How to restore vintage mid century furniture like a pro || DIY furniture flipping side hustle

In todays video i had to choose wether i wanted to paint these ends tables or restore them back to normal. I hope everyone is happy with the choice i came up with and i did have a lot of fun on this project.

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DISCLAIMER: Please do not take the steps in this video as instructions. Always follow proper safety instructions on any tools, materials and or chemicals that are used on these pieces. This video is for entertainment purposes and please be safe out there.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the links provided are affiliate links and I may get a small commission from qualified purchases. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you! Always be sure to read all manufacturers instructions and use appropriate safety equipment when sing any of these products, and do so at your own risk.

All links will be US links.

Stain color: verathane red mahogany and dark walnut

PAINT COLOR: N/A

TOOLS:

Microfiber towels and white multipurpose towels

Music: See You
Musician: @iksonmusic

Music: Young Me Dreaming
Musician: Carl Storm

[VioletJoy]

It had a nice spa treatment. 😊 That table could fit into just about any decor style. It's a classic! Nicely done.

[floofypurplefluff]

You did a lovely job. Truly. Everything that can be seen once the table is sitting on its feet looks absolutely top notch.

However,

I do have one observation: I’ve been watching a LOT of furniture flipping/rehabbing channels lately and, save for a very, very few who do, why is it so many of you don’t clean, sand, stain/paint the backs of pieces or inside drawers?

Point: I watched one video over an hour long where the woman was working on a very tall, very old china hutch/cabinet. She took off thick and drippy black paint, and a nasty thick layer of white paint, just to get to the original stain. She fixed numerous cracks, scratches, so forth and so on. She sanded, and sanded, and sanded some more. She put her heart and soul into this piece for days and days. There was zero question in my mind she took great pride in her work.

Then she started putting it back together - it was lovely. The doors, the shelves, the hardware. Perfection. Until she picked up the back piece. The inside that would be seen was finished wonderfully. The backside (the part that would be “facing a wall”) was, in a word, horrendous. It had drips and runs from the white and black paint jobs, as well as other obvious damage marks. In other words, she’d done absolutely nothing to make that area presentable, much less sellable.

I would be beyond embarrassed having a potential buyer see that. But worse, shame on her for thinking it’s okay. She, and (ahem) others like her, are taking money from people based on representations that the piece has been rehabbed - the WHOLE piece. Not just the parts people might see.

Or, when people inquire about the item, do you tell said person, “It’s a 100 year-old hutch with original glass, it has been completely sanded (except for the back) and new stain has been applied (except for the back), with three coats of sealant (except for the back), and all drawers have been sealed with waxed as well (except for the back). That will be $800 cash.

Or do to say all the above including, “because I didn’t do the back or bottom it’s only half completed so I’m only going to charge half at $400 cash please?

I’m not meaning to be hateful, but I do mean to open up a dialogue about these things, or at the very least to bring attention to the matter. Is it meant to be like getting a used car? Buyer beware??

[wendyjohnson]

Lane is an excellent score!!! Such quality furniture made your refresh CLUTCH 😊

[theduchessofschroon]

Sooo beautiful! I wish my husband was that talented! 😕

[lovespring]

The original wood looks awesome refinished!

[frances]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!❤
LANE is a great quality manufacturer!

[j.b.]

Beautiful and thank you for restoring and not painting them.

[opalsirius]

Nice and I like the clean lines: they can match almost any decor

[pw]

Love the result (huge fan of the mahogany look), but I was super excited after seeing the sanded table and thought you might be going with the natural wood rather than a stain.

[cyman]

Really love the natural wood result. Hate when people take the easy route and paint real wood.

[tjoy]

Nice! I have two of these same tables!!

[kmarch]

Finally! Somebody that doesn't paint everything.

[Adriana-vprm]

If u put poly first then wax, is the wax still absorbed by the wood?

[nicolelast]

they are stunning. question... why don't you do the underside of the tables too? I see people not doing this all the time and just wondered.

[joycegriffin]

Beautiful job...just wish you had shown a full picture of before again it looks beautiful

[sheilasmith]

Beautiful piece of wood, it is solid wood ? Good score timeless