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30 People Share Their Incredible Restoration Stories Of Items Ruined By Pinterest DIY Fails
Antique furniture in good condition is getting harder and harder to come by since the natural wear and tear of time always takes its toll. Imagine the horror of going to a flea market or yard sale, and seeing a fresh, but out-of-place coat of paint over an item made almost 100 years ago.
This online group documents these cases, where enterprising or possibly well-meaning individuals ‘converted’ items to look more like aesthetic trends straight out of Pinterest. Fortunately for viewers and buyers alike, they also document how people restore these items. So scroll down, upvote your favorite ‘rescues,’ and check out our previous article here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Restored This Beauty To Its Original Glory. $20 Goodwill Cedar Chest Returned From Crackled Paint Torture
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 years ago
I know! Why do people paint over that stuff? D:
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Chewie Baron 2 years ago (edited)
Before we beseech the previous owners for what they did, don’t forget that we had a trend for about 30 years where the natural wood look was out. Anything that came from a tree was painted in whatever trend was going. Crackled, faux marble, rag rolled, the lot!
Ruth Meszaros 2 years ago
Wow! I can’t fathom the mindset of someone covering this instricate woodwork with stupid gray crackle paint!
RELATED:
#2
$75 Craigslist Find. Ended Up Getting It For Free After He Saw We Were Expecting. First Time Refinishing Something!! Pleased With How It Came Out
Michelle C 2 years ago
The difference was absolutely mind boggling! Why would anyone want to repaint some thing so beautiful and end up hiding its aesthetic?
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
Wow, it looks like an entirely different piece of furniture now. For a first time refinishing job I’m thoroughly impressed!
Jennifer Biness 2 years ago
hate me if you want, but I think it looked better painted (though that paint job needed a lot of work)
#3
Lent A Helping Hand To This Poor Cedar Chest (Henderich Furniture Company). Boy, Was I Pleasantly Surprised To Find Such A Gorgeous Grain Beneath That Paint
Debby Keir 2 years ago
I understand why people paint over cheap pine or chipboard, but beautifully grained wood - why?
Monday 2 years ago
Might not have matched. We have a s****y painted cabinet because our floor and ceiling are already wood so adding more wood to it just looks.....wrong.
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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago
Just looking at the former beauty I'm always amazed by the fact that people kill such beauty to begin with.
Dorothy Stovall 2 years ago
Who are these people who paint over perfectly beautiful wood pieces?
Many of the pieces here might not be strictly speaking antiques. While the style might be that of a previous century, or even older, Christie’s, the famed London auction house, defines antique furniture as at least 100 years old. But a quality piece doesn’t have to be a century old for an enterprising person to try and ruin it with ‘modern’ features. Aesthetic trends come and go quite rapidly in this day and age, which might benefit fashion designers, who can create items quite quickly.
Furniture, particularly good quality furniture, can take so long to construct that the current trends may have shifted twice by the time the craftsperson is done. Unfortunately, many interior design enthusiasts or simply potential sellers think they can get a better deal or more attention by modifying an existing piece into something that better fits the current fad.
#4
Liked The Shape Of This Vase And Knew It Was Spray Painted, No Guess As To What Was Underneath But Decided To Give It A Go. Pleasantly Surprised
un-izzy 2 years ago
The second one is stunning. Glad they restored it - it would be a shame if it just stayed like that forever.
tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa 2 years ago
Especially with the weird outline of the flowers under the gold
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Janice Lincoln 2 years ago
How were you able to take fake gold paint off without damaging the vase? It turned out beautiful!!
Marcellus II 2 years ago
Glass is very hard and reacts with little, question is if those coloured things (leaves? flowers?) are painted-on or solidly-coloured-glass-thats-molten on... If the last, then any solvent would do. I'd start with some solvent (white spirit, turpentine substitute, ...) from the bottom of the golden vase as a test; you could try a heat gun and something wood to scrape it off, but very careful to see what those things do.
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Alison Hobbs 2 years ago
Is there a maker's mark on the bottom? It looks a bit like Poole pottery made in the UK. If it is it may be quite valuable.
#5
Goodwill Rescue Of The Week
Saw Some Cobalt On The Bottom Of This Bud Vase. Got The Twine And Hot Glue Off Only To Find That It Had Three Layers Of Paint On It (Black, Gold, And Red). Some Soaking In Boiling Water And Some Very Satisfying Paint Peels Gave Me This
Dr 2 years ago
Unfortunately I can see why the last person reached for the hot glue gun and the twine
Marcellus II 2 years ago
I have the same feeling, I would want neither in my house (like many of the vase/ceramic objects in this topic). That said I'd try to sell/donate in the original state not make it differently ugly.
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
From a horrible Frakencraft to a gorgeous piece to proudly display.
Kay Phillips 2 years ago
Yeah, cool, but does anyone else wonder why is every word capitalized?
RosenCranzLives 2 years ago
Looks like a Moorcroft. Those are collectible and worth some money.
Marcellus II 2 years ago
My betting is it's some sort of beach theme: There will have been assorted seashells, this thing, maybe a glass floater from a fishing net, some twisty beachwood, ... . Or similarly a 'natural' theme with some sticks and pinecones etc.
Load More Replies... #6
$25 Solid Teak Table
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 years ago
I will never understand why people paint over beautiful natural wood… ugh
Shark Lady 2 years ago
Wooden furniture was out of fashion for quite a long time, it was almost impossible to sell it so people covered it in paint to update it. Now the fashion is for the original wood.
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Jane Cortez 2 years ago
Gorgeous! I have only paint over wood that has been really water damage stained or chipped/gouged…..
If you are in the market for used furniture, it’s important to take some precautions so you don’t fork over serious cash for a lemon. As this list shows, people can be pretty good at making excellent pieces look terrible, but they are just as good at upselling terrible items. So first and foremost, make sure you are buying from a trusted seller. Like shopping for real estate, it’s best to see the item in person and maybe avoid online sales if you can.
#7
For $8, I Couldn't Pass Up The Challenge
PeepPeep the duck 2 years ago
I like both on this one 😆 first one has that early 60s feel, like out of a Brady bunch or jetsons episode.
#8
This Weeks Goodwill Find. Why Would Anyone Have Painted This??
Jennifer Biness 2 years ago
they painted it for the same reason OP removed the paint- they liked it better that way
#9
I Was Not Looking For A Project But Walked Past This Table In A Thrift Store And Felt Obligated To Address This Monstrosity
Erica Knapp 2 years ago
I just can't get over the amount of folks that think painting all this beautiful wood is a good idea.
Maddy Cole 2 years ago
loving this post and all this great work; it's like bringing the dead to life again! So inspiring.
Ture antique and vintage items will often have paperwork verifying the age and craft that went into them. Always make sure to look for potential damage in areas not shown in the pictures, like the back side of a wardrobe or the inside of shelves. Some experts advise that you always avoid old mattresses, if possible. Once a stain or smell has ingrained itself, it can be very difficult to clean out without the help of a professional. And at that point, you might as well just buy a new one.
#10
My Uncle Fixed Up This Desk That You Guys Identified As A Jan Kuypers Piece. I Think It Looks Pretty Neat
#11
My Dad Didn't Have Much Respect For Nice Furniture, So He Painted This Glossy White And Wrote On It With A Sharpie. I Restored It
Epona 2 years ago
I'm not entirely sure what this piece of furniture is/was originally meant for, but I love it (the after) and want it!
Agnes Koko 2 years ago
The fact that the word center is absolutely not in the center bothers me in a weird way.
#12
I Had No Idea How Beautiful It Actually Was!
OneSoulHero 2 years ago
Holy c**p. That's an insane transformation! Beautiful beautiful deep red color.
Cheryl Ramsay 2 years ago
All of the revolving piano seats I have ever seen are this same wood. Cherry or Mahogany, Im not sure.
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Hugh Walter 2 years ago
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it's a big 'nope' from me, that's ugly in any language and in any coat!
Jennifer Biness 2 years ago
so, did they strip it, and then stain it? otherwise, how would that color have survived the stripping process? looks a lot better in that cherry though
More enterprising buyers might find an interesting item of furniture in poor condition and decide to reupholster or refinish it. This can be a great way to get an old, vintage piece of furniture while still having it feel and look like it was made recently. While more expensive than other options, good furniture will last you a long time, and who wants to cheap out on an uncomfortable bed, sofa, or chair?
#13
Refinished A Painted Gem. Harlequin Line For American Of Martinsville Designed By Merton Gershun
#14
Before & After: Mcm Hutch From Fb Marketplace
2CentSally 2 years ago
Green looks like 50s/60s and wood looks 70s/80s. I almost wonder if it was just green from the start
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Sponge Blob 2 years ago
After looks like typical communist era furniture. I guess it's just not pretty in the first place.
#15
My First Before/After. Any Id Help Would Be Awesome
Annette Swiers 2 years ago
Has any one thought of asking it what it would like to identify as ?! No one wants a cross dresser 😅
KatherineAmerica 2 years ago
Bravo !! Wonderful restoration !! You just have to wonder How could one ever cover up such Beauty?
Lisa Johannesson 2 years ago
This one... Was probably supposed to be painted. That stuff looks pretty original intent.
Plus, refinishing an item lets you make it fit your home design more precisely. Make sure to take pictures of the room you plan to place the item in. It can be hard to plan for what you’ll find at a flea market or secondhand store. So it’s best to still work out a few guidelines of what style, color, and finish you are looking for. If an item doesn’t fit completely, assess if it can be refinished to work with your intended design.
#16
Saved At $30 Bassett Mid-Century Nightstand
#17
Bye Bye, Yellow "Antiqued" Paint!
Yoongi's Tongue 2 years ago
I guess but everyone knows how to restore wood it have a possibility to do so, so it's easier and cheaper to just paint it if it's damaged/old
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M O'Connell 2 years ago
In the right room that would have looked just fine
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#18
Saw This At Goodwill For $30 And Knew Something Amazing Was Underneath. Never Restored Furniture Before So It’s Not Perfect But I Love It
To that end, it’s always a good idea to try before you buy. Some items can look fantastic but might be supremely unergonomic or uncomfortable. You can reupholster a couch, but if the angle of the back is unbearable, there is little someone can do. Also, make sure to get an idea of the weight of the item and its dimensions. Even with delivery specialists, you can easily run into logistical problems, like a giant wardrobe not fitting through any doors or a dining table so heavy you can barely get it off the ground.
#19
Not Sure If This Counts As "Reverse" Or "Slightly Un-Pinterested", But I Like It
Epona 2 years ago
Why is this getting downvoted?? People are allowed to like different things from each other! I like both. I prefer the natural wood, but I do kind of like the colour choices of the painted version. They are not my style, but they aren't the worst.
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Trash Panda 2 years ago
"Pinterested" and "unpinterested" should now become verbs and adjectives.
#20
Before And After Refinishing A Painted Zenith Mid Century Record Console I Got For $25. Please Please Please Don’t Paint Nice Furniture
Michelle C 2 years ago
This reminds me of the one my maternal grandmother had. You just brought back a ton of memories and thank you.
#21
Teak Table Restoration
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
I would love to learn about furniture refinishing. It looks like a freaky fascinating hobby.
Peppy 2 years ago
Wouldn’t it be amazing to restore some monstrosity, must be so satisfying
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#22
First Time Restoring Furniture/Woodworking!!! Found This Mcm Dresser On The Side Of The Road🤩
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
Also known as a Star Wars dresser. (Because you have to use The Force to open the drawers.)
Jennifer Biness 2 years ago
drawers without pull knobs, usually have space underneath the drawers to pull them out
Load More Replies... #23
Finally Finished My First Restoration Project! It’s Not Perfect But I’m Pretty Satisfied! (White Was Before)
Danielle Becker 2 years ago
In the '70s and '80s, they painted over EVERYTHING. I wish I had the talent for restoration.
2CentSally 2 years ago
These waterfall pieces are my favorite!! It kills me that people paint them
Amberlie Mikelsen 2 years ago
Why in the name of all that's sane would anyone paint something that gorgeously unique!?
Nannychachi 2 years ago
That's a chifferobe. I wish I had one! It's my favorite piece of antique furniture.
#24
I Refinished A Blonde American Of Martinsville Credenza
#25
A Recent Save
M O'Connell 2 years ago
The finish was probably sunburnt. I have a Lane cedar chest, the top of which was completely destroyed by sun exposure. The veneer was a bit too thin to give it the sanding it needed, so I finished it in a much darker stain than the rest of the piece. If someone with less skill were presented with the choice of "paint or dumpster" then paint was the right choice.
Load More Replies... #26
Before And After: Green Secretary
Connie Martin 2 years ago
The pulls are just like the ones on my mahogany dresser
Load More Replies... ️r@!n¥ d@¥$️ 2 years ago
It’s not too bad before but it’s much better with its natural color 🥰
Charlie Dearden 2 years ago
Pretty sure this article is lying here… I think the one on the right is the before and they’ve just switched it.
Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
My parents had one like this, then they decided to paint it with gold faux finishing. Yuck! I always wanted it, but my mother (you had to know her to understand) gave it to the Goodwill. I wanted to strip it down to the original finish. Hope someone else had that opportunity.
#27
Never Would’ve Thought Such Beautiful Grain Was Hiding Under This 70 Year Old Paint Job
#28
Finally Finished Rescuing This 1954 Beauty! (Details In Original Post Comments)
#29
No Idea Who Would Buy This, Paint It, And Throw It To The Curb, But I Love My New Lamp 👍
#30
Got Me An Old, Damaged Bookcase For 5€
Attila Ángyán 2 years ago
This is a set of Bonanza furniture made in Romania in the 70s. Even Ikea was selling them under the name of Toledo.
#31
Got This Stunning Vanity Off Of Facebook Marketplace. Unfortunately, Someone Mutilated It By Coating It In Three Layers Of Paint Covering It’s Beautiful Real Wood
We took more than 20 hours of scrapping the paint, sanding, and refinishing to restore this beauty.
#32
Restored Painted Blanket Chest. Walnut Veneers With Burl Walnut And Curly Maple Panels
#33
Tried To Bring An Original 60's Bassett Mayan Nightstand Back To Life After A Furniture Flipper Got Their Hands On It
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
It looks so much better without that bizarre mint green paint.
#34
My $10 Garage Sale Find Was Pristinely Preserved Under So Many Layers Of Paint
#35
Before And After On My $70 Marketplace Find. Lane Brutalist Nightstands
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 years ago
So gorgeous after! Why people do this to furniture, I’ll never know…
#36
Crossposting This Here. There Really Is A Sub For Everything!
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Why people paint over such beautiful wood is beyond me. They don’t realize what they have, so they don’t respect it. They don’t deserve it either.
#37
My $60 Dinette Set, Leaves Not Pictures. This One Was Really Satisfying For Me
#38
Picked This Cutie Up On The Side Of The Road A Few Years Back!
#39
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
#40
Refinished A Buffet I Got For $25
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Flat black paint over that gorgeous wood. I would ask if you bought it from the Addams Family, but dammit, I know Gomez and Morticia would respect it more.
#41
A Small Reversal - From Yellow Spray Paint To All Clean, With Bonus Provenance On The Back
#43
Bassett Rescue: Before And After
#44
Found These Chairs For 12$ 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
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
You can check with professional furniture restorers to see if they can help you safely strip the paint off the veneer. If you don’t feel like you can do it, maybe pay one of them to do it for you.
Agnes Jekyll 2 years ago
They are MCM. Gorgeous! Stripped, these chairs would cost over 100 each, easily.
#45
The Salvation Of A Lane Copenhagen Nightstand
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
With such a lovely color of wood, why tf paint over it? Paint the plywood junk all you want, but leave the solid wood beauties alone.
#46
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
#47
Our Neighbours Left This On The Street! So Glad I Picked It Up 🙌
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
The before picture looks like some of the godawful s**t the decorators on an interior decorating reality show would do.
#48
Stanley Furniture “Rosewood Bow Tie” Credenza I Restored
#49
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
#50
A Mid Century Basset Glow Up! Only Sanded And Teak Oiled, I Loved The Contrast!
#51
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
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
My mother was a big fan of blonde wood, and she would’ve absolutely loved this piece.
#52
Free Drawer Set Revealed
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Wait. What did you do with the medallion I can see under the paint in the center? That probably was an original part of it.
Cathelijne Van 2 years ago
The medallion but also the knobs. It's the details that count. Hop they were saved.
Jul Locklin 2 years ago
The missing medallion was the first thing I noticed. I think it added something special.
#53
Just Finished Fixing Up This Desk! First Time Doing A Project Like This
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Not really. It’ll only make you pull the drawers crooked and get them stuck. There’s a reason for center placement.
Load More Replies... #54
Very Happy With How This Turned Out!
GlassHalfWay 2 years ago
I actual like the wood stain on the left, you can really see the beautiful wood grain vs the right pic.
Midnightoil 2 years ago
I also prefer the left wood stained picture. Seeing the grains of the wood is what you strive for. The painted part, no...
#55
Most Recent Restoration. Gunni Omann For Axel Christensen Credenza
#56
Still A Work In Progress But I Love It Already!
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Beautiful wood, but I would’ve picked another fabric for the cushion. Sorry, but my late teens and early twenties were spent in the land of “earth tones”, so I prefer to stay away from beige and brown.
#57
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
#58
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)
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
If you can’t find a place in your house, you could sell it or give it as a gift to someone who’s decorating their first house—-as long as they promise to keep it natural and never EVER paint it.
#59
Found A ($100+) West Elm Chair By The Dumpster. Was Covered In A Cheap Pink Paint. Came Right Off With A Sponge, Cleaner, And Some Elbow Grease!
#60
This Little Lady Has Been Reverse Pinterested And Brought Back To A Mid Century Beauty! Normal Wear For Her Age
#61
Fb Flip! Not Perfect But Much Better
Becca Kuehn 2 years ago
I'll never understand why some people feel the need to cover these beautiful pieces of wood furniture with paint. You did a great job of rescuing this piece.
#62
First Reverse Pinterest Project On These Danish Mid Century Candlesticks
#63
Six Asko Chairs From The 1940's Has Gone Through Major Renovation
#64
Stripping! Found This Poor Baby In The Wild
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
Now that you’ve got it down to the wood, a nice stain and lacquer (you can go glossy or flat, whatever you prefer) will put the finishing touches to it.
#65
Broyhill Pacemaker - Not Perfect, But I’m Pleased With My First Paint Removal Project So Far
#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
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Natural wood isn’t going to be uniformly colored, so don’t worry about that. You did that piece of furniture a huge favor by getting that s**t paint off of it.
#67
Recent Amateur Refinish I Did. The chairs Are Brasilia But Would Love Help ID-Ing The Table (Maybe Broyhill Forward 70 Line)
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Mia Black 2 years ago
I already wrote it in another post: just because a piece of furniture was painted and the color might not have been thought up with the original design, it doesn't destroy the piece of furniture. sometimes a different finish or a different fabric goes better with the furnishings and then it's good if the furniture is redesigned so that it fits instead of being thrown away. and often enough it actually looks better afterwards (which is ultimately in the eye of the beholder) but at least mostly more appropriate in the apartment. I'm an upholsterer and I'm always happy when a boring old pink cover is exchanged for a modern fabric and the whole thing is rejuvenated.
Pheebs 2 years ago
I agree. Some of the pieces didn’t actually look terrible before they were restored. The real problem is a lot of them were painted badly - not even speaking about color choices. Just the work done was not great, and did little to no justice to the overall look of the pieces.
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Eliyahu Rooff 2 years ago
Years ago, a friend asked me if I would "repaint" a piano for his church's youth room. They were thinking about one of those disgusting "antique" white finishes that used to be in vogue. I looked at it and told him I'd be happy to refinish and restore, it, but I wasn't going to slap paint on the rosewood cabinet. Several coats of varnish later, they were very happy with it.
Sh_alien 2 years ago
People get so mad because not everybody is drawn to or enjoys the look of plain wood furniture.
Nikole 2 years ago
I love wood furniture but some of those were just tacky, before and after.
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Lea S. 2 years ago
We really need to talk as a society about what 'ruin' means. NONE of these pieces of furniture were ruined - they had bad paint jobs. Maybe some of them were someone's first attempt at doing a piece of furniture on their own. I know this attitude that something is RUINED is why I pay people to do anything like this instead of attempting it myself. I'd love to try it but there would definitely be some fails and I would feel awful with someone crying 'aaaahh you've ruined it.'
gotham-panda 2 years ago
What people don't understand is most of these pieces were painted to make taking care of them low maintenance. Unpainted wood needs a lot of polishing and oiling to make it look its best and people decided they didn't want to waste their weekend time polishing the wood. And if you live a fast paced life, and don't have time for that, you end up with sad, dull wood furniture pretty quickly.
Tyranamar Seuss 2 years ago
Plus sometimes furniture is fun painted. Like the child's dresser. I liked the paint better than the wood on that. But to each his own. Someone of the ones with really beautiful grain patterns are amazing. But some are just fine either way.
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Teresa Spanics 2 years ago
The people who did these excellent restorations should not be surprised if they get offers to buy the furniture they restored.
Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago
I think in many cases, the huge amount of work involved would exceed the monetary value of the restored piece. It's a labour of love.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 2 years ago
Anyone else thinking about popping out today to see what they can find?
schamui 2 years ago
I don't get painting solid wood. That tree took decades or even centuries to make that grain. Wood grain depicts a life. A solid clear coat is not more work than a clean paint job and does not need more maintenance. Paint is for engineered wood.
Jutta Plötz 2 years ago
Because some people don’t like it. I will always paint wood because I like it.
Load More Replies... Maddy Cole 2 years ago
Difficult as it is, imagine all of the "before" pictures as "afters," and the "afters" as "befores". Yes, there is a "furniture artist" in our local marketplace who consistently ruins these fabulous pieces with paint!! I often see her shudder-inducing cringey "work." This is the best post of the day by far.
Mia Black 2 years ago
I already wrote it in another post: just because a piece of furniture was painted and the color might not have been thought up with the original design, it doesn't destroy the piece of furniture. sometimes a different finish or a different fabric goes better with the furnishings and then it's good if the furniture is redesigned so that it fits instead of being thrown away. and often enough it actually looks better afterwards (which is ultimately in the eye of the beholder) but at least mostly more appropriate in the apartment. I'm an upholsterer and I'm always happy when a boring old pink cover is exchanged for a modern fabric and the whole thing is rejuvenated.
Pheebs 2 years ago
I agree. Some of the pieces didn’t actually look terrible before they were restored. The real problem is a lot of them were painted badly - not even speaking about color choices. Just the work done was not great, and did little to no justice to the overall look of the pieces.
Load More Replies... Eliyahu Rooff 2 years ago
Years ago, a friend asked me if I would "repaint" a piano for his church's youth room. They were thinking about one of those disgusting "antique" white finishes that used to be in vogue. I looked at it and told him I'd be happy to refinish and restore, it, but I wasn't going to slap paint on the rosewood cabinet. Several coats of varnish later, they were very happy with it.
Sh_alien 2 years ago
People get so mad because not everybody is drawn to or enjoys the look of plain wood furniture.
Nikole 2 years ago
I love wood furniture but some of those were just tacky, before and after.
Load More Replies... Lea S. 2 years ago
We really need to talk as a society about what 'ruin' means. NONE of these pieces of furniture were ruined - they had bad paint jobs. Maybe some of them were someone's first attempt at doing a piece of furniture on their own. I know this attitude that something is RUINED is why I pay people to do anything like this instead of attempting it myself. I'd love to try it but there would definitely be some fails and I would feel awful with someone crying 'aaaahh you've ruined it.'
gotham-panda 2 years ago
What people don't understand is most of these pieces were painted to make taking care of them low maintenance. Unpainted wood needs a lot of polishing and oiling to make it look its best and people decided they didn't want to waste their weekend time polishing the wood. And if you live a fast paced life, and don't have time for that, you end up with sad, dull wood furniture pretty quickly.
Tyranamar Seuss 2 years ago
Plus sometimes furniture is fun painted. Like the child's dresser. I liked the paint better than the wood on that. But to each his own. Someone of the ones with really beautiful grain patterns are amazing. But some are just fine either way.
Load More Replies... Teresa Spanics 2 years ago
The people who did these excellent restorations should not be surprised if they get offers to buy the furniture they restored.
Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago
I think in many cases, the huge amount of work involved would exceed the monetary value of the restored piece. It's a labour of love.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 2 years ago
Anyone else thinking about popping out today to see what they can find?
schamui 2 years ago
I don't get painting solid wood. That tree took decades or even centuries to make that grain. Wood grain depicts a life. A solid clear coat is not more work than a clean paint job and does not need more maintenance. Paint is for engineered wood.
Jutta Plötz 2 years ago
Because some people don’t like it. I will always paint wood because I like it.
Load More Replies... Maddy Cole 2 years ago
Difficult as it is, imagine all of the "before" pictures as "afters," and the "afters" as "befores". Yes, there is a "furniture artist" in our local marketplace who consistently ruins these fabulous pieces with paint!! I often see her shudder-inducing cringey "work." This is the best post of the day by far.
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