Furniture Makeover: Antique Multi-Drawer Storage Cabinet

A painted antique multi-drawer storage cabinet gets a fresh new raw wood finish! 

Last week, I picked up an antique multi-drawer cabinet from a local auction.  

It was damaged, poorly painted, and covered in dirt and dust.  I love anything with drawers, so I took a chance, bid without seeing it in person, and bought it based on the online pictures. 

The cabinet was solid wood, so I knew I could give it a raw wood finish or a fresh coat of paint.  Either way, it was bound to look better than it did before!

I don't know who made the executive decision to paint the top of the multi-drawer cabinet fire engine red, the body deep blue, and the drawer numbers bright yellow.  

The colors were not doing the cabinet any favors and needed to go ASAP. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO STRIP A MULTI-DRAWER STORAGE CABINET

- Dewalt orbital sander

- 80/150/320 sanding pads

- 400 grit sandpaper

- Citristrip Stripping Gel

- Mineral Spirits

- 14-in-1 painter's tool (or large chisel) 

- Screwdriver

- Disposable Gloves

- Lint-free towels

- Plastic wrap

- Briwax Liming Wax

HOW TO EASILY SAND AND STRIP AN ANTIQUE MULTI-DRAWER STORAGE CABINET

I had to split this project into two days, so I started with the drawers and stripping the blue paint from the original metal hardware.

Months ago, I removed unwanted spray paint from antique brass and used the same technique to restore the drawer hardware. 

While wearing gloves, I coated the metal hardware in a generous amount of Citristrip.  I let it sit for about 20 minutes (away from direct sunlight) until I noticed the paint starting to peel away.  I wiped off as much of the Citristrip and old paint as I could then washed the hardware in hot soapy water.  

Any leftover stuck-on paint or stripping gel was cleaned off with Mineral Spirits. 

The hardware is worn, rusty, and far from perfect, but it's original, full of character, and better than being painted blue.  

For the drawers, I started with 80-grit sandpaper to remove most of the paint and stain and then finished sanding the drawers with 150-grit and 320-grit sandpaper.  

Resource: Furniture Sanding 101: How to Sand Wood Furniture

The next day, I got working on the base of the cabinet.  

I started with Citristrip to remove the first couple of paint layers.  The old paint scraped off effortlessly using a 14-in-1 painter's tool and then I sanded off the last layer of stain to the raw wood. 

I sealed the entire cabinet with Briwax Liming Wax using a lint-free rag.  After waxing, I gave the cabinet one final sanding with 400-grit sandpaper for an ultra-smooth raw wood finish.

There's still a bit of red paint in the dings and gashes, but look how well the cabinet and drawers cleaned up!

I love antique pieces with loads of texture and character.  This one definitely has both!  

This antique multi-drawer storage cabinet came a long way from layers of paint and stain to a beautiful raw wood finish.  I can't wait to see how someone uses and styles it in their own home! 

What do you think?

     

    

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Before and After: Refinished Six Drawer Oak Card Catalog

A damaged antique oak card catalog gets restored and refinished to its original beauty! 

One of my favorite aspects of antique furniture and decor is its undeniable character and history.

The dings, dents, and worn finish add depth, charm, and interest to any space. 

Sometimes, all they need is a good cleaning and wood conditioner to bring them back to life.  Other times,  a little more work and a complete refinish and restoration are required to maintain their charm and beauty. 

Just the other week, I came across a small six-drawer antique card catalog while checking out local online auctions. 

It was a little worse for wear with a cracked, uneven, and damaged finish.  I could tell right away though that it was an authentic oak antique card catalog that had potential.  

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO REFINISH AN ANTIQUE CARD CATALOG

- Dewalt Orbital Sander

- Sanding pads (80/150/320 Grit)

- Cistristrip Stripping Gel

- Special Walnut Wood Stain

- Waterbased Poly Matte finish

- Plastic Wrap

- Wallpaper scraper

- Disposable gloves

- Screwdriver

- Bar Keepers Friend

- Paintbrush

- Lint-free shop rags

- Paper towels

HOW TO REFINISH AN ANTIQUE CARD CATALOG

I was excited to get started on refinishing the card catalog and cranked it out in one incredibly hot afternoon.  I started by removing all the old hardware and setting it aside to clean and reattach later. 

I prefer to sand off the majority of old stain rather than use a furniture stripper.  To remove the very dark finish from the card catalog I started sanding with 80-grit sandpaper then worked my way up to 320-grit. 

Resource: Furniture Sanding 101:  How to Sand Wood Furniture

How cool is it that while sanding, I unexpectedly uncovered the original Shaw Walker maker mark?

I knew it needed to be salvaged, so I carefully sanded around the mark making sure not to sand it off.

To remove the stain from the corners and detailed trim, I switched to using Citristrip Stripping Gel.  I  don't like dealing with messy strippers, but it can come in handy when removing stain from hard-to-reach places.

I poured Citristrip around the edge and along the curved trim, covered the area with plastic wrap, and let it sit for about 30 mins.  Covering the Citrisrip keeps it from drying out and extends the time it can be left on a surface. 

You may also like:  How to Remove Spray Paint From Brass

I repeated the process on the other side of the card catalog and the fluted front detail.  I wiped off as much Citristrip and old stain as I could then cleaned up the rest with Mineral Spirits.  

Once the majority of the stain was removed,  I gave the entire card catalog another good sanding then wiped it down again with Mineral Spirits. 

After the wood was dry, I applied one coat of Special Walnut wood stain and two coats of water-based matte poly. 

I prefer the look of age and patina and hadn't planned on cleaning the original hardware, but it really was pretty cruddy.  A good soak in hot soapy water and a little scrubbing with Bar Keeper's Friend was all it needed to remove the majority of build-up. 

The refinished antique oak Shaw Walker card catalog still isn't perfect, but it sure does look a lot better with its new brighter finish.  

It's fresh and clean, yet still has some of its original dings, character, and charm!

     

 

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Furniture Makeover: Sleek White Painted Credenza

A dated wood credenza gets a sleek makeover with white paint, black metal feet, and new cup pulls!

In January, after five years of being at the same location, I decided to leave my brick-and-mortar vintage booth.  At the time, it was causing unnecessary stress and wasn't the best fit anymore.

Fast forward a few months...

I was approached with the opportunity to return to my old booth under a new owner and name!  For the past month, I've been working alongside a great group of talented vintage and home decor lovers to clean, paint and renovate the old dairy barn into a beautiful, fun, and hip monthly market.  

Getting back to a vintage booth of course meant getting back to painting and updating more furniture!

Today, I'm sharing a quick before and after of a recent credenza makeover and my favorite displays from our Grand Opening last weekend. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PAINT A DATED PIECE OF FURNITURE

- Old piece of furniture (great secondhand furniture sources) 

- Fusion Mineral Paint (I used Casement) 

- Zinsser Bin shellac primer

- Dewalt Orbital Sander

- 80, 150, and 320 Sanding Pads

- Dewalt Drill with Drill Bits

- KwikWood Epoxy Putty Stick

- Purdy Paint Brush 

- Inexpensive paint brush (to use with primer)

- Screwdriver

- Lint-Free Rag

- General Finishes Satin Finishing Wax

- Hardware

- Four black metal triangle cabinet feet

- LA's Totally Awesome (Dollar Tree sells this cleaner too!)

- Paper Towels

I found the credenza on Facebook Marketplace for $40.  It had some damage and was a little short, but it was solid, had dovetail joints, and was an ideal project piece. 

First, I fixed the height issue with the addition of four black metal triangle cabinet feet.  They're the same ones I added to the antique card catalog in my home office.  I knew they would be the perfect stylish fix to lift the credenza to a better height. 

After I added the feet, I started sanding the entire piece with 80-grit sandpaper.  Originally, I wanted to do a raw wood finish, however, I quickly realized the drawer fronts weren't solid wood.  I ended up sanding the top raw and then the body just enough to remove the chippy and uneven clear coat.

I started with 80-grit sandpaper then worked my way up to 320-grit for a nice smooth finish.

I thoroughly cleaned the entire piece, and applied three coats of my favorite shellac primer and two coats of Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement, sanding well between coats.  

I finished the piece with General Finishes Satin Finishing Wax and new black metal cup pulls. 

I didn't have time to stage and take pictures at home, so pictures from our collaborative space at Lily & Birch will have to do. 

We created a vintage Americana display and the white credenza was the perfect addition.

Source: Vintage By LHOF, Dulcis Home, Cottage + Crane

Aren't these vintage bathing suits from Dulcis Home absolutely adorable and perfect for Independence Day decorating? 

The entire barn looked incredible for opening weekend!  Here are a few photos from some of my favorite displays and vignettes. 

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage By LHOF

Source: Cottage + Crane

Source: Lily & Birch Market

Source: Cottage + Crane

Source: Cottage + Crane

Source: Cottage + Crane

Source: Cottage + Crane

Source: Cottage + Crane, Lily & Birch, Amy's Stuff

Source: Dulcis Home, Vintage By LHOF

Source: The Past Restored

Source: Dulcis Home

Source: Dulcis Home, Vintage By LHOF

Source: Vintage BY LHOF

Source: The Past Restored

Our grand opening last weekend was amazing!  Mimosas, cookies, shopping, music, food, and lots of laughs, fun, and good vibes.  I could not ask for a better team to be a part of. 

Come check out Lily & Birch Market if you live near or around Frederick, MD.

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