I recently refinished a coffee table for some clients of mine here in Northern Virginia. The table had been around for a few decades, at a minimum. For the last several years, the coffee table has been a centerpiece in the main living area of their house. Drinks, meals, kids’ toys, propped up feet; it saw all the action.
Now the coffee table will be around for a few decades more, with the addition of a new stain that highlights the grain of the wood and some protective layers of polyurethane that will help it endure the dangers of condensation, kids, and houseguests. Furniture is meant to be used, but understand that it comes at a cost.
I started with stripping the table of the most recent previous finish, which was not the original finish, and then I stripped it all the way down to the bare wood. With the intricate design around the legs and sides, a lot had to be done by hand. Some of the original grain had been lost over the years, but I was able to bring it back out. I had no idea this eye-catching grain pattern was underneath.
From there we added stain to coordinate with other end tables and furniture in the main living area of the house. Keep in mind you may encounter some trial and error in this stage as wood stains will take differently depending on the wood used. In this case, durability of the table was a priority here, so a few coats of polyurethane were then applied to add some longevity to the piece of furniture. Had this coffee table been something like a shelf instead, I might have opted for polycrylic, but in this case we we going for durability.
Sometimes when you think it might be time for a piece of furniture to head out the door, consider refinishing it instead, whether it be a table, a chair, or something with sentimental value. In this case, my client has had this table for a long time, and can now enjoy it for a long time to come. If refinishing furniture is something you’d like to explore further for items in your own house, please contact me.