Here is a fun transformation of a very derelict vanity that had been left in disrepair for years, to a beautiful and functional desk! I thought hard about this piece and what I wanted it to become. It had a funny blend of pre-war attributes (ornate woodwork, castors, and little storage spots) combined with retro touches (mahogany veneer, lucite pulls). So it confused me, but also intrigued me. I decided to just accept its odd characteristics and make it both pretty and handsome at the same time! I kept the handles and let the orange-y wood tones underneath coordinate with each other, and let the underlying veneer play a role too: I took all the chips, dings, peeling veneer and deteriorated finish and highlighted them. This way, the piece could have an old-world feeling, but still be attractive in it's shabbiness! Then, to keep the piece from getting "too" shabby, the mahogany veneer that I could spare was revived with stripping and new stain and polyurethane to keep the juxtaposition of shabby with "polished". I think it turned out as a really interesting-looking piece that is now able to work as a desk or vanity again, while still paying homage to its vintage!
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Before: very run-down and beat up!
After: with new life breathed in!
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