Restoring and (re)painting furniture
Before and after: from wood finish to paint finish
So you’ve had your kitchen painted (or any room in your house for that matter) and now you feel something is wrong. It’s not the kitchen itself. You love the cabinets. The drawers are all gorgeous. The island is a beacon of perfection. Nevertheless, something is off…
Then it dawns on you.
The kitchen furniture. It looks tired and worn out amidst the glory of the freshly painted units and cabinets.
That burn mark from the time your dad did his soldering project at the kitchen table.
The lines of crayon you’ve never been able to get out from when your little girl vigorously went over the edges of her colouring book. Why was her favourite colour hot puke green?
The scratches from when your little boy slayed the “Table Dragon” using the garden rake.
The patch from when next door’s monster cat got in and started scent marking the place.
And that wine stain everybody knows absolutely nothing about. Or it might be blood. It’s hard to tell anymore.
The chairs aren’t any better. They look as if they were only ever used by people wearing suits of armour.
Or, maybe, it’s much more innocent. The colour of the furniture doesn’t fit the new colour of your kitchen.
You decide there is only one thing for it. Your furniture needs to go. You only hope it doesn’t get rejected by the local dump.
But hold on!
Before you chuck it out, ask yourself:
Is the furniture still structurally sound?
If it isn’t, can it be fixed easily?
If the answer to either of these questions is “Yes”, your furniture can be returned to a state of beauty.
I haven’t really mentioned it here on the site, but that’s the other kind of work I do. I paint furniture: tables, chairs, wardrobes, beds...
You really would be surprised what a good clean, sanding and fresh coat of paint can achieve.
And let’s be honest. We’ve all got one eye on the environment at the moment. I’ve noticed a real increase in interest in restoring furniture, rather than chucking it out and replacing it. It’s kinder on the bank balance too.
So if you’re thinking your furniture isn’t looking its best anymore (especially if you’ve just had your kitchen painted), take a moment to consider revitalising it rather than buying new.
The same applies to your children, regardless of their crimes against your furniture. But not next door’s cat. Next door’s cat should definitely be replaced. He’s terrifying.
Before and after, bedside cabinets & headboard