Family Heirlooms: Kitchen Table Refinishing

Antiques and furniture that has been passed down in the family withers over time. But that doesn’t detract from your sense of nostalgia and personal connection. Many of these pieces are quite striking in terms of style and enjoy good monetary value. Much of their lost luster could be restored by working with a professional craftsman. If you are thinking about investing in kitchen table refinishing, here are three things to consider.

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If you have an heirloom or antique with a coat of paint over it, chances are there may be a good reason. It may have deep discolorations, burn marks or deteriorated veneer. The paint job was a probably a quick fix to keep the piece functional and okay looking. That doesn’t mean you should toss the piece aside. It just means that a natural wood refinish may be “off the table.”

Consider going down the path of a custom-painted refinish and keep your options open with the artisan during the process. If the piece isn’t sorely blemished once the old paint has been professionally stripped away, you may want to look it over and decide which direction makes sense, wood refinishing or custom repainting . Either way, you will have a lovely updated kitchen table when the process has been completed.

This question may be a tad misleading. Age matters for a few specific reasons. Different furniture-making eras used techniques and materials popular in that period. For example, laminate surfaces and particle board was prevalent during the 1950s and 1960s. While the style remains popular and eye-catching, the materials are not nearly as sturdy as some solid wood pieces. It’s important to discuss the value, durability and possible refinishing options with a skilled furniture craftsman about achieving your dream appearance. Most pieces can be effectively refinished within reason.

Each surface material has a range of creative possibilities. They also have certain limits based on the materials. A good example would be a dark wood such as mahogany. It would be unrealistic to expect this material to be as light as a naturally finished piece of pine. Also, many types of wood tend to darken as they age. That’s why it’s important to have a basic idea of how light or dark you want the finish to come out. With that being said, finishes can range from heavy coats of polyurethane to traditional beeswax and linseed oils among others. Custom-painted pieces may also require a protective coating. This may seem overly complicated to plan from start to finish. However, a skilled furniture artisan can run you through the strengths and weaknesses of a piece and map out a path to renewed beauty.

If you are considering  kitchen table refinishing, contact Evolution Furniture to set up an evaluation and estimate.