What We Look For Before We Refinish a Piece

In our last blog post, we shared a little bit about where we get our furniture. We also promised we'd share more about what we look for when we're deciding whether a piece of furniture is worth taking on as our next project.

The truth is, there isn't just one thing we look for.

Sometimes we're searching Marketplace for a very specific piece. Sometimes we just happen upon a piece at a thrift store, or on the side of the road. Other times, furniture finds us in the form of a donation. Either way, before the sanding begins, Tony spends quite a bit of time looking at the piece and figuring out what we're really working with.

So, what catches our eye?

Does it fit our brand?

When we're scrolling Marketplace, anything Mid-Century Modern gets our attention.

We especially love old dressers, and when we can find them, nightstands (they are very hard to come by, especially in a set!) We're also drawn to other vintage furniture with clean lines, including tables, cabinets, buffets, and hutches. That doesn't mean we're completely opposed to other styles. If we think a piece has a design that someone will love, we're willing to consider it. There's also another reason we're willing to look beyond MCM: we really hate seeing good furniture thrown away.

We receive donations of quality furniture that aren't necessarily mid-century, and we're happy to give those pieces a second life when we can. More on that later!

Is the design worth saving?

This might be one of the most important questions we ask, because you can't sand a piece into becoming something it isn't.

A new finish can bring worn furniture back to life, but it can't change the basic design of a piece. Before we start thinking about repairs or refinishing, we ask ourselves whether this is something we'd be excited to see in someone's home when we're finished with it.

We also look at the age and style of the piece. It's often fairly easy to get a general idea of when a dresser or table was made, and sometimes we'll find a manufacturer's stamp that gives us more information. Not having a maker's mark isn't a deal breaker at all—lots of good furniture doesn't have one.

What matters most is the piece itself. Is it pleasing to look at? Does it have good lines and proportions? Can we picture someone seeing it after we've finished and getting excited about putting it in their home?

Sometimes the answer is an immediate yes. Other times, we know that refinishing it isn't going to change the fact that we just don't love the design.

What is it actually made of?

This is where Tony starts looking at things most people probably wouldn't think to check.

He'll look at the drawer boxes. Are they solid wood? He'll look at table legs and determine whether they're solid wood or veneer, and whether the materials and construction make sense together.

And then there's the veneer. Is it damaged? Can it be repaired? Does it need to be replaced? If it does, do we already have a piece of veneer in the shop that's close enough to match, or will we have to find and purchase some?

He also looks closely at how the piece was constructed and whether it is actually as solid as it appears to be. Sometimes he'll spend ten minutes just walking around a piece, opening drawers, looking underneath, and trying to figure out how it was built.

And that's before the real work even begins.

What problems are we really looking at?

Not much scares us when it comes to repairs. There really aren't many issues that can't be fixed.

Scratches? Usually fixable. Water stains? They often look much worse than they really are. Chipped veneer? Depending on where it is and how extensive the damage is, we can usually repair it. Broken drawer tracks or loose joints? Those aren't a big deal, either. But there are some things that make us stop and think.

Mold, insect infestation, severely warped wood, or significant structural damage can turn a project into something much bigger than we originally anticipated. And that leads to one of the most important questions we ask...

It's not just "Can we fix it?" It's "Does it make sense to fix it?"

How much time is this piece really going to take?

I think this is one of the biggest things people don't realize about refinishing furniture.

It takes time. A lot of time.

Before a piece is ready for its new home, we take the time to inspect it, clean it, make repairs, strip the old finish, and refinish it with care. And yes, even our painted pieces get that same attention. A piece that is going to be painted still gets a full inspection, cleaning, and any necessary repairs. The old finish needs to be removed, the surface needs to be properly prepared and primed, and then we apply professional-grade paint.

All of those hours add up. So do the materials.

That's why it's important for us to notice everything that needs to be fixed before we decide whether a project makes sense. We have to consider the time involved, the materials we'll need, and whether the finished piece will make financial sense as a business.

But there's another question that matters just as much.

Can we picture someone getting excited to put this in their home?

Because ultimately, that's what we're trying to create. Our mission is to keep good, well-built furniture out of landfills and give it another generation of life. But we don't want to simply save furniture for the sake of saving it. We want to transform it into something its next owner will actually love.

And then there are the donations...

We love donations! They are an important part of our business, and we're incredibly grateful when someone thinks of us before sending a piece of good furniture to the landfill.

While our specialty is mid-century furniture, donated pieces don't necessarily have to be MCM. If it's quality furniture that's 1970s or earlier, made from real wood, and doesn't have upholstery work, mold, or bad odors, we'd love to hear about it.

Sometimes a piece simply needs someone to see what it could become. And that's really what we're doing with every piece that comes through our shop. We're looking past the scratches, the old finish, the dated hardware, or the years of wear and trying to figure out what's underneath it all.

Is there good furniture here?

Can we bring it back?

And, most importantly, will someone love it when we're done?

When the answer to all three is yes, that's when we know we've found our next project.