First Attempts at Furniture Restoration
I've been trying to learn several different crafts and household skills in the past few years.
We found this little table many years ago at a yard sale. It had two sections that could be raised, lowered, or tilted. I took the smaller section off because its mechanism wasn't working. But the table was also really dinged up and way too small for me to spread out my books and writing stuff at the same time. I had been wanting to try my hand at furniture restoration, so this table was my first victim.
I decided to keep the base and replace the top. I went to Lowe's and bought a piece of pine that was the right size for my new top. Then I sanded it and dyed it blue in the same color as a foot stool I did a few months ago. I buy the wood dye at Michael's; they always have great deals that make it affordable.
I also bought a long strip of wood about two inches wide, the same length as the table. This was for a ledge to hold up whatever is on the table when it's at a slant.
I decided I wanted words on the ledge, so I penciled them on...
and then etched them in with a wood burning tool...
...and then dyed the ledge to match the table.
I flipped the old table over, and removed the screws holding it to the bracket. Then I screwed the new table top on. A cordless power screwdriver was a huge help to me!
I nailed the ledge onto the table in several places.
And here it is!
"FILL YOUR SOUL WITH ALL GOOD THINGS AND LET THE BEAUTY POUR FORTH."
After doing the table, I got excited about trying other pieces. I found this vintage chair at a yard sale for $5. I'm guessing it's between 50 and 70 years old. The seat had been reupholstered with thick vinyl.
I decided to paint it blue. I mixed white milk paint, blue milk paint, and a little of the same dye I had used on the table. I also buy my paint at Michael's.
I made enough of the paint to cover the chair and a shelf.
At Walmart, I bought a "far quarter" fabric square in a coordinating color.
I attached it by hammering on tacks on the backside. I left on the old vinyl and even the old label.
I still need to screw the seat back onto the chair frame, but here is how it looks!
There is one more small piece that probably doesn't count as furniture. It was a small toy box that a set of blocks came in. After about 20 years of hard use, the box was dented and scuffed, and the train decal had partially peeled off. However, it was a good solid box, so I decided to see if I could restore it to a newer glory for one of my grandsons to use for his art supplies. I removed the rest of the decal with Goo Gone and a scraper, smoothed the wood sides with my electric sander, and burned my grandson's name and two owls on one side. I drew in a few accents - the owls' beaks and feet, and a little of the lettering - with an orange permanent marker.
I've had fun tinkering, and I'm happy with the results!
What do you think?
Virginia
You might also like these related posts with my blue creations:
