair

Vintage Dresser Makeover

Dresser Before

Dresser After

I stumbled upon this treasure at an estate sale, hidden in the corner of an attic closet at the top of the stairs. Buried under old games and clothes, this dresser wasn't exactly shouting, "Here I am!" Nonetheless, I spied it and after removing the contents from the top, I knew I had to have it as I saw it as a challenge.

As a child, I remembered decals such as these which I used liberally on my own furniture, much to my mother's dismay. Once they were on, they were on for life, since the adhesive on the back was pretty sticky. I wasn't discouraged since I knew a bit of sanding and stripping would have this little gem in great shape, better than its previous condition.

The right edge of the bottom drawer was missing, so Jim spliced another section into it and then used his router to round the edge, matching it to the original drawers. The dresser was flimsy, so we "beefed" it up and strengthened the sides and bottom, then began the tedious process of stripping and sanding. Once bare, it was ready for primer and ultimately a clean, bright white coat of paint. I replaced the old drawer pulls with stylish knobs that I'd reclaimed from a previous project and painted them pale blue. Viola! The once-old, 1959's era dresser has a new look and a new life.

Check out this dresser: http://finalefurniture.blogspot.com/2015/04/old-painted-dresser-revival.html

Antique China Cabinet

China Cabinet Before

China Cabinet After

A massive oak China Cabinet such as this is always an impressive piece of furniture and requires a great deal of respect and special handling. While in overall great condition, this cabinet needed some love. It had a broken left panel on the right door, held together with tape. It was necessary to carefully separate the wood from the glass so it could be glued back together. The veneer was chipped, so I carefully filled it in and stained it so that it wasn't noticeable. I cleaned the entire surface with boiled linseed oil, which brought out the wood's natural beauty. The glass was original, as you could see the wavy nature of antique glass and in perfect condition. Over the years, someone decided to add a fourth shelf, therefore changing the position of the three original shelves. I left it as it was, figuring that the person who buys it can simply reuse the original holes to reposition the shelves. I recommended using it as a bookshelf since the solid oak shelves would be sturdy enough, but the buyer said she'd rather use it as it was intended, a China cabinet. And why not? This classic China cabinet was from an era gone-by, but with a little TLC, it should last another 100 years.

China Cabinet Before

China Cabinet After

Old Chair, New Seat

Chair Before

Chair After

This was the third chair in a sequence of chairs we refinished for a friend. Using the same striped fabric, it makes a great mate to the other chairs. This one required very little, only a good cleaning and protection with boiled linseed oil. The reupholstered striped fabric is perfect for the period and gives this once-old, neglected chair a new personality.

Seat Before

Seat After

Aging Chair Gets Facelift

Chair Before

Chair After

I acquired this chair from a friend who wanted it refinished. This was one of three dining room chairs that needed a new look. The original cushion was worn and dirty, so I reupholstered the seat with a traditional striped fabric, suitable to the style of the chair. I used boiled linseed oil to give the chair's natural luster a boost. The wood responded well and the results speak for themselves.

With great bones, the newly refinished, reupholstered chair is ready to shine.