Duly Restored - Furniture Refinishing

Duly Restored - Furniture Refinishing I take outdated, tired furniture and give it new life. Follow to see the process, get tips and learn how to refinish furniture.
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The last piece of my client’s bedroom set is complete and delivered back to its home🤩This dresser went from dark and mas...
10/07/2025

The last piece of my client’s bedroom set is complete and delivered back to its home🤩

This dresser went from dark and masculine to light and feminine with a few simple updates:
✨Painted in a warm white using “Natural Choice”
✨New hardware to elevate the look.
✨Pop of color with wallpaper on the inside drawers.

Proof that the right color and details can totally transform a piece!

10/02/2025

The last piece of my client’s bedroom set is finished!

When you’re working with a slick factory finish, the right steps make all the difference:
1️⃣ Scuff sand – I used 150 grit to give the surface some tooth.
2️⃣ Bonding primer – essential for slick or laminate pieces.
3️⃣ White Zinsser BIN primer – shows every flaw + creates the perfect base for light paint.
4️⃣ Light sanding between coats – for that buttery smooth, professional finish.

See my comment for a link to all the products I used.

The result? This bedroom set went from dark + dated ➝ light + bright, and my client couldn’t be happier 🤍

✨Did you know wardrobes (also called armoires or chiffarobes) were once a household necessity?Before built-in closets be...
09/12/2025

✨Did you know wardrobes (also called armoires or chiffarobes) were once a household necessity?

Before built-in closets became common (most U.S. homes didn’t have them until after WWII), families relied on wardrobes and armoires to store everything from dresses to coats to hats.

By the 1920s–40s, wardrobes weren’t just storage—they were statement furniture. With bold veneers, geometric details, and a mix of drawers and hanging space, they embodied both function and style.

After refinishing this, the beauty of the wood and the striking Art Deco details shine again—ready to serve as both a practical piece and a glamorous focal point in its new home. I love restoring pieces that have a rich history and giving them a chance at another life with new families and memories to be made✨

This piece sold quickly to a young couple with a love of Art Deco design🥰

If you love multiple wood grains on furniture then Art Deco might be your style! Are you an art deco fan?✨Art Deco furni...
09/07/2025

If you love multiple wood grains on furniture then Art Deco might be your style! Are you an art deco fan?

✨Art Deco furniture emerged in the 1920s–40s, blending luxury with modern design. Known for bold geometry, rich veneers, glossy finishes, and contrasting details, it was all about glamour and progress. Think sleek lines, exotic woods, and a touch of drama. Pieces like this chest capture that era’s mix of craftsmanship and modern style—timeless, yet always eye-catching.

The chest was restored to its former glory using oil based polyurethane to accentuate the wood grain. Black trim adds to its glamour. It’s now in its forever home. Bought by a young couple who have love of art deco and good taste in furniture😉

What do you think of the glow up for this antique dresser. Scroll to see how it looked before!This dresser belongs to th...
07/28/2025

What do you think of the glow up for this antique dresser. Scroll to see how it looked before!

This dresser belongs to the husband of one of my best friends, and she drove it from Alabama to Virginia for me to refinish. It has been in his family for a long time! Now it can now be passed down to another generation or two❤️

The warm brown was created by doing a paintwash with in Woodwick and a light glaze using Java Brown Decorative Glaze. This might be my new go to combination for paint washes!

It is back in Alabama and my friends couldn’t be happier🥰

My client wanted to update her family piece and get rid of that dated golden stain! After stripping to bare wood, I did ...
07/25/2025

My client wanted to update her family piece and get rid of that dated golden stain! After stripping to bare wood, I did a white wash to help tone down the yellow. Then Antique Walnut Gel stain. I topcoated with GF High Performance Satin with a small amount of GF Medium Brown Dye stain to darken the color a little more. New hardware and cutting off some of the curvy part of the base helped update the look. One more happy client and completed just in time to be loaded on the moving truck😅

07/23/2025

Oh maple why are you so difficult?? This was not an easy refinish but I am loving the updated result. Staining maple is not for the faint of heart (it can look blotchy and take stain unevenly) and here are a few bits of advice:

1. If you think you sanded enough - you haven’t. Sand at a higher grit (220) and make sure it’s all even.

2. Toner - adding stain (in this case water based dye) to the top coat helps even out any blotchiness.

My client wanted to update her family piece and get rid of that dated golden stain! After stripping to bare wood, I did a white wash to help tone down the yellow. Then Antique Walnut Gel stain. I topcoated with GF High Performance Satin with a small amount of GF Medium Brown Dye stain to darken the color a little more. New hardware and cutting off some of the curvy part of the base helped update the look. One more happy client and completed just in time to be loaded on the moving truck😅

From a crazy, messy orange and gold paint scheme to elegant black with a deep rich stain. This 1931 Widdicomb chest now ...
07/09/2025

From a crazy, messy orange and gold paint scheme to elegant black with a deep rich stain. This 1931 Widdicomb chest now looks like the high quality, classic piece of furniture it was built to be🖤🖤🖤

Mélange Artisan Mineral Paints London Black
Varathane Dark Walnut Gel Stain
General Finishes High Performance Satin Topcoat

The original hardware cleaned up with Bar Keeper’s Friend and I added new feet.

Sometimes the most striking transformations don’t come from bold colors, but from embracing rich, timeless depth. This d...
05/10/2025

Sometimes the most striking transformations don’t come from bold colors, but from embracing rich, timeless depth. This dresser once wore a yellowed factory finish—now, it radiates vintage elegance.

After stripping it to bare wood, I applied Varathane’s Kona gel stain, followed by my favorite finishing touch: a custom toner blend using General Finishes High Performance Satin Topcoat mixed with their Medium Brown Dye Stain. Four coats later, the result is this deep, velvety brown that feels both classic and elevated.

Have you used toner in your refinishing projects? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this finish!

04/06/2025

Call me crazy but I think there’s something good hiding under that orange paint!! Let’s find out!

Painted, damaged, old - but look at the beautiful walnut in the drawers. What do you think is hiding under that paint?

This chest of drawers and mirror needed more than a little refresh! After all the repairs, I painted with my favorite co...
03/16/2025

This chest of drawers and mirror needed more than a little refresh! After all the repairs, I painted with my favorite color from Mélange Artisan Mineral Paints Restoration Bronze. It never lets me

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Fairfax, VA

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