I have been refinishing and repairing antique furniture for 20+ years. I personally cannot stand painted antique furniture (Martha Stewart). I lost count of how many pieces I have removed paint from and restored them to their original finish. Most of the furniture and steamer trunks date from late 1800's to early 1900's. I used to have booths at antique malls and hire out for individual pieces. I even made a case for an ODT member to display his M1 Garand in.
Empire dressers
Steamer trunks
Oak dressers
Oak kitchen tables
Walnut dressers
Mahogany dressers
Antique mirrors
Wood file cabinets
Clawfoot piano stools
Some of the memorable ones:
1. M1 Garand case
2. An empire dresser someone painted orange. Stripped the entire dresser and it was solid mahogany with beautiful flame mahogany drawers. When I finished it was beautiful and I wished I had kept it.
3. A wood file cabinet from a printing company in Savannah GA. I was hired to refinish it. It was painted awful green. It took hours to painstakingly pick paint out with dental tools. I had to make new wood rollers for the drawers. I refinished the exterior in a golden oak with hand wax. The gentleman that purchased it nearly went to tears when I pulled it out of my truck. I delivered it to his home and when I entered I noticed other pieces of furniture I had worked on and sold at the mall. He stated he liked my work and purchased several.
4. An oak 3 drawer dresser from the 1700's that was painted. The unique scallop and pinned dovetail dates it.
5. A large wall mirror 2.5' x 4' that was painted with 3 different spray paints. The back is wood slats put together with cut nails. The back of the mirror is stamped sterling silver. The front is mahogany and gold gilding.
6. Hired to repair and refinish an original foot locker that belonged to a WAC from WWII. The woman that hired me explained it was her mother's and she had passed away. She handed it to me in pieces. When I brought it back to her she was crying as I sat it down in front of her.
I love taking something that was damaged or painted and bringing it back to life so it can be used and admired
Below are the mirror that was painted and the Empire dresser that had been completely orange.
again.
Empire dressers
Steamer trunks
Oak dressers
Oak kitchen tables
Walnut dressers
Mahogany dressers
Antique mirrors
Wood file cabinets
Clawfoot piano stools
Some of the memorable ones:
1. M1 Garand case
2. An empire dresser someone painted orange. Stripped the entire dresser and it was solid mahogany with beautiful flame mahogany drawers. When I finished it was beautiful and I wished I had kept it.
3. A wood file cabinet from a printing company in Savannah GA. I was hired to refinish it. It was painted awful green. It took hours to painstakingly pick paint out with dental tools. I had to make new wood rollers for the drawers. I refinished the exterior in a golden oak with hand wax. The gentleman that purchased it nearly went to tears when I pulled it out of my truck. I delivered it to his home and when I entered I noticed other pieces of furniture I had worked on and sold at the mall. He stated he liked my work and purchased several.
4. An oak 3 drawer dresser from the 1700's that was painted. The unique scallop and pinned dovetail dates it.
5. A large wall mirror 2.5' x 4' that was painted with 3 different spray paints. The back is wood slats put together with cut nails. The back of the mirror is stamped sterling silver. The front is mahogany and gold gilding.
6. Hired to repair and refinish an original foot locker that belonged to a WAC from WWII. The woman that hired me explained it was her mother's and she had passed away. She handed it to me in pieces. When I brought it back to her she was crying as I sat it down in front of her.
I love taking something that was damaged or painted and bringing it back to life so it can be used and admired
Below are the mirror that was painted and the Empire dresser that had been completely orange.
again.
Always wanted to do it. Just lacking the time, space, and talent. Other than that I'm all over it!
