Thin Line 29

I've always believed in hard work and the satisfaction that comes from seeing it pay off.

Now retired, I spend time breathing new life into old furniture--each piece has its own story, just like the people I meet along the way.

08/07/2026

We stopped at a garage sale and the homeowner had a tablecloth over this table. The table was being using to display a bunch of old plastic binders she was selling. I honestly wasn’t paying much attention to the table until I noticed these claw feet sticking out from underneath the tablecloth.

She saw me checking them out because she then said, “The tables are for sale too.”

Well, that was about all it took. Before I knew it, we were loading this one into the back of my truck.

We knew it was beautiful quarter-sawn wood but didn’t realize how beautiful until we got it home and freshened up!

Quarter-sawn oak, sometimes called “tiger oak” because of the patterns you see running through the wood. And the really interesting part is those lighter ribbons and flakes aren’t something someone painted on or created with stain. That pattern is actually part of the wood itself.

07/29/2026

Detroit Furniture Flip Bash – Competition Piece #1 Update

Here’s a quick look at the progress on one of my competition piece!

This dresser has been a lesson in adapting. My original plan was to refinish it in natural wood, but after hours of sanding I realized it just wasn’t going to work. Sometimes the best move is to change directions instead of forcing an idea.

It now has a completely new look, and I added a subtle Detroit skyline across the top that changes depending on the light.

Still a few finishing touches to go…then I’ll cross my fingers and hope to win some MONEY!!!

07/13/2026

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨

We are excited to be participating in the 2026 Furniture Flip Challenge hosted by the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit!

It has been fun so far as I had to pick no more than three pieces from select inventory.

I chose two for the competition. Now I have a little over a month to do something special to set the pieces apart from other competitors entries for the chance to win the $5,000 prize!

I’m honored to be part of an event that celebrates creativity, sustainability, and giving back to our community.

Follow along as I share the progress—and the final reveal!

What would you do with these pieces?

07/06/2026

We hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating America's 250th Birthday! 🇺🇸

It was a great week here at Thin Line 29. We had the pleasure of helping a recent Notre Dame graduate find the perfect Dixie dresser set as she prepares for her move to Connecticut to begin her new career. We love knowing our pieces get to be part of someone's next chapter.

We also wrapped up this beautiful Ethan Allen console table. Finished in Fusion Mineral Paint Ash with a Fusion Stain & Finishing Oil top in Cappuccino, we think it turned out beautifully.

Thin Line 29

06/28/2026

This is a vintage Dixie lowboy, most likely manufactured in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

My guess is it was originally sold as part of a matching bedroom furniture suite, where it would have complemented a dresser, chest, and nightstands.

For this transformation, I painted the body in Fusion Mineral Paint – Lichen and took the top back to natural wood, protecting it with General Finishes Flat High Performance Topcoat. And since we had some Kati v around we decided to line the drawers.

How would you use it in your home?

06/25/2026

Every vintage piece has a story...

When I picked up this Dixie bedroom set in Port Huron, it came from three generations of women in the same family. As we were loading it up, something unexpected happened.

A magazine clipping of Sebastian Bach from Skid Row slipped out of one of the drawers of the dresser. The youngest daughter picked it up, laughed, and said, "Why would Mom have this in her dresser?"

Without missing a beat, Mom smiled and said, "THAT'S SEBASTIAN BACH!" She grabbed the clipping and tucked it right into her pocket.

We all had a good laugh.

They were in the middle of moving and had decided it was finally time to let go of this bedroom set—a piece Mom had grown up with and used for many years.

Now it is set to begin its next chapter.

After a complete refinishing in Fusion Mineral Paint's Acadia Pear with a durable satin topcoat, this beautiful Dixie set is ready to become part of another family's story.

Sometimes furniture is more than just furniture. It's storage for memories...and occasionally a forgotten Skid Row magazine clipping.

— Thin Line 29

06/08/2026

Not every piece of furniture needs to be completely refinished.
This vintage Thomasville dresser became a lesson in restraint.

When I brought it home, the finish was tired, dull, and showed years of everyday use. My initial instinct was to strip the top and begin a full restoration. Instead, I decided to take a different approach and preserve as much of the original finish as possible.

After thorough cleaning, the existing finish was carefully rejuvenated and conditioned, allowing the natural beauty of the wood grain to return while maintaining the character that only decades of use can create. The drawers, interiors, and runners were also cleaned and conditioned to ensure smooth operation for years to come.

The result is a piece that still tells its story while presenting beautifully for its next home.

One of the things I continue to learn through this hobby is that restoration isn't always about starting over. Sometimes it's about respecting the craftsmanship that already exists and giving it a second life.

06/01/2026

It's been a little quiet here at Thin Line 29 lately, and for good reason.

Over the past several weeks, family has taken center stage. Michelle and I have been helping one son get settled into his new home while also helping our other son prepare for a move later this summer. Between moving projects, furniture hunting, and plenty of trips around town, the workshop has had to share my attention.

That said, I haven't completely stepped away from refinishing.

This French Provincial writing desk recently made its way through the shop and reminded me why I enjoy bringing older pieces back to life. Its graceful lines and classic design were too beautiful to overlook, and a fresh finish in Fusion Mineral Paint's Carriage Hill gave it a new chapter while preserving its vintage character.

One of the things I enjoy most about furniture refinishing is the history behind these pieces.

Many have already served families for decades and, with a little care and attention, can continue doing so for many more years.

Interested? Link is in the comments:

04/13/2026

Some pieces don’t look like much at first glance.

We picked up this Mid-Century table while helping clear out an estate. The couple handling everything had come in from Minnesota to take care of things and mentioned they hadn’t even considered selling it—figured no one would want it.

But standing there, you could tell… this was a piece that had been cared for. Not just used, but kept. The kind of furniture that quietly lives in a home for decades.

That’s something we see a lot with pieces from this era—built well, maintained well, and often overlooked.

A little cleanup, a little attention to the details, and it’s ready for its next chapter.

— Thin Line 29

04/01/2026

Another piece—another story that stuck with us.

This Bassett dresser set came from a wonderful family who were in the process of liquidating their mother’s estate after her recent passing. They shared that their parents originally purchased this set back in the late 50’s or early 60’s from Montgomery Wards, and it had been part of their home ever since.

What stood out most wasn’t just the furniture—but how well everything had been cared for. They gave us a tour of the home, and it was clear their parents took incredible pride in what they owned. There was even a pristine oven from the 70’s that honestly looked cleaner than ours—and ours is only a year old.

Moments like that stick with you. It’s a reminder that these pieces aren’t just furniture—they’re part of someone’s life, their routines, their home.

The family was genuinely happy knowing this set would be refinished and passed along to another family to be enjoyed for many more years. That’s the part of this process we enjoy the most—giving something a second life while honoring where it came from.

— Thin Line 29

Address

Sterling Heights, MI

Website

http://www.thinline29.com/

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