Weekends are made for fun! Right? So now we’re starting fun weekend project #568. Okay I’m exaggerating it’s probably more like #425 give or take a few. Time to start refinishing the built in cabinets in our bedroom.
When you’re having to live in a house that you’re renovating (as so many of you do) and you’re going room by room and trying to continue some sort of “normal” life in this mess, it’s almost more difficult than if we had moved out and tore up the place. Every time I get to a room it sometime feels like I’m going backwards. So here we go AGAIN with the unpacking of the clothes into boxes and bags so we can bring this baby back to life. Man, I’m having deja vu.
Richie wanted to to just get some boxes off the street and I slammed the brakes on that one. My undies are not going in a box from the dumpster of the local grocery store. Not when HD sells new ones for .69 cents. So 8 boxes later we were done and the process of making this cabinet pretty again was ON. While we were unloading Richie told me that the cabinet “really doesn’t look that bad and did I think we needed to go through all this”. You should have seen the look on my face. Better yet, I’ll let you guess what I said…. Here’s a closer view of the condition they were in.
ding, ding, ding, ding ding… and the answer was…… “yes, dear, it’s going to look so much better”. or something that sweet and wifely. – (eye roll)
It will end up being a two-part finish because the drawer fronts are stained and lacquered and the insides are painted with what I believe to be oil-based paint. I decided we better use some sort of stripper on the fronts to loosen up the finishes and make them easier to sand. I’m not a big fan of using harsh chemicals to do a job but I’ll do it if I have to. There’s lots of decent “safe” or maybe I should say “safer” products out there. We ended up buying some “Citristrip” which is non-toxic and safe for indoor use. We’ve used this in the past with not so great results but I thought I’d try it again because they always improve on products over time. You have to leave it on much longer but it did a pretty decent job and hopefully I won’t grow a third eye or a horn out of my head in the years to come. Working on a house exposes you to so much nasty stuff that I try to be as careful as possible.
You just paint on a thick coat of the gel, let it sit 30-40 minutes, agitate with a scotch brite or “stripping” pad, wipe, and then rinse. Once it dried I used a 220 sanding pad on my sander to smooth it all out and remove anything left behind. The insides got a good scuffing up so I can repaint those too. It’s so rewarding to see that wood looking SO much better.
I didn’t want to leave the drawers and doors outside even though the weather is great right now and the humidity is low. I don’t want anything warping so I wiped them all down with lacquer thinner and put them back in their slots in the cabinet. When I put them in and compared them to the other parts that weren’t stripped/sanded I knew I made the right decision to re-do these. Here’s a good comparison and that’s without any finish.
It’s just the beginning but you never know how something’s going to go until you jump right in. Hopefully this project won’t suck up my time and I can get it done in the next week to two. Wishful thinking probably but I’m gonna try like hell. I think painting the insides is what’s going to slow me down the most. If it was all just one finish it would be so much easier. We’ll see. And you know I’ll keep you posted. Hope YOU had a good weekend!
Ha! My post has a photo of me sanding today too! And unlike you, I made the dreadful mistake of leaving the desk out on the porch. More on that tomorrow. And so far, your drawers look fantastic. (Did that sound dirty to anyone else?)
HA HA! At least my “clean” drawers are not in dirty boxes! Thanks, Brandy… your desk looks great too. I love make things pretty again.
The gel stripper is definitely the best for you health. I used a similar product on my claw foot bathtub (which had dozens of coats of paint on the outside and what it didn’t remove added a nice aged patina).
I’m having to use a heat gun to remove the layers of paint from the molding and trim throughout the house, but only with lots of ventilation!!!
Your work looks great!!! You’ve definitely made the right choices!
And without the harsh chemicals, you’ll be around long enough to enjoy your work! And will have enough brain cells to remember doing it!! Those fumes are scary stuff!!!
Any idea on how you will finish and protect these cabinets? The natural wood is beautiful!
Thank you. I’ve had great success using a heat gun on projects. That method is kind of fun too… Hot, but fun watching the old stuff come off! Maybe you know… but I can’t determine the type of wood. Birch maybe? Our bed is birch and we’re not going to stain it. So I don’t think I’ll stain this either. So just a couple thin coats of oil-based poly to seal it and of course those insides will get paint. Any ideas, suggestions or thoughts on what the wood might be are ALWAYS welcome.
So fun! It’s exciting to see something like this. Seems simple enough, but it does take time. Good luck on the rest!
Kristina
Nook & Sea
Your weekend looked a little more fun! Wine or sandpaper? hummm… it’s a toss up. HA! Thanks for the encouragement.
Haha! Touche. Well, my hubby and I are in the first stages of the home buying process, so the thought of finally being able to fix up our home (instead of our ranky apartment carpet we can’t TOUCH) makes me excited :) I’m looking forward to seeing some more updates on this! Hang in there.
Kristina
Nook & Sea
That’s so great! With your taste the place will be gorgeous. So pretty soon we’ll both be ripping stuff up and hopefully drinking more wine. Congrats on the home buying.
My thoughts exactly – and thank you! It’s a process!
Hey there, I totally blog stalked you today :) Your home is AMAZING. I want to drive to texas just to see it in person, in a noncreepy way. I know you are still working on it, but it is such a beauty. All of your worth has paid off!! Good luck finishing up your master bedroom. Have a good week!
Great! I so enjoy your blog I’m glad you did. By all means, come by if you’re in Texas… I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from you.
Definately picking up some valuable tips for our very own restoration projects (TBC…)
Off topic: Did you know if you go to your wordpress dashboard, and click at the bottom where is says “Settings”, then choose “general” – at the top right you can make an icon for your blog. For iPhone and iPad users this is awesome instead of the look-a-like WP blue circle…..and it helps me find your blog faster, so this is for selfish reasons… :)
Do you mean like a favicon? The little picture that appears in the address bar next to the domain name/blog address? I’ve seen that option and upload button on the dashboard page but I have ignored it, never thinking about that making it easier to find someone. I’m so glad you said something. I’ll be happy to upload a picture/icon. It’s done. Thank you, Shirley.
Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for the comment. You guys are doing some awesome stuff. Lovely lovely place.
I have serious house envy! This piece that you’re redoing reminds me of a side table that I once saw and left in the store b/c my husband didn’t like it. I’m still thinking about it everytime I see front drawer panels like that. It’s looking SO good!
HOW NICE! Thank you. Like you, we love those second hand finds. It’s addicting. They are unique little drawers and there was no way I was going to rip those out! Thank you so much for stopping by.
HAHA! A girl after my own heart! Our men and their ‘it’s just fine’ attitudes. If it weren’t for us women we’d be living in much different houses! Can’t wait to see this finished. This cabinet has great bones! I’m really digging the style.
AMEN! I painted on them a little today trying hard not to get paint on the finished wood. It’s tedious. (which you know) I get stuck with all the tedious crap. Oh well. A woman’s work is never done. HA! Thanks for the encouragement.
Isn’t it kind of alarming? How quickly you get used to living out of boxes… After a while, I stop noticing and it becomes normal. It’s not until I see it through someone else’s eyes that I realize it’s unusual to choose uncontrolled chaos.
Yes, you hit it dead on! Controlled chaos is pretty much the way it’s been for several years. I’m starting to think that I won’t know what to do or have to behave if we ever get this house done. I may miss it. (NOT!)
I look forward to watching your progress and being supportive! It’s always fun to share the triumphs…. and may there be MANY.
Pingback: Update: Bedroom Cabinet Refinising | a Goode house