Saturday, May 16, 2009

Furniture re-do

Lately everyone has been thinking about how to do updates to their home on the cheap, for obvious reasons. I found this great vintage sideboard on ebay made by Baker and decided to have some virtual fun with it. You can find it online HERE. A quality made piece like this is worth the investment. If you buy a vintage, dated-looking cabinet like this (the blonde ashen wood isn't very popular now, even if some readers do like it!) it's easy to update-especially if it has great lines like this! I would start by lightly sanding it, priming the exterior then spray painting it a glossy black with a few coats. I suppose a more adventurous decorator could go for a bold color, but thats not my style. I would leave the interiors and even the edges of doors and drawers the natural wood to prevent sticking. Next I would update the hardware. I love this Pirouette knob from Restoration Hardware and think the lines compliment the console. Nickel finish of course!
The Gilmore Knob, also from restoration hardware, would work nicely too -and is more masculine.
This would be a great chest for in a large bathroom or dressing area, painted white, for toiletries and odds and ends. The black paint would work nicely in a hallway or foyer as a catch-all. You might even consider leaving just the very top the natural wood. Dated looking, quality pieces like this are easy to find at tag sales, craigslist and your families basement -give it a try!

11 comments:

An Aesthete's Lament said...

most definitely! I agree with all improvements suggested.

Summer is a Verb said...

Oh Babe and I are old hats at virtual rehabing. It's one of our fav pastimes. It's a wonderful cerebral exorcise that doesn't cost a cent!

La Maison Fou said...

That would be great, you could add a little extra drama with a silver light glaze on the panels or moulding area's of interest to highlight & enhance the knobs.
I am always looking for a way to recycle a piece.
Leslie

Anonymous said...

i think the most important thing that needs to happen is minimizing the door panel design, the forms are the most dated thing about the piece..I would replace the door with a square panel inset.

Anonymous said...

That piece has a lot of nice carving details that would more or less disappear under black paint. A refinish would be more likely to preserve visibility of the original detailing.

Elizabeth said...

This is my favorite game- imagining make-overs (since my house it too fully to take on any more myself!). I do one once a week at my blog...

http://shockthebourgeois.blogspot.com

David said...

Nice choices Stefan. Coincidentally, this seller on eBay isn't far from me here in Kansas City. They've beaten me to a few pieces like this at estate sales around town.

Black looks smart on almost everything. I like unpainted tops as well.

I also like those original ring pulls and wanted to mention one thing about hardware: Sometimes a quality piece will have interesting custom hardware, but in a less-than-desirable finish. If it's solid brass, and Baker usually is, you can have it plated. It's not cheap, but not outrageous either.

Kwana said...

Very nice redo. Well done.

pve design said...

Black would be stunning and the inside in a brushed silver paint. A mirror for the top would be so "Hollywood" in a bright yellow room with a silver starburst hung above....
pve

Chris said...

That is a terrific piece. I have some furniture I would like to change. I have been thinking about it, but havent gotten around to it yet.

Cardboard said...

Lovely curves on that piece.