Saving a Family Heirloom: Navy Sideboard Furniture Makeover
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. I will receive a commission for items purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support. Please read all labels and follow all manufacturer safety recommendations when working with paints, stains, and other equipment.
Hey there! I'm thrilled to share a recent project with you that truly tugged at my heartstrings. A dear friend of mine entrusted me with their family heirloom, a damaged sideboard that had spent the last few years collecting dust int heir garage. This piece held memories and stories, but it had definitely seen better days. Determined to breathe new life into it, I set out to repair it and give it a whole new look. And guess what? The transformation is nothing short of magical!
The Backstory
Taylor and Christine are wonderful friends of mine who had this vintage sideboard tucked away in their garage. They graciously allowed me to work my creative magic, giving me complete artistic freedom. Challenge accepted! With sleeves rolled up and determination in my heart, I delved into the intricate process of restoring this cherished family piece.
The sideboard had endured years in the garage, accumulating lots of dirt and grime. The first order of business was a thorough cleaning. Armed with my Dixie Belle White Lightning and warm water, I meticulously cleaned every nook and cranny, ensuring a spotless surface for the paint to adhere to.
Repairs and Restoration
The sideboard had its share of battle scars – chipped trim, missing hardware, and water damage. With a little elbow grease and lots of patience, I tackled each issue. First, I repaired the water damage and chipping on the base of the sideboard using some all purpose putty to fill the dings and chips, and then I put my sander to work smoothing it all out. Next, I replaced the missing trim and hardware piece using an epoxy molding kit.
I used this epoxy kit and created molds for each piece and then poured the epoxy mixture into the molds and waited for them to cure. After curing, each the replacement hardware piece and the trim turned out perfectly! I was able to paint the trim and gild the hardware to match the rest of the sideboard.
After curing, the resin hardware piece turned out perfectly and I was able to gild it gold to match the rest of the sideboard.
Painting and Detailing
For the sideboard paint, I selected a deep navy hue by Dixie Belle Silk called Deep Sea. Before I could apply my paint, I decided to prime using Dixie Belle B.O.S.S. primer in gray to seal the piece and block against odors and potential bleed through.
Using my trusty Wagner Paint Sprayer, I applied two layers of primer to ensure that I don’t get any bleed through. This also gives me a beautiful canvas on which to apply the paint. I let the primer dry overnight. The next day I applied two coats of the Deep Sea paint with my Wagner Flexio 3500. Spraying this paint gives me excellent coverage and a beautiful smooth finish.
While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I went ahead and cleaned and gilded the original hardware with my gold gilding wax, to really make the gold pop against the navy paint. The last step was putting the hardware back on the sideboard.
The Final Reveal
The finishing touch involved crafting a new back panel on the sideboard for stability, and voila! The transformation was complete. The moment of truth arrived – the grand reveal. Taylor and Christine's reaction was priceless, a mix of astonishment and delight. Seeing their cherished heirloom restored to its former glory was incredibly rewarding, and I enjoyed being able to restore this antique piece of furniture.
This furniture makeover journey was a labor of love and a testament to the power of restoration. It's not just about painting and repairing; it's about preserving memories and honoring the past. It also keeps furniture from being dumped in a landfill so that it can live on in someone’s home.
I hope this transformation inspires you as much as it inspired me. You can watch the entire process here.
Stay tuned for more furniture transformations and DIY projects!