By Angela Baker, Account Specialist
Refinishing a piece of furniture is a great way to save money while updating a piece you love. It’s really popular right now to paint classic pieces every color from black to white and everything in between. The popularity and ease of using chalk paint or milk paint makes it stylish and fairly simple.
BUT — what do you do with a piece that has a damaged finish, that can’t be covered with paint? Or if you want to restore the natural wood beauty of a piece? Then, you put on your gloves and get to work refinishing.
I am loving the look of raw wood lately. It is classic and goes with everything. I see more and more of it popping up in catalogs, decorating magazines, and Pinterest. Taking a few bits and pieces that inspire me from retail style and putting my own stamp on them is what takes the “manufactured perfection” out of the equation.
After being inspired by a raw wood table I saw recently I decided I wanted to strip a marketplace find and make it beautiful again. It is much easier to paint, but to get the look I am after furniture stripping is required.
I now know why I haven’t done this in the past, it’s one messy job.
Supplies needed:
- Wood Stain and Finish Stripper (I used Citristrip which has no harsh chemical smell at all)
- Rubber gloves – thick ones or double up thin pairs.
- Scouring pad or steel wool
- Old paintbrush
- Old toothbrush
- Several old rags
- Mineral Spirits
- Drop cloth or plastic sheeting
I took the cabinet out to my garage, placed it on a plastic sheeting and went to work. First applying a thick layer of Citristrip with an old paintbrush and then allowing it to set overnight. The next day what a goopy sad looking sight, I could tell the stripper had made some action happen. I rolled up my sleeves and started scrubbing with my steel wool dipped in the mineral spirits. I worked in sections to keep the mess to an acceptable level; anyone who knows me knows I don’t DO messes. Once the residue had been scrapped off I went back over the piece with a rag and mineral spirits to remove any left behind. No lie this is one messy job and not going to be my project of choice any time soon but after some elbow grease my cabinet looks 110% better and exactly the look I was wanting.
I will continue to keep my eyes open and be on the hunt for my next project piece, as I want to create a home that is perfect only for me and my family’s life and style.
