I normally try and keep my posts to more of the positive aspects of MCM collecting and rehabbing and refinishing all manner of fun MCM stuff, but I just had to share with you on what you don't ever want to do to a well built piece of Americana. WTF was someone thinking?? Judging from the less than perfect linguistic skills of this particular seller, there's no telling! This an actual Craigs List posting my wife came across today. I think she was trying to punish me or something. She knows how much I like the Brasilia line.
5 DRAWER DRESSER IN GOOD CONDITION.SOLID MADED. 100 DOLLARS OR B.O. MAY NEED TO BE STRIPED AND/OR REPAINTED. PLEASE E-MAIL OR CALL 727-768-6499. ITS NAME IS BRIEVILLE.
And here's the link if you think you may have an interest: http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/fuo/3141542443.html
It's too late now to look away!
Made me want to put my face in my hands and sob! Sadly this will likely not sell to someone with better skills that myself to save it and will probably turn up at the landfill. If I had a strip tank I might give it a shot, but at the asking price it's a better bet that someone will throw another coat of paint on it and maybe it will enjoy a few more years of abuse.
What a shame!
Ugh white paint strikes again, either your wife is punishing you or she's that confident that you could save it. What a mess that would be stripping it.
ReplyDeleteHey David, I'm pretty decent at pieces that haven't been through this kind of abuse, however...
DeleteI can't imagine doing this and it would take way more hours to fix than I could consider taking on. I absolutely hate people painting furniture unless it's a last resort. This likely could have been restored...
Ugh...so sad. This is actually pretty similar to a post I just did about somebody on C-list painting a Heywood Wakefield dining set. I cringed when I saw the pics.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thriftables.com/2012/09/painting-heywood-wakefield.html
Hey Susie,
DeleteI took a look at what you had acquired and left my two cents. At least your H/W is solid birch and much easier than this project would be. Sadly the white paint on this Brasilia has likely penetrated the grains of the wood so badly it would be insurmountable. I haven't seen any piece of H/W that I haven't been able to bring back.
Sometimes I forget that these are just old pieces of furniture that should have been in a landfill years ago to the average person. They have no idea what they have or how valuable it is...and they really think they're giving the pieces a new lease on life by painting them.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'd like to throttle the person who painted that piece white!
I guess the upside to people not knowing what they have is they will part with it for much less than what it's potentially worth. That's how I stay in business. The downside is obvious...
DeleteIn order to turn this lemon into lemonade, I'd do the following:
ReplyDeleteUse a slate gray paint on the exteriors and the drawer fronts and then a golden yellow on the (what I like to call) swoops of the top drawer. It's really the only thing you can do. :( At least the hardware is intact!
That sounds like it would look better than the white and the hardware is now the most redeeming thing left of this piece. I hope someone at least helps it out. I just know it won't be me :)
DeleteOh C'mon now...it's not like these are hard to find in pretty good shape. Heck, I've got an empty un-used one in my spare bedroom! That some of these mass produced pieces get slathered in paint now and then isn't the end of the earth. I like Diana's idea except that I'd suggest painting the yellow accent UNDER the swoops. I've got a nine drawer Brasilia dresser out in the garage that is missing the two middle drawers on each outside set and some veneer on the front edge. One day it too will have paint applied...if only along that top edge after filling the void in the veneer. I'm thinking of filling the missing drawer areas with wine bottle racks.
ReplyDeleteI know there are likely plenty of pieces out there like this and sadly, as these are no longer being produced, everyone that has been ruined is one less that can be brought back to their original beauty. Pieces like your dresser are the exception to the rule and I like the idea of repurposing with a wine rack.
DeleteThere is a seller in my neck of the woods "refreshing" (her word) a bunch of mid century furniture. Other stuff too, but I don't find the idea of painting mahogany veneer 1920s sideboards so heart-breaking. Hard to say what the pieces looked like beforehand. I mean, fair enough if the finish is unsalvagable, I suppose. But she's painting them with chalk paint and shabby chic-ing them up. They look ridiculous. If you're going to paint a piece, maybe at least try to stick with something sort of related to the period?
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of "antique" furniture although our whole 1927 bungalow is furnished period correct from turn of the century (last one not this one) through the 1930's and I have salvaged/restored many of the pieces. I still hate seeing any pieces painted that can be restored and have never understood those that love the shabby "chic" look and I hope this fad fades away!
DeleteUgh! I was about 2 minutes too late to rescue a (not yet painted) Brasilia piece from the thrift store. I have a feeling it ended up looking something like this one. In my opinion the only reason a piece should ever be painted is if it is complete junk. I like my wood furniture to look like wood! I did just finish painting an occasional table for resale but it was the type of chunky 70s stuff that was horrible to start with, and even worse after years of abuse. Painted furniture is still very hot around here so, sadly, I don't think that trend is going away any time soon.
ReplyDeleteHey VH, At least my customers appreciate seeing their MCM pieces in original condition. Fortunately I don't know too many people that would ever do this to a piece of furniture!
Deletewow that is troubling to see that ,anyway on another matter,may i ask when you do a top finish on a piece ,as seen here earlier on a credenza top, the to p will have more sheen it seems.what to do to get some of the glow/shine to blend. what do you do for that
ReplyDeleteL.G.
For top only refinshes on the wanlut veneer pieces I normally sand the top bare and restain with an Early American stain which makes a great match for the original color. Top coat is usually a satin lacquer (spray) on most pieces. For cocktail and end tables and heavy use pieces I sometimes use a semi-gloss polyurethane, also spray, that turns out about the same sheen factor as the satin lacquer. Both are very close to the original vintage finish shine. I've found the lacquer easier to work with and prefer over the urethane.
ReplyDeleteAfter acquiring from the family - a badly painted (that makes your pic look like a showroom piece) a BB bedroom suite consiting of a full size bed, nightstand, highboy dresser, triple dresser w/ mirror, I used this in our vacation home. Not previously a BB expert, I realized after moving these pieces from several states and after some use that this furniture was made of great quality and loved the style. Long story short, decided to move the furniture back to our primary residence with the plan to strip and use in our 12 year old son's room. Thought this was a do-it-yourself job. Needless to say, after successfully stripping the nightstand needed some more professional guidance. At that point, left it to to some friends who were professionals. This cost us about 3 grand. I can tell you that the outcome was worth every penny. We couldn't even touch the quality of furniture for this price. The wow-factor with lines, details, and even the woodgrain is not damaged and show's thorugh. Yes, I have to cringe when I think that the pulls were tossed away (and I had to search for 1" pulls that met the original holes so I didn't have to drill more.)
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Mr. Modtomic, if you are looking just to collect, refinishing may not be for you. But if you are truely using for quality furniture that has the "wow" factor" and can surpasses quality above IKEA for kids, Pottery Barn, even Ethan Allen, and can evolve through styles - it's definately worth the invesment. Still search consighment/thrift shops, and if I come across one even painted, will jump for the steal. We're using the Highboy dresser in our dining room with countless compliments. Can't wait to post the "before/after" pics - you'll be amazed.
I personally don't have the skill set or the equipment to strip a piece that has been completely painted although I applaude those that do and know it's a lot of work! I'll just keep trying to save those I can from being painted!
DeleteI'd rather see someone re-purposing a piece of furniture and using it than putting it in landfill. Painted furniture appeals to a lot of people these days as an accent piece etc. It may take away from the original intent of the furniture and I have to admit that some wood pieces are gorgeous, but it's all about taste. So painting or refinishing are good things because it is being reused and cutting down on new consumption
ReplyDeleteWell... at least go with black!
ReplyDeleteWell its not as bad as me almost trading it for a microwave cart or $30!!!!
ReplyDeleteLast January I was put in charge of my Grandparents estate and dealing with the auction company, and appraiser. After they went through everything what was left I was to inherit. Well an appraiser said that it was just old pieces that you could probably donate and the auction people said that it wasn't worth it to move out and put in the auction. So I decided to keep it and use it as my set. Recently I wanted a change and was hoping to sell it on a local yard sale site. Needless to say I was just trying to find a photo of the pieces together to use for my post and came across just what kind of set I have here!! My grandmother was a very meticulous woman and took excellent care of anything she owned. I have the 9 drawer credenza, landscape mirror with signature arches, full/queen headboard, and a 5 drawer chest dresser. (dresser still has the original dividers to make the one drawer into 3 sections) Needless to say I am relieved I did not do anything rash and now I'm hoping someone can help me out with how to sell this amazing find we just now discovered!!! Any and all help or time is truly appreciated. Thank you.