Browse Forums Interior Decorating Lounge 1 Apr 03, 2010 12:30 am I am really hoping someone can help. Does anyone have any advice about restoring furniture that is covered in veneer? We have a large rosewood combination sideboard/display cupboard that is about 8 feet wide and 6 feet tall. An interior decorator told us that if we wanted to replace it it would cost between 8 and 10,000 dollars. It is in excellent condition considering it is 30 years old but there are small pieces of veneer and assorted gouges/chips on the edges. I had an antique restorer come and he quoted 4500 to replace small pieces of missing veneer, sanding and re-staining in lighter color or 2500 if same color. These amounts are just out of our budget. The decorator suggested we paint it in a high gloss white and that it can be done at a car detailer. Has anyone ever done this? How do we go about fixing the missing sections of veneer? Does anyone have any ideas about fixing and painting it in a cost effective manor? Thanking you in advance! Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 2Apr 03, 2010 8:19 am Get more quotes, that's expensive... don't paint it, that will lose the look and feel, and any value it may have had as an antique in future. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 3Apr 03, 2010 11:57 am DONT PAINT IT. Its worth what it is BECAUSE OF what it is. Get some other quotes on restoration! Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 4Apr 03, 2010 12:19 pm I immediately thought OMG dont paint it as its a valuable antique and painting it is just soooo wrong. then I read the post again...its only 30 years old so that dates it back to the 1980's when cheap nasty furniture started to hits the stores. I would have a really good look at this piece of furniture. Is it really worth keeping and restoring because it is a beautiful handcrafted solid piece made from rosewood or just another generic veneer piece that has staples holding it together. If it is special to you and very valuable...then leave it the way it is with maybe just a buff and vanish to freshen it up. Antiques should all have lumps and bumps as it all all part of the patina. If it feels like a weight around your neck and more of an obligation to have in your home...not particularly well made, then I would paint it. I have seen many designers paint furniture white (professionally) and the transformation is amazing. I believe you room shouldnt be held hostage by a peice of furniture. Mrs B Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 5Apr 03, 2010 4:20 pm Here is a photo of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941046@N06/4485582833/ I wouldn't say it is an antique as much as it is an object that we have used for 30 years. We have a solid rosewood dining table and coffee table that I would never touch other than to french polish it but this was made for us by a friend of the family who was a furniture maker. There is also a matching bookcase that is a similar height and about 4 feet wide As you can see it is full and the cupboards underneath also contain all our "good" dishes etc. It definitely serves a purpose and to replace such a big unit would be cost prohibitive. I dont think it is the best made unit ever but it has also survived children and grandchildren with relatively little wear and tear. Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 7Apr 04, 2010 1:04 am Yep, accept it as it is or paint. Don't spend big $ on restoration. I'm not usually a fan of white-painted furniture, but I think those units would be well-suited to that look. The important thing, though, is whether or not the overall look of the room (in your eyes) would be enhanced by having it painted. Only you can decide that. Cheers zeke PS We have furniture that i would place in the same category. In our case, I would reject my own advice and refuse to paint it. But that's because we're happy to accept it as is and the current look suits our decor whereas a painted finish on the stuff I'm thinking of probably wouldn't. Besides, older furniture can actually look better with a few imperfections. Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 9Apr 04, 2010 1:55 am You should be able to fix the veneer yourself. Bunnings sells it in strips. You may have to replace the whole strip to get a good finish, but it simply irons on. Take a chip with you to match it. Judie Re: Painting furniture at a car detailer 11Apr 04, 2010 6:29 am Judie You should be able to fix the veneer yourself. Bunnings sells it in strips. You may have to replace the whole strip to get a good finish, but it simply irons on. Take a chip with you to match it. Judie If you iron it on and you touch the existing polish/varnish it will whiten. Be careful... Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 dimensions on your original plan are inconsistent and with accurate dimensions (including site plan, upstairs and down) i could make a proper scale drawing with furniture… 3 7520 I looked into it a few years ago and my conclusion was to just build a carport that will support panels and get a system installed separately. The company I looked at had… 1 6481 |