Refinishing furniture

lucille · 08-25-2008, 12:35 PM

I put a post up on my blog last week about a piece of furniture that I refinished. It cost me about $35 in materials and the night stand itself mainly because I had to buy things like furniture stripper that I didn't have on hand.
http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/20...-designer.html
(there are pics of the nightstand before and after on the blog)

This got me wondering, does anyone else refinish old pieces they have or go get them as an option for furniture? My mom used to refinish old items when I was a kid. I picked it up as sort of a hobby when I was in college and again recently since finding even mid range new furniture that wasn't particle board is so hard.

amyschiff · 08-25-2008, 02:42 PM

Wow, that turned out really cool-looking!

When I moved into an apartment during college, my parents let me take some old furniture that was just sitting in our basement (a matching side table and coffee table). It was really sturdy but just needed some work. Eventually when I started to live by myself I sanded down the furniture and re-stained it. I'm very proud of it and think they are great pieces to keep for a long time to come.

My mother is very DIY oriented as well and has refinished many pieces of furniture over the years --so maybe that's where I get it from.

leslieinbham · 08-25-2008, 04:13 PM

I can remember my mother refinishing or "antiqueing" a bunch of stuff and my husband has similar memories of his mother doing the same. I've done a few pieces but I haven't tried a piece since I got my orbital sander and that must be fantastic. Mostly, I'll strip stuff and find a paint that works for me, but that's b/c I have a bunch of small kids and not much time or patience. My dining room table is from a way-back shop class--I know this b/c it had carvings and graffiti saying as much. Now it is a lovely oversized picnic-type table in "Canyon Black." If ever I get my life back (mommies, you know) I'd like to get more proficient at refinishing b/c I adore old pieces.

leslie

08-25-2008, 12:35 PM	#1
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 510 Reputation: (33)	Refinishing furniture I put a post up on my blog last week about a piece of furniture that I refinished. It cost me about $35 in materials and the night stand itself mainly because I had to buy things like furniture stripper that I didn't have on hand. http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/20...-designer.html (there are pics of the nightstand before and after on the blog) This got me wondering, does anyone else refinish old pieces they have or go get them as an option for furniture? My mom used to refinish old items when I was a kid. I picked it up as sort of a hobby when I was in college and again recently since finding even mid range new furniture that wasn't particle board is so hard. __________________ Dark Style Blog http://darkstyleblog.blogspot.com/

08-25-2008, 04:13 PM	#3
leslieinbham Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23 Reputation: (11)	I think Moms in the 70s did this stuff--that's how I learned I can remember my mother refinishing or "antiqueing" a bunch of stuff and my husband has similar memories of his mother doing the same. I've done a few pieces but I haven't tried a piece since I got my orbital sander and that must be fantastic. Mostly, I'll strip stuff and find a paint that works for me, but that's b/c I have a bunch of small kids and not much time or patience. My dining room table is from a way-back shop class--I know this b/c it had carvings and graffiti saying as much. Now it is a lovely oversized picnic-type table in "Canyon Black." If ever I get my life back (mommies, you know) I'd like to get more proficient at refinishing b/c I adore old pieces. leslie

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08-25-2008, 02:42 PM	#2
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 308 Reputation: (44)	Wow, that turned out really cool-looking! When I moved into an apartment during college, my parents let me take some old furniture that was just sitting in our basement (a matching side table and coffee table). It was really sturdy but just needed some work. Eventually when I started to live by myself I sanded down the furniture and re-stained it. I'm very proud of it and think they are great pieces to keep for a long time to come. My mother is very DIY oriented as well and has refinished many pieces of furniture over the years --so maybe that's where I get it from.