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Question

I am open for suggestions on these 4 pieces. What can I do to renew/revamp them? This bedroom set was purchased in the mid 40's, by my deceased father, for my deceased mother, for a wedding gift. This set is so well made, that I would hate to sell it, and get the poor quality of today's furniture. Please advise, all suggestions, welcome!

Janet Smith · Answer

If this were my furniture, I would paint it in an off white, distress it, and add some pretty hardware.

Jennifer Harrison · Answer

Look inside the top drawers of the dresser to see if the maker is branded there, possibly on backside of dressers. This furniture looks like Heywood Wakefield, mid century modern. I'd only restore the finish gently with a natural-tone restoration formula and perhaps super fine steel wool. Then wipe off with a lint free cloth. Test in a corner that's not so noticeable.

Jeanette S · Answer

I think this piece is much too classic to splash with paint. Except for the top of the dresser, it appears to be in excellent shape. Sanding and refinishing the top is not difficult with the finishes out there now. I would wipe the rest of it down with a beeswax polish and keep the natural finish. What is great is to mix different periods into the same room. Adding some accent pieces from the same er or a different one would spruce up the space!

Pat · Answer

They are good looking designs, and, you say how well built they are. I'd have them appraised before I did anything to them. The 40's are 70 years ago and there are collectors. Look for any numbers or marks or labels on the pieces, then check them out on the internet. You may also find the manufacturer and call that company (or the parent company, if the original is out of business). Good furniture is sometimes registered by the company that made them; and you can find out if there are a zillion sets or just a few... Have fun - you can always paint them later if you still want to. From some comments, I found these articles: http://www.heywood-wakefield.com/faqs/ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-10-02/news/9410020199_1_heywood-wakefield-industrial-designer-collector-books

Lorre · Answer

if this heywood furniture do not touch it, it is worth alot of money

Elaine Simmons · Answer

I agree, if it is Heywood, don't touch it, but you will have to do something with the top. If it isn't, here is what I did and I used a mirror from a vanity and turned it upside down. I painted mine with aluminum spray paint and then glazed it with black.

Heather K · Answer

If it is a Heywood, invest the time and money with a professional re-finisher to bring it back to it's glory. If not, as I just did, sand it lightly, prime and paint. Mine is white and went into my daughter's room just last night! No knobs needed as it has grooves to open and close, but we may add molding to the drawers and inset wallpaper and or decorative papers to 'funk' it up! Good luck with your project!!

Lori J · Answer

When I saw the armoire, I couldn't help but think of a very recent post where the poster had done each drawer/door differently. It was so funky charming. Don't thinkI would want to do the whole set that way, but it is a thought.

Crafty2you · Answer

I would not touch this with anything, this is an expensive set, and would only bring the value of it down. As suggested, consider using mirrors for the tops, but do not attach to the furniture with screws etc. Consider an appraiser, you will kick your self if you ruin this. Ask about what to use for cleaning this furniture.

Reborn Décor · Answer

I just repurposed something similar to your low dresser for a client - our secret was in rethinking the use of the piece. The dresser (sans mirror) has become an entertainment credenza, the armoiré a mini home office. Client is thrilled!

Wanda sinnema · Answer

Be careful, you may have a diamond who just need a little TLC.... I would never paint something of this classic style UNTIL AFTER I had it checked out by a pro. IF it is a gem, by a name maker,, do some research....first ! its classic issue: RESTORE vs REWORK

Wanda sinnema · Answer

Is the BLONDE MAHOGANY ??..the graining will tell you..

Wanda sinnema · Answer

I have a sideboard, dining table w/ 4 leaves, and 6 chairs same EXACT lines and color. Ours IS blone mahogany, with a slightly curved front on the S/B, and table has the same curve at the ends. The S/B takes an army to move it, even without the drawers. While not my style, it belonged to my husbands mother and we use it.

Suzanne Brunner · Answer

We are just finishing up the set that my parents received as a wedding gift from my grandparents in 1959. Used an orange-based stripper and took off all the varnish, sanded and restained in Minwax Kona (dark) and added chrome, bamboo look handles to all the drawers. My Dad even loves it, it looks so much more up-to-date and remains a useful set of furniture. If you like it as it is, just restore it, but if you don't there is no harm in making them pieces you will truly love even if it is 'valuable'.

Chel · Answer

If it were mine I'd have the top of the dresser repaired and keep it as it otherwise. These are beautiful pieces of furniture and are pretty unique!

Christopher Haney · Answer

Ok, I found the identifying badge of this furniture. Top right hand drawer, right side. It is Tri-Bond III Furniture.

AmericanWoman · Answer

Check with a reputable antiques dealer. These are antiques and are worth some money.

Jannifer Stoddard · Answer

I think it's great as it is right now! Maybe put a table runner on top of the dresser.

Mary bennett · Answer

No offence to any of you who want to keep it the way it is, but obviously christopher wants to change/update it.  I would suggest looking into Anne Sloan and chalk paint, or miss mustard seed and her milk paint line.  The wonders you can do with them!!!

Linda Weeks · Answer

Boy, I couldn't find any info on this style; I'm very surprised because it is very well made furniture, and I have seen pieces like this! In any case, if it's going to live with you for the next thirty years, you may as well make it something that you really love, so my vote would be to do chalk paint, and invest in some hardware, pulls, etc. to make it more 'Wow'! Think of all the fun it will be to show off to friends and post it here for us to see!

Kim R · Answer

http://woodysantiques.com/artdeco/index.asp In the right hands...could be worth a pretty price.

Kim R · Answer

Lots of info on google.com tribond iii

Terra Gazelle · Answer

The shape of the pieces look French to me. I think that chalk paint and a trip to the Graphic Fairy is called for. I see them in a lovely lightest of light blue and white with a pretty graphic. Beautiful shape of that curve.

Lorre · Answer

do not touch heywood wakefield furniture, it is worth alot of money, especially if it is a set

Terra Gazelle · Answer

umm..after looking at the cross legs on the stand...they look 1920's. When were your parents married? Really beautiful pieces.

Christopher Haney · Answer

In retrospect, I will have it appraised before I touch it. If it is a veritable gold mine, I may opt to selling the entire set. I am quite sure, if it worth a bunch, I can get well made Amish Furniture, for equal amount.

Christopher Haney · Answer

Many, many thanks to everyone who replied!!!

Christopher Haney · Answer

Not clear to the actual year of their marriage. My eldest brother was born in '52' But these pieces may have been years old, when my Dad bought them.

Leida R · Answer

What beautiful pieces!

Kim Dagenais · Answer

Hi Christopher My husband and I refinished a large dresser that use to have a large mirror something like yours, and from the same era. It belonged to my mother in law, and was part of a set that my in-laws had when they first got married.

The dresser was yellowish beige, and was an awful colour. To our surprise we realized after a little sanding that it was teak veneer on the outside, and different layers of solid wood under that. The frame of the whole dresser was solid wood.

We sanded the whole thing mostly by hand because veneer is only so thick. The parts that weren't veneer, we sanded by machine, then by hand. For our dresser, the wood that was in between the drawers was wider, and kind of stuck out, and had a lot of bumps and dents, so we planed it first to even out the wood before sanding.

We were left with a two tone dresser. We decided to leave it that way. Also all the drawers had knobs on ours, so we updated them to black ceramic round knobs. Since we added black knobs, we decided to paint some of the decorative inlay black and some of the edge tops of the drawers only in the front, not the sides.

We then urethaned the whole thing a couple of coats. When dry we installed the knobs and also added 4 small brass corners protectors to the top of the dressers corners, because the veneer was too damaged. The result was fantastic.

We did this job about 15 years or more ago. Since then, the dresser got banged up a bit on the top, and front. So we may do a little work on it again in the near future.

The work that was put into this dresser was so worth it. Most of the dressers out there now are veneer, and pressed wood. My mother in laws dresser is solid wood, and is super heavy. I would rather refinish an old piece for a quality piece, than a cheap remake.

I am always on the look for older original pieces to refinish. I don't mind doing the work that goes into some pieces. The end result is so worth it. Plus when you put your personal touch to it, you are left with a one of a kind piece.

Look forward to seeing your furniture when they are done.

First post ever, but I truly LOVE this website!

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First post ever, but I truly LOVE this website!

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