Furniture Friday – Working on Louis
It’s Furniture Friday! Friends and family have been asking about my progress with the chairs so I decided to make that the topic of today’s post. I started stripping my first chair this week and so far so good.
Below are some pictures that document my progress. Please note, I’ve never done this before so I’m no expert. I did my research by speaking to veteran furniture strippers (thanks Liz!), watching youtube videos and asking the Home Depot guy alot of questions. If you have any pointers or questions about the process, feel free to leave a comment for me.
Yes, inanimate objects need love too. Especially when it’s a pretty chair like this one. Now for some essentials. These are the tools I used: a copper brush (to get into those tiny crevices) 3M stripping pads a paintbrush a scraper (metal/wood) Heirloom Varnish Remover good rubber gloves (don’t cheap out here.
No dishwashing gloves, get the ones at Home Depot. Your skin will thank you after. That stuff burns!) a tarp or old blankets to lay on the floor a container/bowl to mix the Heirloom gel Notice the red fabric?
That was underneath the checkered one. So to strip the paint off, brush on the gel very thick, leave it on for about 10 minutes and you’ll start to notice the paint bubbling or peeling off.
Because this chair has so much detail, it took a bit longer to strip than a flat surface. Just take your time and don’t rush; play some music and relax!
Related: — Mid-century modern sofas and sectionals shipped direct, without showroom markup.
Also, I’m going for an off-white distressed look so it doesn’t need to be perfect. Next I’ll need to sand off some areas, re-stain and find the perfect upholstery. Wish me luck!
How do you start a furniture restoration project?
Start by gathering your tools and stripping the old finish. The essentials include a copper brush for crevices, stripping pads, a paintbrush, a metal or wood scraper, varnish remover, good rubber gloves, a tarp or old blankets, and a container to mix the gel. Brush the gel on very thick, leave it for about ten minutes, and the paint will begin bubbling or peeling off. Detailed pieces take longer than flat surfaces, so work slowly and don’t rush.
What are the steps to restore an antique piece of furniture?
Begin by cleaning the antique furniture with a soft cloth dampened with soap and water, then dry thoroughly. If the piece has a shiny finish, consider wiping it down with a liquid sanding deglosser. Use fine steel wool to apply a restor-a-finish product, matching the stain to the piece. Once worked in well, dry and remove excess with a rag or paper towel, repeating drying and wiping a couple of times. Finish the piece with a feed and wax product to protect the finish and clean it periodically.
If you are shopping: — Thousands of area rugs and runners, from washable flatweaves to hand-knotted wool.
Source: deeplysouthernhome.com
Further reading
- Home Depot — Wikipedia
P.S. A few readers have asked which furniture & seating we actually reach for — it's Wayfair Affiliate Program; if you want the current details.
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