Home Furnishings
2008-07-01 15:11:00
Old furniture, what to do..
Question: I have an old desk. I think that the look is slightly outdated, but it seems like a well-built piece of furniture and I would hate to throw it out. What should I do with it?
Answer: That is a good question and it can be applied to many older things, but I will limit my answer to furniture, wood or otherwise. To figure out if this would be a good piece to recondition and bring up to date we start by asking you a few questions. 1) Is the piece of well-built construction? Does it contain quite a bit of solid wood? Are there some craftsman-type qualities like book-matched veneers, dovetail drawers, or maybe solid brass hardware? 2) Has it been in the family for quite a while, or has some special sentimental value? 3) Does this piece still fit with your current house style, or personal style preference? If the answer to these questions is “yes” then we have something that makes the cut.
Much can be done to a wooden or upholstered piece of furniture that allows some style changes. For wooden furniture one can change the color of the wood and the position or type of hardware. You can also change the lines of a piece by reshaping corners, feet or trim. Applicays can be applied and glazes added. For upholstered furniture, you would obviously change the fabric, but you can also reshape the frame, add or subtract foam and stuffing in certain areas to change the line, add an ottoman, or change a reclining piece into a fixed piece. Upholstered furniture that is older is almost without question built better than the pieces today. This would be especially true for sofas that can be purchased for under $1000.00.
In addition to changing style, a quality recondition can add durability to a piece of furniture. For example, new fabrics could contain a stain guard, or clear wood finishes could allow for water cleanup. In many cases this type of service allows a blending of styles that brings about a marriage of classic looks and modern performance. Not to mention that the piece stays out of the landfill.
So, take a look at your items, answer the questions above and make a determination for yourself. But as I look around my house, I find that not much of my furniture has been bought new, nor would I trade my pieces for something new if given the chance.
