Refreshing A Family Heirloom

Where is the rule written that says that if you inherit a family heirloom, it needs to stay in exactly the same condition that it always has? If you are sentimental about the piece and like its style and size, why not give it a refresh so it can be enjoyed in your home another 50 years? Who wants a piece from Aunt Bessie taking up space in their home if they don’t really love what it’s wearing? I say switch it up…and you’ll love it even more!

I usually follow 5 steps when I am refreshing a piece of furniture. Whether it’s a piece passed down to me, or a roadside find {“Curbside Table to Mini Office”}, if you take the makeover in steps, it’s a DIY project that can be satisfying for many years to come. I’ll give you something to remember these 5 steps later in my post. Here’s what I did with this piece:

A family heirloom piece came our way that was calling out for a makeover. Mr. Fix-it’s Grandpa had recreated this piece to have a flip top for storage and had shortened the legs to resemble a cedar chest or hope chest. It had a very shiny, drippy lacquer finish that needed to go, so I got out my palm sander to take off the finish and smooth out all the rough edges around the drawers and body. I like to say my furniture should be “as soft as a baby’s bottom”!

The combination of masculine and feminine details of this piece are very similar to my My Masterpiece Buffet , I did for our dining room. I still love walking by this piece everyday, so figured this new piece could be a mini version for our bedroom. And when you don’t have great closets in old houses, every bit of storage is helpful.

I wanted this piece to have both paint and stain, because I love the combo…best of both worlds. And I also wanted to add some sweet hand-painting to the top. The question was what I should do first. I decided to start with the stain and poly on the top, drawers, and the fake drawers on the front. Then those parts would be slippery, so if I got a little paint on them, it would easily wipe off. First I gave it two coats of gel stain, wiping it on with an old rag. Then I did the hand-painting and finished it all off with a water-based poly.

Thank goodness we’ve had some warmer days, so I could work outside!

The beautifully grained wood looked so much richer with it’s newly refinished wardrobe, and I loved how the simple, white scallops added to the piece.

Then I mixed up some Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Farmhouse White as a beautiful contrast to the warm wood. I brushed two coats on, and sanded and distressed lightly after it had dried. I usually seal it with a coat of General Finishes Wax, but skipped that step this time since it’s only going to be in a bedroom.

Mr. Fix-it added a few nails here and there and put a new chain on the flip top before I brought it inside.

Then for the jewelry…I wanted a mixture of silver and brass, along with milkglass white. I had some milkglass knobs left from my childhood home that I hoped to use, but one of them broke (the first pic) when the rod wouldn’t come out. Bummer. So, I switched gears and used the emerald green knobs, which had been on the other side of the door. Now this piece has a bit of sentimentality from my side of the family…the kitchen door knobs from my childhood home:)

Using hardware from a variety of eras in unusual ways creates an eclectic piece that transcends styles. I brushed a couple coats of poly on the inside to seal any old smells. I think I might dig up some vintage wallpaper for a pretty lining also.

And maybe you remember from my post, Vintage Ceiling Tin Ideas , I love to add a little tin for some extra special patina on furniture pieces. I sanded it a little and then gave it a coat of poly once Mr. Fix-it nailed it in place.

Yes…I can hear the oohs and aahs;) Waking up to this piece on my side of the bed will put a smile on my face!

And I had so much fun styling it:

I was already planning on placing this piece on this wall when I first hung some of my “R.A. Fox Prints” , because of the pretty aqua sky depicted. A couple months ago, I explained how to use an accent color, like aqua, in “Styling Tip: Using an Accent Color” . I’ve already switched accents colors to feature green for the springtime, so the green knobs fit right in;) If you’re curious as to what to do with an old print like the one on the left, above, when the glass has gotten broken, check out my post on “Custom Framing”.

I know refreshing a piece of furniture can be daunting, but if you take it in steps, it’s really not that hard! I created a cheat sheet for you to follow, “5 Steps to Refreshing a Family Heirloom”. You can receive it as a free download and/or print it out by subscribing to my newsletter. You’ll get access to my ever-expanding Resource Library where I have many tip sheets and pretty printables to decorate with!

This family heirloom can be appreciated so much more now that it is refreshed to fit my style and my home! So, go for it…turn Aunt Bessie’s piece into something you will love for the next 50 years! Refreshing either a family piece or a roadside find can be a rewarding experience and an enjoyable new addition to your home decor!

Linking up with these lovely parties:

Saavy Southern Style

This project got featured!