Restoring an Old Jewelry Box

Before

I picked up this baby from a thrift shop for around $12 bucks and then replaced the lining and gave it a fresh coat of paint. It's mostly wood but it's nothing too fancy or antique. I had to strip the existing pink velvet lining because, frankly, it was dirty and smelled. I shopped for new fabric and installed it using measurements to cut posterboard and wrap it with fabric using spray glue. To ensure a good fit, I cut the corner piece in a diagonal fashion to create a miter. I chose to use a sky blue cotton fabric and ivory paint to give it a fresh farmhouse-chic look.

Recycling a Record Cabinet

Before

I bought this cabinet from a Goodwill -God, I love that place- and turned it into my new nightstand. It was originally used to hold classic records in the '60s but since then these mod cabinets are frequently found cheap at bargain stores. I think they are just awesome and the perfect storage unit for books!
 After taking it completely apart, I sanded it to rough up the surface and prepare for paint. I used Valspar's Thorny Brush spray paint. The brass caps on the legs were cleaned with brillow --And the matching brass flower knobs I just happened to have left over from another project. All for only around $10. Love!

The Tanker Desk

Refinishing this baby was a huge undertaking and my biggest project yet. This type of vintage steelcase desk was used in the 1950's up until the 1980's as a staple in offices and corporations around America. It's made purely of steel and takes a cue as it seems to weigh as much as an Army tank. Today these guys are no longer used widespread thus, they are being recycled as scrap or junked. But if you watch any office scene on Madmen, you will see the tanker in all it's glory.

My sister of course, had to have this desk for her office being that she is an antique lover and a journalist-- hello? Tanker just goes with the territory.

As you can see, this monstrosity is no longer green, but Rustoleum's shade of Almond. It's much softer-looking and shinier too. I began by removing all handles and sanding every green part with a coarse 150-grit sandpaper. This removed any loose rust and prepared the surface for primer. After wiping clean and spraying a sandable, metal primer into the dings and let it dry, I continued sanding with a less-coarse 400 grit sand paper. Using blue painter's tape, I protected the top from overspray and began spray painting every knook and cranny with the enamel. The top is made from a type of linoleum, which lucky for me, was not gouged. I light sanded this as well with a 400 grit paper. The metal trim around the top, handles. and legs were cleaned with brillo pad and water. And for kicks, I used polishing compound to smooth out the top layer. Bada bing, an authentic steelcase tanker desk! All it's missing now is a fabulous chair.

A Dresser in Shambles

Transforming an ordinary, mission-style dresser into a beautiful (and now functional) piece of furniture was fun! It was in pieces and littered with watermarks and uneven stain patterns throughout so I decided to paint it-- I used Valspar's shade of Hotel Vanilla. The square knobs came from Target.

Sanding, priming and painting the drawers was a process that took about two days. I used a 120 grit sand paper on all the drawers to remove the sheen, and then used a stain blocking primer to seal the grain and cover up any unevenness. I then spray painted the front while protecting from overspray using a piece of cardboard. 







A Reclaimed Retro Coffee Table

I picked up a solid black coffee table from my local goodwill; it was peeling and chipped but I could tell it had good bones. So I paid the lady $14 bucks for it and fit it into my car. After stripping all the paint from it I discovered it's teak, a common wood used to make furniture in the 60's --score! The top however, was made from a laminate/formica type of material, which needed to be fine-sanded and painted. I chose black to give it a sharp look that also ties in with the tinge of black still in the pores of the wood after stripping. It yields a vintagey look on this classic living room table from the '60s era. After doing a little research, I discovered it's a name-brand piece that sells for as much as $350 on other vintage websites.

A New Look on an Old Wrought Iron Bed

I completely changed the look of my antique wrought iron headboard by adding a coat of paint. These beds are a classic fixture from the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of which are still around today, as mine was rescued from a thrift store. It was missing a spindle so I chose to remove the other leaving just the center and then added some faux wildflowers that tie in with the flower motifs. Originally white, it's now a light metallic gold.
When refinishing, I used a piece of sandpaper to scrape off imperfections to create a smooth surface. A little acetone goes a long way when removing remaining layers of paint. Spray paint outdoors on a dry day or in a well-venitalted area. Apply thin coats in back and forth motions to prevent drips. Instant gratification :)

A Cool Find

As I continue my search for unique pieces to add to my sister's house, I found and fell in love with this oak cabinet with lead-glass panels. All of twenty-five bucks from a thrift shop, it's quite a find for a piece of old-world glamour that belongs off every kitchen --to have drinks placed upon or to store plates, pictures or any of your favorite things.

Guessing by its' original patina, this piece was made quite a few years ago. And like most furniture of a bygone era, was crafted with quality. I didn't have to do much but give it a good wipe of a rag and Murphy's wood soap. Its original wood charm shines through. I reinforced the antique glass with a little glue, just to be safe. And voilà... a new life and purpose to a beautiful piece of vintage furniture.