Furniture Makeover

My first attempt at refinishing furniture was an old bookcase. The entire project took forever and was, for the most part, a disaster. 

This room is very eclectic mixing lots of different time periods and styles (my husband wants to display his native American art collection in there, and I need a place to display my more traditional collectibles, so it's a hodgepodge room), but even so, the buffet that went with my grandfather's dining room set had to be replaced or refinished.  It's solid wood, over 60 years old, and absolutely flawless.  I could not risk doing anything to it myself.  Then I came across a refinished dresser I really liked advertised online and asked the seller if she refinished furniture others' own.  She did indeed and her prices were very reasonable, especially compared to storefront shops which would charge us several thousand dollars to refinish that piece.  Plus, she sends pictures of progress reports and while offering decorator/designer suggestions, does every job to customer specs.

Before

Horribly eclectic room with eye sore in back

First Progress Report

 

When we saw this update we asked her to go darker with the stain on the front.

Second Progress Report

When I saw this picture, I wished she had stained the bottom molding walnut instead of painting it, but I did not want to ask her to start over with sanding.

Third Progress Report

She mixes her own glaze for the hardware, and I love it!  She skipped the hinges, so I went over those with silver furniture polish when we got it back home.

 

 

 

Refinished and Back at Home

We were so pleased with her work that we took my old desk and hutch from my childhood to her house when we picked up the buffet so she can refinish it for our daughter's room.  Now I want to redo many of the items in our great room upstairs and in my office.  The rocking chair may be next.  An intervention may be necessary at some point! :-)