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50 Times Someone Ruined An Item And People In This Online Group Restored It To Its “Original Glory”
Over the past years, more and more tasteless DIY'ers have been ruining perfectly fine coffee tables, dressers, and other pieces with lousy paint jobs.
However, there's now a counter-movement, dedicated to fighting their crimes. And many of them can be seen on the subreddit 'Reverse Pinterest.'
According to its 'About' page, this online community is dedicated to "showcasing handcrafted wood pieces that have been rescued from Pinterest-paint hell and restored to their original glory."
Maybe it's not the biggest subreddit, but its 24K members provide a steady stream of content (much of which is produced by their own effort), so continue scrolling and check out their most popular posts.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Restored This Beauty To Original Glory. $20 Goodwill Cedar Chest Returned From Crackled Paint Torture
LandAhoy 3 years ago
Perhaps it was not varnished and it acquired marks, scratches and stains, which the restorer would have had to sandpaper and then varnish.
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Yay Pandas! 3 years ago
I get frustrated when I watch DIYers paint over furniture that has a beautiful grain and great color.
Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
This chest is in the same design as my mom’s. The only thing different is that it has a lock latch instead of a long handle. This style was produced by a company located in Quebec Canada called Victoriaville. I’m looking to get hers restored after the many many moves it has accompanied us on over 70 years. But at no time did or would I contemplate painting over this basic beauty.
Mad McQueen 3 years ago
Lane cedar chest 40-60s era. I have it's twin!!!!! Mad69McQueen@gmail.com if need photo proof ask
Brazen 3 years ago
I have one too and I had no idea how old it was. My husband's parents were just going to throw it away after his gramma gave it to them. The paint on the one above is almost the same as what's on the one I have. I'm kind of shocked to be honest.
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Aunt Messy 3 years ago
This is a Waterfall design hope chest, built in the lat 1920s to mid 1930s. They were not the most expensive pieces if furniture at the time, but the veneers they used are a combination of walnut, mahogany, and teak. They were varnished when they came out of the factory, but that varnished tended to yellow with age, so even if someone hadn't painted it, it would have needed a light sanding and a new coat of varnish. Restored in this condition with a cedar lining (that would probably have to be replaced too, but it's easy), these sell for up to $1500.00 to $2500.00.
Mosheh Wolf 3 years ago
That price sounds about right. We have a Waterfall style dining room set - cost $450 to buy, $400 to ship, and $2,000 to restore. Worth every penny.
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jknbt jknbt 3 years ago
somebody should flog without mercy whoever painted this in the first place
RELATED:
#2
I Don't Know If I Can Top This One! Fully Restored Brasilia II Petite Buffet
Mia Black 3 years ago
Actually i like the colours in the first picture and maybe it fit Better with the other furniture this way. As long as this beautyful piece is not destroyed, just remodeled, i don't think it is that bad
Deux 3 years ago (edited)
I've always wondered why people get so annoyed about what people choose to do to their own items in their real homes. Stop gatekeeping, let people like what they like,
NannyChachi 3 years ago
I'm a purist when it comes to old/antique furniture. My heart is happy to see these pieces reclaimed to their original beautiful selves.
RedCorvette 3 years ago
I friggin hate all the furniture restorers who paint beautiful wood furniture like this.
Kiss Army 3 years ago (edited)
After my in-laws passed, we sold their house. It was a modest house but they had spent big money on a kitchen redo and had beautiful solid wood cabinets and the house was bought by a home flipper who painted them all white. When I saw the photos, I could have cried!
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Second-hand furniture can add a unique edge to a home and is often easier on your wallet. According to interior designer Deirdre O'Connell, there are things you can do to better your chances of coming across a great find.
"Scouring for second-hand furniture isn't for everyone, but its advantages have never been so great," she said.
"There is the obvious, generally large, financial saving, all the while doing your major bit for climate change, but with global material shortages and long, changeable, shipping delays, wait time for decent furniture can now regularly be 25, 30, even 40 weeks."
#3
Behold, The Most Satisfying Reverse Pinterest Of 2021
ItsJess 3 years ago
I really can't understand it...the wood is so gorgeous and warm. The design is beautiful and so well thought out to take advantage of the nature grain pattern. Why cover it all up? I wish I could ask one of these people what they were thinking.
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M O'Connell 3 years ago
I wouldn't say Pinterest is to blame on this one. The k**b choice screams "the 1970s" so it's possible that was done decades ago.
olx 3 years ago
1. the censoring of k**b 😭 2. i agree, i think the original would also fot better with the rustic farmhouse chic aesthetic thing pinterest has going on
Load More Replies... Mary Lou 3 years ago (edited)
When it comes to needlessly ruining a piece by renovation, my grandparents take the cake: they took a beautiful wooden kitchen cabinet and didn´t paint over it, but masked it with FAKE WOOD FOIL! I inherited it eventually and my father helped me renovate it... Don´t think I got a photo of the before-state anymore...
Jessica Billeter 1 year ago
The mirror image diagonal grain is a fantastic look. Someone devoid of all sense of style made the before. Great job on the restore including choice of pulls.
#4
Painted Antique Mantle Restoration Transformation
Tamra 3 years ago
Stripping and restoring something like this is a labor of love...getting the paint out of all of those grooves is a nightmare.
Jessica Billeter 1 year ago
Truly impressed. All those grooves and detail to bring back must have taken forever.
Margaret Price 2 years ago
My mother did something like this to several chairs in the 70s. I spent hours in the garage stripping all the paint and staining them maple. They were gorgeous. Sadly, they eventually fell apart.
Janet Graham 3 years ago
This is beautiful! Well done! Years ago (1980ish) a friend had her house bought out so they could put a highway through. Her house was very old and she let her friends come and take what they wanted. We snagged a fireplace piece very much like this one. As it had too many layers of paint, we paid the $100 to have it professionally stripped and sanded. My MIL fell in love with it so we gave it to her. I never saw the finished piece, but I was so glad it was saved.
#5
Something I Did A Few Weeks Ago. :)
IDGAFabtyourfeelings 3 years ago (edited)
It went from looking like the barney version of the creature from the upside down in "Stranger Things" to a beautiful base.
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Sterling Hill 3 years ago (edited)
Do a search for Kroehler oval glass coffee table - LOVE the way the base is described as "organic" walnut - there was a metal tray to fit the bottom for a planter. I have a very similar one by Adrian Pearsall
The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
Love the base flip plus the wonderful magazine holder. That space could hold so many things...including some great plants (or realistic faux plants).
For this variety of reasons, more and more people are turning to local vintage, antique, and “pre-loved” finds to furnish their homes, and with a little thought, they can achieve a gorgeous look too.
"As a designer, I avoid anything too perfect, or anything too dated and fussy," O'Connell said. "I like contemporary schemes, of bright rooms with charming furniture and interesting touches. I love the mix of the old and the new."
#6
Heard You Guys Like A Good Before And After
Cheryl Ramsay 3 years ago
All of the above "renovations" are beautiful. I have never understood why people paint over old furniture (unless the veneer is damaged or other damages beyond repair). I love old wood and always refinish it like it was. To me, it is so much warmer than painted furniture. And don't get me started on the "distressing" c**p.
Marjo B 3 years ago
I know, right?! I once saw a tutorial about distressing where they whacked actual chains against woodwork. It almost physically hurt me just by watching it
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Lily Mae Kitty 3 years ago
Another piece of Broyhill Brasilia brought back to life. This piece is original though and not a marriage like the one above.
Renae Weidman 3 years ago
It matches the petite buffet from the list above. Maybe you could get together and make a match?
#7
Lane Acclaim Side Table Hidden Under Pea Green Paint!
Hatred Pony 3 years ago
My stepmom has two of these tables at her beach house that she proudly painted over with 2 god awful ocean scenes. I'm the artist in my family and she keeps sending me pictures asking me what I think and it takes every bit of me to not be like, "Why would you do that? It's hideous."
Stannous Flouride 3 years ago
That table sells for $500 on various platforms. I hadn't heard of Lane Acclaim before seeing this and looked them up. Established in 1959, and still going strong. https://midmodmen.com/2013/06/13/lane-acclaim-going-strong-at-54-years-old/
Jack Cunningham 3 years ago
OMG. We had this side table (and its matching coffee table) in my house growing up.
#8
Thinking My Recent Rehab Of This Pre-Pinterest Paint Job Would Be Enjoyed Here
René Sauer 3 years ago
the after looks nice, but in this instance I would have refreshed the paint. It looks like it is part of a fifties american diner ^^
Emily 3 years ago
I don't love the leather handles on the outermost drawers but I like the restoration. Why is the top k**b in the middle drawers different from the other five?
#9
Thought Y’all Might Appreciate My Efforts
Hill Branda 3 years ago
Why, dear God, would someone cover up that great workmanship? LOVING the dovetails.
D Green315 3 years ago
Usually this happens when the wood gets dinged and knicked and the original owner doesn't know how to resurface it. Most of these rebuilds are grinding away a certain amount of the wood to refinish it, so we can only do this kind of restoration so many times before it starts to thin out the original wood to the point of unreliability
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natalie cohen 3 years ago
Oh my goodness ! Thank you for bringing such a beautiful piece back . ❤️
To find old treasures, she has made a list of the places where she can source a range of furniture, collectibles, homewares, and bric-a-brac.
In the country she's living, Ireland, there are plenty of wonderful, second-hand marketplaces online, like Done Deal, Adverts.ie, and Gumtree, which are free to sell on and easy to navigate.
Find out what alternatives the internet has to offer for your area, and in the search bars, use brand names or shops like Neptune, Bo Concept, Casey’s Furniture, or Ventura to discover any items from valued furniture names.
#10
Vintage Console I Stripped A While Ago
Aunt Messy 3 years ago
Wow, are those tambour doors? This was a VERY expensive piece of furniture if they are.
FrillyDragon 3 years ago
That colour is so beautiful! And those cute little accent bits on the sides! What's the matter with people??
#11
The Abuse Is Finally Over
Nizumi 3 years ago
Someone ... painted...over...INLAY...?!??!??!?!?!? Why would you paint over inlay?!??
Annemarie Mattheyse 3 years ago
This is JAW-DROPPING. I'm amazed OP saw the potential under all of that.
#12
I Put Two Months Of My Time On Weekends And After Work To Remove The Awful Paint From This Gorgeous Danish Teak Desk With Floating Legs!
Ren Karlej 3 years ago
Shouldn't that be floating drawers rather than legs? Doesn't matter I know, but I was just curious 🤷
Aunt Messy 3 years ago
This is a classic mid-century desk that you would have to pay a vintage dealer up to $7000.00 or so, depending on who made it.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Such a beautiful restoration. A pox on they who caused that damage.
#13
Was Told To Post Here. Before And After De-Pinteresting
Peign Gaming 3 years ago
But I am mad that the depinteresting left the base painted.
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LittleWombat 3 years ago
I'm glad the trend now is towards appreciating vintage items, but if you recall, these things were all painted over because they were not in style and it's the painting over the wood grain that "saved" many of them from the trash. Things go in and out of style, none of it bad or good, just different. In the late 90s/early 2000s, all 80s stuff we loved was stupid and out of style; now it's all beloved again. Just like this furniture. "Old grandma garage sale furniture" that we now treasure in it's original grain! Glad everything comes back in style eventually!
Tina Girard 3 years ago
The before looks like it belongs in a garage holding screwdrivers and wrenches. Love the after.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
Whyyyy do people paint superior wood furniture? IKEA furniture is one thing but look at that wood grain!!
1st Dibs, for example, is a world-class platform, full of vintage designer listings and is regularly used by interior designers for antique and modern furniture.
You’ll see its name regularly in the sourcebooks of design magazines. However, remember that even vintage designer furniture often doesn’t come cheap, so it might be a good idea to start your searches from "Price Low To High" if you're looking to save an extra dollar.
#14
A Ridiculous Amount Of Love, Patience, And Skill Went Into Reversing These Mid-Century Modern Pieces! I Restore For A Living, And Although I Really Hate Dealing With Painted Stuff, It Makes Me That Much Prouder Of My Craft
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Paint isn't really an awful look on that drop-front desk. I certainly wouldn't condone painting one in the first place though.
Barbara Vandewalle 3 years ago
How do you get all of the paint out of the wood grain? The end tables are beautiful.
#15
Under 3 Coats Of White Paint And 1 Coat Of Green, Was This Beautiful Rimu Timber
Asexual nope rope 3 years ago
I adore that wood color/grain why would anyone in their right mind paint over that?!
Tim Crasborn 3 years ago
I work with a lot of Rimu, it's a native timber here in New Zealand. Sadly most forests were cut down to build houses or burned to clear for farmland. It's a very common timber here when looking for recycled wood. It's not a favourite for some because it's common, but it's probably my favourite timber because it's got amazing grain patterns and colours. A lot of people polyurethane it but that tends to yellow over time, 3 coats of Danish oil (Tung oil with thinners) brings out the best colours and doesn't yellow over time.
Hippopotamuses 3 years ago (edited)
When my kitchen was replaced, we discovered rimu had been used for the cupboard and drawer carcasses, and pine for the cupboard and drawer fronts. 1960s New Zealand!
Jennik 3 years ago
My first house was a 1952 stucco cottage. The framing was heart rimu! Fun fact - it was the house that David Lange's first wife moved into after their divorce. We discovered that because after David Lange died we got loads of sympathy cards addressed to his ex-wife in our letterbox. Fortunately I was able to pass them on to the publishers of his biography who had a contact address for her.
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#16
Before And After
Ren Karlej 3 years ago
Such beautiful wood panelling - why on earth do people want to hide this under layers of paint?
digitalin 3 years ago
Sometimes the original finish on old furniture seems beyond repair. The people featured here are doing more than removing paint; they are restoring a finish which is not easy or accessible for everyone.
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Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
If there are Nobel prizes for reclaiming covered art treasures then the restorers in this post would get them!
Sandy Farley 3 years ago
Unfortunately, painted wood furniture became vogue during the 1960's thru the 1980's. Thus the reason for all these lousy "cover-ups."
#17
Restauration Process, Finished!
Tabitha 3 years ago
I think it would have looked amazing with black stain instead of black paint! But the effort to restore it is stunning with beautiful results.
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Alexandria Tyme 3 years ago
Wow, I am looking at and thinking of the wardrobe in beauty and the beast same shape I think. You took the beast and made it beautiful again
Barbara Vandewalle 3 years ago
For some reason the refinished reminds of the Clock from 'Beauty and the Beast"
Then there are charity shops, antique shops, markets, and salvage yards. Again, do your research and find out where they are located around you. Even if you don't find anything visiting these places, your time won't be wasted.
"There is a great sub-culture to the second-hand furniture world," O'Connell said. "In my experience, things tend to be memorable; you'll have a funny story to tell, you’ll encounter hilarious characters, or you’ll learn the hard way about measuring up!"
#18
Thonet Dining Chairs, Redeemed
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
What’s with the metallic paint? There was a bedside table on her that was painted silver too.
bill marsano 3 years ago
Still, not exactly a complete restoration. The original didn't have padded seats.
Melissa Hamed 3 years ago
Why you would want wooden chairs to look a metal is beyond me. I love the new seats.
#19
Stripping Paint Is The Absolute Worst. Three Weeks After Staring I’ve Finally Made It, Boys. Just Picked Up Another Similar Dresser Painted Brown. Why Do I Do This To Myself
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Because you’re a good person who rescues abused furniture and rehomes it to someone who will cherish it in its intended form.
Lisa Lysholm 3 years ago
Right...? Someone painted over burled wood? My heart...!
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Janet Graham 3 years ago
Beautiful work! You should be proud to be bringing life back to these abused pieces.
#20
Before And After
#21
American Of Martinsville Dresser That I Tried My Best To Restore
However, as you can see from the pics, some things look better if you withhold from painting them. Interior designer Kelli Ellis thinks you should not pick up a brush just for the sake of doing it.
"Slapping any old paint on the furniture can turn into a disaster. Take time to consider what your best paint options are, or leave the furniture as it is," Ellis said.
#22
My First Furniture Unflip
Nene Miu Miu 3 years ago
That is absolutely beautiful! To look at it makes my heart sing I want to just sit by that beautiful piece of furniture and its sunny glowing finish that is like summertime it is fantastic
Kerry Schultz 3 years ago
a blonde wood Heywood Wakefield! what kind of monster would paint that?
Moya Satterwhite 3 years ago
Omg, the wood, never coverup the wood, some of them are worth a lot with the unpainted finishes.
#23
I Saw This Desk On Cl For $50 And Drove From San Antonio To College Station To Pick It Up. Restored It In American Oak And Black Lacquer
Felice Coles 3 years ago
I'm in awe of how people see the beauty underneath the abuse. I mean, they must envision how good it could look after restoration, and that kind of ability is underappreciated!
#24
60s/70s Wine Bar Restoration
#25
The ‘Distressed’ Console That Caused Me Such Distress
Ren Karlej 3 years ago
Distress? Poor thing looks like it was in agony! Much better now, beautiful wood.
ItsJess 3 years ago
It makes me want to cry, a tree gave it's life for that abomination
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Hedgielover98 3 years ago
I don't get why people will pay money to make something look so beat up.
Ash 3 years ago
Yeah, I actually rather like the teal color, and kind of prefer it to the natural wood grain here, but the distressing... yuck. lol
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"Painting furniture is a skill that takes time to master. It is a bad idea to simply attack a piece of wood ... with a paintbrush or spray can."
"Although you can find videos on YouTube, you truly need more than a three-minute explanation of how to do it," the interior designer highlighted. "People who rely on the Internet to help them paint furniture almost always end up with furniture they do not want to keep."
#26
I Bought This Coffee Table In 2018 For $15 At A Flea Market Because It Was Cheap And I Needed Something For My Living Room. Finally Got Around To Stripping It This Weekend
Torrey Walters 3 years ago
The before picture looked alright, but I'm so glad you removed the paint
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Oh, what an excellent demonstration of ugly duckling to beautiful swan.
#27
Pair Of Lane Acclaim Round Tables
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
What a handsome rescue of this abused pair. The abuser obviously has damaged vision to think that the horrible grey paint was acceptable.
#28
Facebook Marketplace Makeover
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Thank you for seeing the inner beauty of this abused piece. Your restoration is admirable.
#29
Final Update On My Mcm Nightstands! Before, Fully Stripped, And After! They Are My Pride And Joy
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 3 years ago
Tbh, the pint-job looks really good and i like the colorchoice. If one doesn't want the heaviness of the original, their hoice was not too bad.
Ellis said that even though it is currently trendy to paint furniture, trends tend to change with the wind.
"Something that seems to look good now can easily seem dated in a few years. At that point, you are either stuck with your 'handy work' or in for a huge refinishing job."
#30
Johnson Carper Ronda Saved From Teal Spray Paint
Lisa Tetlow 3 years ago
My mother-in-law had a beautiful wooden "sleigh bed" bedroom set that she painted with a reddish purple "stain." I almost cried. Then, she chopped the beautiful vanity, that had a big round mirror that you could sit in front of, in half and made 2 small end tables out of the 2 halves. She painted them reddish purple as well. That time I DID cry.
#31
Forgot To Take A Pic Of The Finished Product Without Stuff On It But! My First Reverse Pintrest On This $10 Genuine Mahogany Dresser That Had Been Spray Painted
Tammy Wait 3 years ago
Because they have no idea about what woods are or how majestic and expensive or special they are.
#32
Reverse Pinterest That A Friend Did
Brooke Howard 3 years ago
“It’s ok, Brooke. It’s ok. Let it go. There is nothing you can do to fix those whacked out handles. Breath…”
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Nastassja Abercrombie 3 years ago
This is another one where I will be the oddball and say I like that weird paint color better 😂
Karen Grace 3 years ago
That is incredibly beautiful wood!! I could never bring myself to paint it!
#33
Beautiful Restoration Job
Bobby 3 years ago
Anyone else get really confused until the realized the after picture was first?
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Yes! I definitely thought that the first picture was the "before", and I thought that it is gorgeous - far better than the mis-identified "after" picture. The actual restoration is excellent! You know, the first picture!
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Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 3 years ago
I feel like I would break this by sitting on it!!
Amy Watkins 3 years ago
Beautiful!!! Reminds me of the furniture at the Frank Lloyd Wright hotel (Price Tower) in Oklahoma.
#34
It Had To Be Done. I Hope You'll Enjoy The Result
Aniviel 3 years ago
I prefer the before. The after looks like any other side table you can get.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
My husband would have loved the before. Those are the colors in one of his competition kites. (Yes, real men fly kites. Check it out on YouTube).
Chiara Lago 3 years ago
What I don’t understand is for years we have been inundated with articles about salvaging wooden pieces and encouraged to use chalk paint to create “Shabby Chic” works of art for cheap. I admit, I never did that nor restored the wood either since I am no expert. So what I’m learning now is the trend is to go back to the piece of furniture’s origin? I prefer the original to the painted but sometimes one doesn’t have the know how to do that.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Another gorgeous restoration! Congratulations! I, too, like the green piece but only to cover ceap MDF or plywood and such. Leave these beautiful wood pieces alone!
#35
Reversed This $10 Fb Marketplace Kroehler Side Table
Jelena 3 years ago
I will never be able to understand why someone would cover a perfectly beautiful wood structure with any kind of paint, I know tastes are not up for debate, but still......
M O'Connell 3 years ago
I think they might have been matching it to a "Spanish Colonial" decor style. Wood furniture inlaid with brightly painted ceramic tiles is pretty common. At least the previous owner didn't carve out spots for actual tiles in this one.
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Emily 3 years ago
Is it just me or does the angle this photo was taken make the table look like it isn't level? It looks like it's at the angle drawing tables are usually put at. 20-45 degrees according to Google. That wouldn't really work for a side table next to your couch. Everything would slide right off.
Lisa Tetlow 3 years ago
Who would have thought that under that funky geometric design was a beautiful table waiting to be rescued?
#36
Stripped And Sanded This Mission Oak Coffee Table. Happy To See The Tiger Oak Back Out In The Open
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Some people just don’t know what they have when they paint over such beautiful wood.
Just Me 3 years ago
Some people... Like me... Grew up in a home surrounded by stained wood furniture and just want more color in their lives too.
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Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Thank you for rescuing this gorgeous piece of art. It's as if they painted over a Wyeth with poster paint. Revolting "before" abomination to beautiful reclamation!
#37
Restored This Johnson Carper Fashion Trend Desk. This Paint Did Not Want To Come Off
Lisa H 3 years ago
Genuine question on these projects since I don't know: is taking a sander to the wood a last resort to strip the paint? Or just a big no altogether?
Argie Smith 3 years ago
A lot of antique furniture has veneers. Sanding may damage them and that cannot usually be repaired.
Load More Replies... Ladies and Gentlemen 3 years ago
There is no paint, which wants to come out of wood. It tests your patience and desire to restore the wood to its glory.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Ohh, the curved drawers are such a lovely expression of the woods beauty! It was stunningly horrible before, now it is truly stunning!
#38
I Found This Painted Broyhill Brasilia On Craigslist And My Husband Fixed It
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Your husband did an incredible restoration of this beautiful piece!
#39
Stripped The Paint And Transformed It Into A Tilt Out Storage Cabinet
Lisa Tetlow 3 years ago
Amazing what you can do to what looks like nothing more than a tired, worthless old piece. You gave it a second life.
#40
My Refinished Bassett Dresser, It Was Pink!
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Someone should be incarcerated for causing that putrid pink excreta. The restoration is admirable. A work of beauty!
#41
Lane Acclaim End Table For $50 On Facebook Marketplace, Before And After
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Why anyone would paint a flat color over such beautifully patterned wood is beyond me. I much prefer the contrasting colors of wood used in the inlay to the dull flat blue—-even though blue is a favorite color of mine.
Robin DJW 3 years ago
Wow. I've got two of these that my mother bought new in 1959. Are they valuable?
Danniee Gyrl 3 years ago
YES!!! Used they (this one shown) start at like $500.00 ...go to Lane Acclaim catalogue ..these are really nice pieces
Load More Replies... Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Ohhh! Thank you for saving this beautiful piece. The before hurt my eyes and I am trying to "un-see' it...
Carolyn Simpson 3 years ago
I have this exact same end table and matching coffee table in original condition. Got them new in 1964. You did a wonderful job on yours !
#42
I Was In Desperate Need Of A Dresser And Bought This Cheap. 7 Layers Of Paint Later I Found This Beautiful Wood Underneath
Alexandria Tyme 3 years ago
Why! Just why would you think that paint job made it better. Thank you for sharing your skill at restoring amazing furniture
Janet Graham 3 years ago
If those are real locks on the drawers, those keys are pretty common.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Another gorgeous rescue, I would have used wooden knobs but the glass ones are ok. The whole project is a tremendous rescue!
Melissa Hamed 3 years ago
The part amazes me is there was seven layers. They couldn't really decide how badly they wanted to screw it up. And you of course can see it's chipping like crazy.
#43
First Time Rehabbing A Piece. Broyhill Sculptra Dresser. Few Mistakes With The Finish Due To Impatience. But I’m Happy With It For A $30 Thrift! All Thanks To Dashner Restoration Youtube Channel
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Very nice work. The original designer would appreciate your work, as do we Pandas.
Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 3 years ago
Man I wish you could get stuff this cheap in the UK. Most places I've found, the shops that sell furniture second hand tend to know what they've got and higher prices. Our "goodwill" or charity shops tend to mainly just sell clothes and ornaments; Knick-knacks
Moya Satterwhite 3 years ago
Some of these have marquetry, very difficult and worth a fortune some of them.
#44
Stanley Furniture “Linear Precision” Credenza
Aunt Messy 3 years ago
Solid Brazilian rosewood, which is now banned. $20,000.00 to $35,000.00, depending on condition. Hard to say without seeing the interior.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
Great job! I just can't fathom "option A". Do they also have bodies buried in the back yard? Who hurt them in their formative years?...
Moya Satterwhite 3 years ago
The grain has been matched so well on this. Congratulations for being able to treasure it.
#45
Beautiful Wood Grain Revealed
#46
My Crusade Upon Painted Antique Furniture
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Painting over such pretty wood grain should be a crime punishable by being painted the same color and not allowed to wash it off.
Karla Lawatsch 3 years ago
I agree with Kathryn and her creative deterent to any future crimes of abominable coloration. I'll have my paint brush at the ready to help in meting out justice.
#47
Thrift Store "Rescue"
Donkey boi 3 years ago
FAKE! You can tell it's not the same clock because they are showing a different time!
Amy Watkins 3 years ago
Why why why would someone paint a clock and make it look like that ... like why do that on purpose????
#48
Reversed It
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Looks so much better in its intended form—-the mosaic even looks better contrasted with the wood rather than the white paint.
#49
I Wish I Could Pay $170 To Purchase This Piece Off Of Fb Marketplace And Restore It...literally Should Be A Crime To Do This
NannyChachi 3 years ago
Is it just me or is anyone else sick of inspirational quotes on everything? I'm not inspired by them at all.
Jul Chv 3 years ago
Meaningless clichés whith an illusion of depts. I find that we, generally are too much into quotes as a society. Give me some fckng context. Half of the quotes are twisted into saying things the original author di md not mean anyway.
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Lisa Tetlow 3 years ago
Someone worked so hard to ruin this beautiful piece and probably felt so good about it afterward. Glad it was rescued and given back its dignity.
Diana Pahule 2 years ago
I don't mind the paint and map, but not on that piece. Save it for cheap pine.
#50
First Major Restoration
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Was this actually a restoration? People forget that plenty of mid-century furniture was painted from new and this piece looks like one of them. I used to have a sideboard that was in a milky speckled finish that was definitely original. An aunt of mine had a bedroom set that was the same way.
ChickyChicky 3 years ago
Yes the color and stain look like original pieces from the period.
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Another Amy 3 years ago (edited)
Ah, those pieces with the tiny ridges are so intense to work with
Pete Nosal 1 year ago
The wood is plain and dull because they intended to paint it from the start
I'mNotARoboat 2 years ago (edited)
That white thing on the top of it on in the left photo is, I'm quite positive, a baby changing mat/cushion. It has a strap at least but it looks very unsafe.
#51
My First Before/After. Any Id Help Would Be Awesome
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Now, at least the paint or stain job in the before picture was well done, though I will always much prefer the original wood.
#52
Most Recent Restoration. Gunni Omann For Axel Christensen Credenza
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Since credenzas are usually found in offices, why tf would anyone paint it white, rather than keep the richer looking wood?
#53
Bassett Rescue: Before And After
#54
Crossposting This Here. There Really Is A Sub For Everything!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Beautiful. Must’ve been a b***h to get the paint (?) lacquer (?) off!
#55
Our Neighbours Left This On The Street! So Glad I Picked It Up
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
WTF did they do that fugly paint job for? To purposely ruin a perfectly lovely piece of furniture?
Hugh Walter 2 years ago
Ugly in either version, looks like the stuff they supplied for Officer's army quarters in the UK in the 1970's!
#57
Before And After Refinishing A Painted Zenith Mid Century Record Console I Got For $25. Please Please Please Don’t Paint Nice Furniture
#58
A Mid Century Basset Glow Up! Only Sanded And Teak Oiled, I Loved The Contrast!
#59
First Reverse Pinterest Project On These Danish Mid Century Candlesticks
#60
They Look Better In Person. Found 1950s Heywood Wakefield Chairs $4 Each, Slathered In Thick Green Drip Dried Paint. I Know It’s Not Their ‘Correct’ Color, But I’m Cheap, Don’t Prefer Light Wood, And They Work For Me, Plus The Wood Grain Is Cool. Total Cost Beyond Materials Already In My House: $8
tabitha knipp 3 years ago
Not everyone can look at furniture and be like Oh that's Heywood Wakefield! I mean wow the assumption on your part.
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#61
Before And After On My $70 Marketplace Find. Lane Brutalist Nightstands
#62
Very Happy With How This Turned Out!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
While it’s fine to be into mermaids, please refrain from f*****g up perfectly lovely wood furniture by painting one on it.
ThatHuskyStorm 3 years ago
I’m not going to lie. I like the before quite a bit. I’m not that big into mermaids but it’s a nice piece. I feel like removing the paint kinda killed the character of the furniture .
#64
One Month Of Work And Countless Hours Of Sanding. Nowhere Near Perfect But I’m Really Proud Of How It Turned Out. Details Of The Restoration In The Comments
#65
The Salvation Of A Lane Copenhagen Nightstand
#66
Revived A Streaky, Drab Paint Job! Not Perfect (The Wood Color Is Inconsistent, And There’s Some Dings), But I’m Jazzed It’s Finally Done
#67
My $10 Garage Sale Find Was Pristinely Preserved Under So Many Layers Of Paint
#68
I Stripped And Sanded A Dresser I Found Earlier This Summer. It Was My Second Project And I’m Really Happy With The Way It Turned Out
#69
Thank Goodness The Paint Wasn’t Too Thick And The Wood Was Nice. Easy Restoration But Always Satisfying When You Scrape Off The Paint And Get The First Glimpse Of The Wood Underneath
#70
Found These Chairs For 12$ Each, Stripped Most Of The Black (The Center Was Veneer And Was Scared I Might End Up Messing It Up) I Think They Are Denmark Mcm
#71
Found This At The Thrift Store And Figured I Had To Give It A Chance. I've Never Sanded, Stripped Or Finished Anything But I Figured It Couldn't Possibly Get Any Worse. They Also Ripped The Manufacturer Sticker Off The Inside Of The Top Drawer, So I Have No Clue Who Made It. Not Perfect But Better
#72
Broyhill Pacemaker - Not Perfect, But I’m Pleased With My First Paint Removal Project So Far
#73
Fb Flip! Not Perfect But Much Better
#74
How It Started vs. How It’s Going. Now I Just Need To Reattach The Handle And All That Will Be Left Will Be To Find A Spot For It In My House (The Hard Part)
#75
Stripping! Found This Poor Baby In The Wild
#76
Stripped And Refinished A Couple Of Doors That Had Been Painted And Even Had Wall Paper On Them. Unfortunately The Panels Of Them Were Just Too Much Work To Try And Get To A Condition To Stain Them So We Tried A Unique Color Combination
#77
Stripped Another Goodwill Vase. Honestly, I Think That The Textured Paint Looked Better…
Casey McAlister 3 years ago
It would look better if it was a different colour. This one just looks dirty.
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What do you think ?
Donkeywheel 3 years ago
Mixed feelings. Some pieces of furniture look better with natural wood, some look too old and outdated and benefit greatly from a paint makeover (if done correctly)
XenoMurph 3 years ago
Yes, if the people who painted them had the time and skills to sand, varnish, fill, and finish these (possibly very unfashionable items, at the time) I'm sure they would have.
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NopedOut 3 years ago
I used to paint furniture as a teen. It was cheap, easy, something I could do. These are all stained beautifully but the stuff I picked up? Well, wasn't. It was usually nasty, banged up c**p. Painting was a near-free way to make something presentable again.
DuchessDegu 3 years ago
Those look extra nice because they've been sanded and newly varnished, if they're left without cleaning and polishing it'll look c**p again in 10 years and then it's much easier to just paint it over than remove the old varnish. Plus as you said, fashion. Brown furniture was a crime against fashion for quite a few years!
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The Starsong Princess 3 years ago
These all look really nice but reality is that the market for all the brown wood furniture is small. Most people are ok with a few pieces but don’t want their entire house it in. So the pieces either get painted or thrown out. I have some painted pieces and I like them a lot.
Shane S 3 years ago
Some of the ‘Before’ photos were better. Sometimes it all comes down to style and know-how. Just because you can paint something, doesn’t mean you should. Likewise, if painting something keeps it around for another generation, then do it. The point here is that most things can be undone, so whatever works for you. As we’ve seen, you can always paint something or strip and restain.
Kat Min 3 years ago
Because so many people ask 'Why would anybody paint over xyz???' Because you have a ton of dark wood furniture in your house and you want a lighter room. We have one midecentury piece at home, nowadays, among lots of lighter funriture. Our parents an grandparents had ONLY dark wood furniture and sometimes just wanted a change. (Disclaimer: I have never painted an old piece of furniture. I live among many of them, though, and especially in winter, the brown does get on my nerves, occasionally)
Raine Soo 3 years ago (edited)
My brother is guilty of all the atrocities in the 'before' photos. In the late 1970's, he painted all his wood furniture, including his kitchen cabinets, a bland white. Even though I was very young at the time, I didn't understand why he would cover up something natural looking. Times change. Tastes change, and he probably regrets it now.
KM 3 years ago
manual polishing and special chemical solutions can get rid of almost anything as I've learned recently. It is a lot of hard work though and if you want to have your furniture restored by someone who knows what they are doing it's going to cost a lot (and I mean a lot) of money
Load More Replies... Donkeywheel 3 years ago
Mixed feelings. Some pieces of furniture look better with natural wood, some look too old and outdated and benefit greatly from a paint makeover (if done correctly)
XenoMurph 3 years ago
Yes, if the people who painted them had the time and skills to sand, varnish, fill, and finish these (possibly very unfashionable items, at the time) I'm sure they would have.
Load More Replies... NopedOut 3 years ago
I used to paint furniture as a teen. It was cheap, easy, something I could do. These are all stained beautifully but the stuff I picked up? Well, wasn't. It was usually nasty, banged up c**p. Painting was a near-free way to make something presentable again.
DuchessDegu 3 years ago
Those look extra nice because they've been sanded and newly varnished, if they're left without cleaning and polishing it'll look c**p again in 10 years and then it's much easier to just paint it over than remove the old varnish. Plus as you said, fashion. Brown furniture was a crime against fashion for quite a few years!
Load More Replies... The Starsong Princess 3 years ago
These all look really nice but reality is that the market for all the brown wood furniture is small. Most people are ok with a few pieces but don’t want their entire house it in. So the pieces either get painted or thrown out. I have some painted pieces and I like them a lot.
Shane S 3 years ago
Some of the ‘Before’ photos were better. Sometimes it all comes down to style and know-how. Just because you can paint something, doesn’t mean you should. Likewise, if painting something keeps it around for another generation, then do it. The point here is that most things can be undone, so whatever works for you. As we’ve seen, you can always paint something or strip and restain.
Kat Min 3 years ago
Because so many people ask 'Why would anybody paint over xyz???' Because you have a ton of dark wood furniture in your house and you want a lighter room. We have one midecentury piece at home, nowadays, among lots of lighter funriture. Our parents an grandparents had ONLY dark wood furniture and sometimes just wanted a change. (Disclaimer: I have never painted an old piece of furniture. I live among many of them, though, and especially in winter, the brown does get on my nerves, occasionally)
Raine Soo 3 years ago (edited)
My brother is guilty of all the atrocities in the 'before' photos. In the late 1970's, he painted all his wood furniture, including his kitchen cabinets, a bland white. Even though I was very young at the time, I didn't understand why he would cover up something natural looking. Times change. Tastes change, and he probably regrets it now.
KM 3 years ago
manual polishing and special chemical solutions can get rid of almost anything as I've learned recently. It is a lot of hard work though and if you want to have your furniture restored by someone who knows what they are doing it's going to cost a lot (and I mean a lot) of money
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