Anytime something becomes trendy, especially in the world of furniture repurposing, everyone seems to want to try their hand at it. So, it is when it comes to benches made from old, discarded beds. Most of the time, it doesn’t turn out very well. When we decided to start making these things, we had three goals:
So far, I think we’ve done a pretty good job.
If you do what we do long enough, eventually you’ll run into unexpected treasures. The real treasure isn’t their monetary value. It is being able to see them come back to life, or them assuming a new life.
Pictured are a couple of those treasures. On top is a 1915 Silvertone hand cranked phonograph. It was Sears and Roebuck’s answer to the Victrola. When we found it on Saturday, it was covered in dirt, and the speaker cover was in tatters. After a thorough cleaning, and a few refinishing shortcuts, it roared to life like the day it was new.
It is sitting on top of a fully functional antique parlor sewing machine; another find from another Saturday. Like so many things we find, they’ve found their way into our museum-like home, and there they will stay.
Just about everybody takes a stab at repurposing furniture. They just can’t help themselves. Too many home improvement shows and a jillion people on social media chiming in. It looks so easy. But you know what? Looks can be deceiving.
The piece you see in the picture below was a repurposing project gone wrong. The chairs are still in progress. The table had been painted top to bottom (poorly). To add insult to injury, someone decided dark glaze on white paint was just the ticket. It wasn’t.
The people we bought it from had good intentions, but when the paint removal project yielded only a spot the size of dinner plate, it was yard sale here I come.
So, what happens? Most of the time it is a failure to understand and follow the three P‘s.
Number one: Preparation. I’m not talking about preparing the surface, although that is very important (cleaning, sanding, deglossing). I’m talking about the preparation of understanding. Do you realize what you are undertaking? Have you counted the cost? My wife and I hoard finishing materials like some people do collectibles. Be buy every brush, finish product, and finishing tools we find at yard sales and closeouts. We have more tools than Home Depot. Therefore the added expense that most people encounter is muted for us. Those things I’ve mentioned, aren’t cheap, and they are the difference in a poor job and one you can be proud of.
Number two: Patience. This is one that my wife has helped me with. I am a get started and get finished type person. I spent too many years in a work environment where time meant money. That won’t work when you are repurposing furniture. Make sure you are giving yourself the time to complete each step without rushing. Details don’t mean everything, but they mean a lot.
Number three: Perspiration. Yes, it is hard work if you do it correctly. The table below took me most of the day to get the layers of paint off without ruining the original surface.
If it sounds like I’m discouraging you, I’m not. It can be one the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. We have pieces in our home that we will never part with, due to the joy of seeing them come to life again. You can do that! Just remember the three P‘s.
Sometimes it is fun to follow a project from beginning to end.
The 1940s sideboard/buffet pictured below, was hiding out in the junk tent at a private estate sale. It had been in a leaky storage area and hadn’t fared very well.
The finish is a combination of several shades of gray sealed with wax. It was a nice transformation.
It has been awhile since we posted anything here. A few months ago, we moved our family and shop to East Tennessee. It’s taken a few months to get settled and started back making some of the one of kind items we love.
Pictured below is an accent table made from an antique Singer sewing machine base. This was one of the early treadle models. It has the original maple pitman arm. We hope you like it. 
This is a piece we are finishing up. It is a 1920s GraybaR 340 radio cabinet. The radio parts are long gone, but the beautiful walnut cabinet remains. We refinished the top and upper scroll work to original condition. The remainder of the outside has been painted with a coral chalk finish. We still have some waxing and sealing to do on the outside.
Notice the Birdseye maple insert at the bottom of the cabinet. That is a touch we couldn’t stand to cover up. It is a bit of yesteryear cabinetry you just don’t see anymore. Also, completely intact, is the cane access back.
Inside is an interesting touch. I salvaged the original manufacturing plate from the mounting platform inside. I installed it, along with the original rivets, on a beautiful solid oak shelf.
If one of a kind is what you are looking for, this is it.
I retired a few days ago. Someone told me, “You can’t keep from getting old, but you don’t have to die yet.” I thought of that as I started working on the old cabinet from the previous post. It was never going to be perfect. Too many years of use, but mainly abuse. The wood was old and it was of rough construction from the beginning. But it didn’t have to die yet.
Pictured below is the before and after. I hope you like our attempt to bring this piece “out of retirement”.
Leave us a comment if you are interested in taking it to a new home.
I worked in the business world long enough to know when something is not worth the effort financially. Heaven knows I sat in enough of the “time/value/money” sessions as they applied to our business efforts.
The piece you see in the picture will never make enough money to pay for the time I’m going to have to invest. The paint I thought would make a good base to distress and add to, turned out to be a mess.
So, what will it become? Stay tuned. Hopefully the next post will paint a brighter picture.
Those of us who make and market rustic furniture and decor strive to duplicate the look of yesteryear. But when you run across the genuine article in a barn or shed somewhere, you realize that all your efforts are just a poor substitute.
When I cleaned up the piece below and started thinking about how to change it, or freshen and renew it, I stopped. All I wanted to do was stand and look at it. When I did, I was on the back porch of my grandparents old farmhouse. It was then that I decided to leave it as is.
If you like it, leave us a comment.
Beds are funny things. For some reason, we don’t become attached to them like we do other things. Whenever people tire of the size, color, or design, they are placed in the attic, storage building, or garage and eventually cast aside as if they have no real value. Maybe it’s because mattresses have to be replaced and the headboard and footboard just follow along. I’ve never quite figured it out.
We’ve kind of made it our mission to reuse them in creative ways. The one below is just an example. It and several others are available now. Just drop us a comment and we’ll arrange for you to see it.
really rewound 