I found a vintage mid-century side table on Craigslist a few months ago. It had great bones and a lovely wood grain, but unfortunately the tabletop was worn and deeply scratched. Since the rest of the piece was in good condition, I decided to buy the table and refinish the top. I will take you through the process, which can be applied to any simple refinishing project. Here are some close-ups of the original damage. That middle scratch was about 6 inches long and a few millimeters deep. The top was also several shades lighter than the rest of the table from years of use and wear. The Process The first step is to remove the original finish and sand down any visible scratches. I used an orbital sander to expedite the process, but you can certainly do this by hand. This table has a wood veneer, a thin decorative layer of higher quality wood that surrounds the central structure, …
I have always loved the look of ebonized cerused, or limed, oak. The overall finish is a deep black, while the wood grain is filled with white pigment. The sharp contrast accentuates oak’s beautiful grain patterns and creates a high-end, glamorous look. This finish can be achieved in any color combination, but the classic black and white is my personal favorite. This technique was originally developed in the 16th century as a way to protect wood from insects. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, peaking in art deco and midcentury interiors. I followed Lynne Rutter’s wonderful tutorial over at The Ornamentalist. My table had a cerused finish originally, so I had to take a few extra steps to prep the surface. Two pieces of advice on this technique: Firstly, it is essential to create an absolutely clean surface to work with because aniline dye will not absorb through old varnish or residue. Starting with an unfinished piece would …