Author: Erik W

Mid-Century Credenza Restoration

Posted on by Erik W in danish modern, mid century, mid-century furniture, minnesota, modern, retro, vintage

We thought we’d share the process we used to restore one of the treasures we found. Not necessarily THE right process, just one that works for us. Here are the steps.

Pic 1 - West Michigan Furniture Co. credenza as found, stains on top, compression damage, split front leg.
Pic 1 – West Michigan Furniture Co. credenza as found, stains on top, compression damage, split front leg.
Pic 2 - Detail showing damage to credenza top, including two very obvious black water marks.
Pic 2 – Detail showing damage to credenza top, including two very obvious black water marks.
Pic 3 - Applied Citristrip paint stripper to wood surfaces.
Pic 3 – Applied Citristrip paint stripper to wood surfaces.
Pic 4 - Preparing to deal with water marks.
Pic 4 – Preparing to deal with water marks.
Pic 5 - Water marks were treated with Savogran wood bleach (oxalic acid), applied with a toothbrush per manufacturer's directions.
Pic 5 – Water marks were treated with Savogran wood bleach (oxalic acid), applied with a toothbrush per manufacturer’s directions.
Pic 6 - Before and after treatment of water marks.
Pic 6 – Before and after treatment of water marks.
Pic 7 - After addressing all surface defects (water marks, steaming out compression damage, etc.), all wood surfaces were sanded to a minimum of 180 grit sandpaper.
Pic 7 – After addressing all surface defects (water marks, steaming out compression damage, etc.), all wood surfaces were sanded to a minimum of 180 grit sandpaper.
Pic 8 - Depending on type of wood, some may require pre-treatment with a wood conditioner which will help with even absorption of stain. Some woods (i.e. birch) absorb stain unevenly, resulting in a blotchy appearance if not pre-treated.
Pic 8 – Depending on type of wood, some may require pre-treatment with a wood conditioner which will help with even absorption of stain. Some woods (i.e. birch) absorb stain unevenly, resulting in a blotchy appearance if not pre-treated.
Pic 9 - After pre-treatment, apply stain. For this project we used Old Masters brand American Walnut Wiping Stain.
Pic 9 – After pre-treatment, apply stain. For this project we used Old Masters brand American Walnut Wiping Stain.
Pic 10 - After staining the piece, lacquer was applied as a top coat. We're trying to transition to environmentally sensitive products in our restoration work and to that end, used Valspar's Zenith Waterborne Lacquer. Zenith is a Greenguard Certified product.
Pic 10 – After staining the piece, lacquer was applied as a top coat. We’re trying to transition to environmentally sensitive products in our restoration work and to that end, used Valspar’s Zenith Waterborne Lacquer. Zenith is a Greenguard Certified product.
Pic 11 - The lacquer was applied with a Fuji Mini-Mite 3 HVLP spray system. This spray system makes the application of top coats a snap. With HVLP, there is less overspray, so there is less waste of product. Also, in using the waterborne lacquer, clean-up requires water instead of noxious chemicals.
Pic 11 – The lacquer was applied with a Fuji Mini-Mite 3 HVLP spray system. This spray system makes the application of top coats a snap. With HVLP, there is less overspray, so there is less waste of product. Also, in using the waterborne lacquer, clean-up requires water instead of noxious chemicals.
Pics 12-16 - The finished credenza. The entire project took about a week.
Pics 12-16 – The finished credenza. The entire project took about a week.
The finished top of the credenza.
The finished top of the credenza.
Before & After shot of coffee stains.
Before & After shot of coffee stains.
Again, the finished credenza.
Again, the finished credenza.
Pic 17 - Repaired leg of finished credenza. We did not get a before shot of this leg, which was split down the middle and had to be glued and clamped.
Pic 17 – Repaired leg of finished credenza. We did not get a before shot of this leg, which was split down the middle and had to be glued and clamped.

Links to products used:

Citristrip

Savogran Wood Bleach

Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

Valspar Zenith Waterborne Lacquer

Fuji Sprayer

Greenguard Certification

Mid-Century Inspired Surfboard Coffee Table

Posted on by Erik W in Uncategorized

Sometimes, inspiration strikes you and you just have to do something with it. A while back, we picked up a Johnson-Carper dresser. Not sure why we picked it up, considering the state it was in. Loose parts, broken parts, and about 5 coats of paint in various colors didn’t deter us from thinking we could save it. Well….we were wrong. It was just too far gone. Now, we’re not the kind of folks who want to be filling up the local landfill any more than we really have to so we set out to re-purpose what we could salvage from the remains of what used to be a lovely dresser and here is what we came up with.

Our very first foray into crafting Mid-Century inspired furniture is this surfboard coffee table. We stripped, and stripped, and stripped paint from the dresser top, laid out the shape, hand cut it (well, OK…we used a jig saw), sanded it, lightly stained it, and then gave it 3 coats of lacquer. We chamfered the top under to give it a thinner profile and lighter feel.

The legs mounts were salvaged from a vintage coffee table (or what was left of one) that, like the dresser, was also beyond repair. The legs are newly sourced but period appropriate and stain matched to the top.

MCM inspired Surfboard Coffee Table
MCM inspired Surfboard Coffee Table
IMG_20131114_175600_838
MCM inspired Surfboard Coffee Table
IMG_20131114_175547_491
MCM inspired Surfboard Coffee Table

Though the legs may be new, the hardware and the elliptical shape are as vintage as the feeling this one of a kind, hand crafted piece evokes.

51.5″l x 18.25″w x 12.75″h.

**SOLD**

Broyhill Brasilia Gentleman’s Chest

Posted on by Erik W in mid century, mid-century furniture, minnesota, modern, retro, vintage

Broyhill’s Brasilia line is popular among mid-century modern aficionados because it mimics the iconic architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, who designed buildings in the capital of Brazil in the early 1960s.

Mid-Century Vibe has this Gentleman’s Chest (called a Door Chest by Broyhill) available for sale.

Dimensions: 44″ wide x 19″ deep x  49.75″  high

Condition: Very good vintage condition. Age-appropriate wear.

**SOLD**