Art Deco Footboard and Headboard

Art Deco Footboard Before

Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to take a "before"photo of the headboard and footboard of the art deco bedroom set, so I used the original photo my customer had sent me (left).

The footboard and headboard had extensive veneer damage and required large sections of veneer to be replaced. This was accomplished by using a hot (no steam) iron and removing the old veneer, then sanding the surfaces so they were smooth enough to accept the adhesive prior to dry fitting the veneer in place.

For the headboard and footboard we used two different veneer styles; oak and mahogany, but stained them both with cherry. This gave the piece a beautiful look with contrasting finishes that completed one another, similar to the original style. I love the way the richness of the wood comes through with using these two excellent quality of veneer products!

Once the veneer was cut a bit larger than the surfaces that they would be adhered to, we carefully laid them in place. Then the stripping, sanding and refinishing could be done easily. After final sanding with fine grit sandpaper, we applied cherry stain and two coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. The headboard and footboard turned out great! Luckily I was able to get an "after" photo of the footboard, seen below.

Art Deco Footboard After Refinishing

Check out the other items of this bedroom set by clicking on the links below:
Art Deco Nightstand
Art Deco Vanity
Art Deco Dresser

Art Deco Nightstand

Art Deco Nightstand Before

This art deco nightstand matches the dresser and vanity as part of an

Art Deco Nightstand After

art deco bedroom set restoration. This vanity had broken veneer on the top left and bottom left panels as well as noticeable amount of water damage.

To do this right, we removed the handles, drawer and door (as in the dresser) and replaced the broken veneer sections with new matching veneer, then continued the process of stripping, sanding and staining, using cherry stain and three coats of semi-gloss polyurethane to match the other two pieces in the set.

The lower portion of this nightstand opened like a door and had a single shelf on the inside which was just a piece of cardboard laid on top of two flimsy strips of wood that weren't original to the cabinet. We made a new shelf stained it to match and nailed it to the wood strips; much stronger than cardboard and allowing more options for storage on the bottom of this nightstand.

Art Deco Vanity

Art Deco Vanity Before Refinishing

Art Deco Vanity After Refinishing

This was the second item in the art deco bedroom set we refinished. It matched the art deco dresser,  with the same wood and matching handles. It too was made of cherry. This vanity had two sections of damaged veneer; upper right front panel and lower left, beneath the drawer. It's possible to patch small sections of broken veneer, but other times it must be replaced, as it was here. The process of removing old veneer doesn't involve any special skills or tools, just a hot (no steam) iron, a pressing cloth and patience. The iron heats up the old veneer just enough to warm up the old adhesive so you can easily slide a putty knife between the veneer and wood beneath, gently lifting it off until it's removed. This was the process I used to replace the veneer on this lovely vanity. Once the old veneer was completely removed, I glued the new veneer in place, then used a sharp utility knife to remove the excess, then my mini dremel to smooth the edges.

Art Deco Dresser

Art Deco Dresser Before

Art Deco Dresser After

This lovely art deco dresser was one item of a complete bedroom set with other art deco items. This dresser is a classic example of timeless beauty with clean lines and elegant design. Made of lovely cherry, this dresser had a great, solid structure and plenty of use left, albeit a bit worn around the edges. It needed a good, solid comeback and had been crying for a total restoration. But no restoration is easy. This dresser required a lot of attention to details.

First we removed the hardware (which would later be cleaned and polished by hand) and the drawers, some of which had bottoms that weren't completely attached. A few nails in the exact center of the support board in the back of these drawers reinforced the bottoms, so they were once again strong enough for perfect functionality. Each drawer was then completely stripped, sanded and stained with cherry stain, then put aside while we did the same work on the body of the dresser. The stain brought out the beauty of the wood's grain, always my favorite part of any restoration.

Handles before and after

Measuring at 52" tall, this dresser offered plenty of storage with deep drawers and a solid body. The bottom decorative rail had been loose and fell off during the pick up drive, therefore it wasn't show in the "before" photo, but we glued and nailed it back after refinishing it as well. After applying two coats of semi-gloss polyurethane, this deco beauty was once again the star of the show. The handles had been polished and after they were reinstalled, added the "bling" which was the perfect touch in another great refinishing job.

Art Deco Olive Wood Dresser

Dresser before

Dresser after restoration

When Jim and I came across this unique dresser we couldn't pass it up! Its character was a one-of-a-kind find and we both loved the excellent quality and details of this piece. The handles were all present (something rare in old dressers) and they had a unique art-deco style that appealed to us. Upon further examination, we discovered the dresser had two very long cracks on each side, one side being worse than the other. After we got it home we looked closer and discovered that this dresser had no veneer! Whatever that wood was, it has had been the construction of the dresser and was
about 7/8" thick. We had never seen anything like it. We knew we had a gem.

Once we began working on it, it was apparent that someone had already tried to remedy the worst crack, which was on the left side of the dresser, by nailing a long board on either side of it. This was probably done long before they had the pipe clamps used by carpenters nowadays. We knew that that board had to be removed so we could properly fix the dresser using glue and clamps, so Jim carefully removed that strip of wood and with glue and clamps, pulled the two sections together as far as they would go. After it had dried, he replace the inside strip with another one, using screws to fasten it. That crack wasn't going anywhere. He followed the same process on the right side of the dresser, but luckily that crack wasn't as visible as the other one and hadn't run the entire height of the dresser, so it was easier to repair and almost invisible when completed. Jim also replace the very thin trim molding at the top of the dresser and cleaned all the handles until they sparkled. We discovered them to be made out of brass, not uncommon for a dresser of this era as brass is easier to work with when creating a fine detailed stamped design such as this.

Handle after restoration

Handle before restoration

After the repairs were made it was my turn. I sanded the entire dresser and drawers as smooth as I could get it and then applied a red mahogany stain, bringing out the natural beauty of the wood. The next day I applied the first coat of semi-gloss polyurethane and the dresser started to shine. It was a gorgeous piece, to be sure. After I had finished the second coat and let it dry, Jim installed the now-clean handles. We couldn't believe the completed product! We were fortunate to have stumbled upon this one of a kind piece of furniture and are happy that a and his fiance had bought it for their new home!

Check out another great old dresser: http://finalefurniture.blogspot.com/2014/12/charlevoix-cherry-antique-dresser.html