NOW I remember!

 It took me a few minutes but as I was back in the guest room starting to refinish the cabinet-and I say that loosely-VERY loosely- I remembered why I really do not enjoy this task. I have done my share of furniture finishing and that is so much easier than refinishing!

When my husband opened his CPA firm, the building had six rooms. Several were personal offices that clients really wouldn't see, one was his office that clients would be in, one was a conference room, one was a file and record room and one was a waiting area. For the first few years he was in business, I worked with him...and, me being me, I  had to have a say in how things looked as we decorated. We wanted a comfortable-not stuffy-office and to me that meant wood furniture not metal. Since we had so much to get, I kind of got "bribed" to help. He told me I could purchase of my desk from Disharoon Valley in Tampa-a desk I had fallen in love with when we were initially looking. It is beautiful and when I stopped working there, I took my desk with me Lol I still have it and still use it. We also purchased a few end tables for the waiting area there but, EVERYTHING else was purchased at Naked Furniture and I finished it all. We're talking large wood file cabinets, several armoires, many desks, storage pieces. etc. I lived with my hands in walnut stain for a very long time. It was time consuming but really not difficult-first you stain and then you seal. Done!

But, I have also tried my hand at refinishing a few things over the years and that I don't enjoy as much. There is way too much preparation for me! I like to just get going. I will say that most of the things I did I am still using and they're fine but, lucky for me, I am more of a chippy, rusty, shabby kind of person so I was never going for a shiny, classy, traditional type of finish. I honestly don't think I could ever pull that off-I get bored very quickly! Lol

And so, when I started deciding how I would change this very white piece of furniture, the antique wax and white dry brushing that I shared was my answer.

Of course, I didn't realized that at this point I was now my own worst enemy! That piece of furniture is HEAVY so I knew I wouldn't be moving it somewhere easier to paint. I really shouldn't have had it put here until it was painted but then that begged the question of where it would sit until I got to it so I chose the easy way out. There is off-white carpet in this room so already I was a bit nervous as I am not the neatest painter. I really shouldn't have put this here until it was done but now it too late.

I started by covering it all in a coat of the antique wax. After that, I would have to let it dry for a bit but not too long or I wouldn't be able to take some of the wax back off. 

As I was getting this far I realized that this is a really good piece of furniture. My daughter told me she got it from a client who was going to just throw it away. She was told that it was purchased from the best furniture store that we have here in town so I knew it was not an inexpensive piece. I know my daughter initially painted it and used it in my grand daughter's room when she was quite young as her book and craft storage area. Then I think it may have served some time in the garage and eventually made its way back into the house in the hall to the bedrooms to serve as storage for out-of-season clothing.

As I started removing the wax with baby wipes, they kept getting stuck on "splinters" of some kind. Then I noticed some metal corner brackets that had been painted over and pieces of the doors that have huge gouges and chips. I know there is no way all of that happened at my daughter's so I am guessing that this is actually a really old piece sold in the antique section of the store or that it is a darn good reproduction made from very old, beat up wood. In either case, it probably deserves a better remake than I am giving it but that can be for its next owner. That kind of furniture refinishing is not for me. Guess its a good thing I'm not all that classy!

So here is where it is right now. I used almost a whole package of baby wipes to get it down this far. I will just use more white on the places that are darker and then more stain on the places where I may have taken off too much-this is not rocket science!

Of course by painting it in place, I left myself quite the task of getting to that left side facing the shelving. I actually had to use my left hand in certain places to get it done but, again, I am not fussy and since that side faces the wall of shelves, again, I don't care. Think it is starting to look like when I finish redoing that piece in the other guest room my furniture refinishing days might be over for good!! Lol

I now need to let this cure for at least 24 hours so, I am off to see what else I can get into. I'll show you how this turns out when I get it done. Until them, stay safe and stay tuned.