How do i restore this piece.?

Lid33684065
by Lid33684065

Eathan Allen, over 25 years old. I need some ideas, please.

  11 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Aug 16, 2018

    It really is a lovely piece. Annie Sloan has some great chalk paints with a beautiful colors..You might check it out on google.

  • Oliva Oliva on Aug 16, 2018

    Strip, sand, and paint: all white, pickled stain, or your prefered colors in your home. It looks like it would make a fabulous beverage center, display for china, a bookcase, or for collectibles or linens.

  • Strip it, and then paint! This is such a cool piece. You could even two tone the piece with stain and chalk paint!

    https://www.ourhomemadeeasy.com/remove-paint-varnish-furniture/


  • Old grouchy granny Old grouchy granny on Aug 16, 2018

    Looks like it might be a table, but not enough showing to tell. There are lots of DIY blogs out there to look through. And instagram might have links to resources. Is that a mirror at the top of the photo? I'm still bumfuzzled. Best bet, I think, given the lack of expertise in the ordinary salesroom, is to look for DIYers.

  • Kathryn Kathryn on Aug 17, 2018

    It is a great piece. Very versatile. You could paint it. Depending on where you are going to use it, that will help you decide what finish you want. It can blend in with other furnishings, or stand out as an accent. I have a similar piece, though not as nice as yours. It was a cream color with gold accents. I painted it a wedgewood blue with cream accents. Changed it completely. I love the glass door on your hutch. Or, you can give it a stained finish. Again, a lot depends on where you are going to use it.

  • Janet Janet on Aug 17, 2018

    Do you want to restore it to it's original finish? I assume since it's an Ethan Allen it was not painted when new. I's strip it to the bare wood and then use a stain of whatever wood it is and then clear coat it with a satin polyurethane. I am not a huge fan of painted furniture. I love wood and love to see the wood grains.

  • S. Neal S. Neal on Aug 17, 2018

    I restored a piece just like that. I used chalk paint, wax, then added some really cool hardware as handles (hobby lobby 50% off). I then pulled out one of the shelves and took one of them to my local glass place and had then make glass shelves. A little pricey because my shelves were curved in the front. But well worth it to display my husbands vintage cap gun collection.

  • S. Neal S. Neal on Aug 17, 2018

    One more thing. You don’t need to sand, just clean the piece and use chalk paint. That’s the beauty of it.

  • Deborah Perrin Deborah Perrin on Aug 17, 2018

    I would clean it very well. This will make sanding much easier - no built up dirt from years past to gum up the sand paper.

    If you're thinking paint, sand enough to get off the finish. Then, I would use a satin paint - just enough gloss to make it easier to clean later.

    Chalk paint - you can skip the initial sanding, but you will have to add a protective coating so it doesn't scratch.

    If you are thinking stain, sand down to the bare wood. Stain, then poly. I would probably go with a satin poly - again, soft gleam & easy to clean.

    I would also consider putting mirror tiles in the back of the top - easy to cut to size, put in & replace if they get broken.

    The other thing I would put in is a light - either circle lights - or - there is a stick-on led tape that could go under each shelf & use a connecter (unlighted) down a corner between shelves. It would spotlight whatever you put behind the glass doors.

    Next, I would buy new hardware that would look good with the new look.

    Good luck!

  • Theresa Frangos Theresa Frangos on Aug 17, 2018

    If you don't need it to be a buffet you can take out the bottom drawers and make it a desk


  • Annie's creations Annie's creations on Aug 17, 2018

    I love your buffet, I would clean it, strip off the old finish & start again, depending on how the wood looks you can stain or repaint after priming it. I would use a really pretty wallpaper for the back, change the colour and add some really pretty knobs. Good luck it will look beautiful.