Jessica writes with a question we all likely ask at one time or another in our collecting (and dumpster-diving) lives:
Hi there! It goes without saying that I love your blog or I wouldn’t be reaching out.
So, I have this little set. It’s a Heywood Wakefield table — missing its leaves — and two chairs. One with arms and one without. We found it free on the side of the road. The original labels and paperwork are still stapled under one of the chairs. Anyway, the poor set has been badly abused. The Champagne finish has seen better days, and obviously parts of the set have been lost along the way — the other chairs as well as the leaves. The table top has some spreading between the pieces of wood likely because it was left in the rain or somewhere moist. And lots of rings. *sigh*
So, my question is this.
Do I pay to have this refinished in the right stain, and see if they can do anything about the spreading and stains. OR, do I have it done in something fun like a black lacquer? Its role is likely going to be an art table for the kids in their super cool retro playroom. At most, it could end up being my desk in my office.
The chairs are cat eye style. I’m not sure on the table. Trying to look that up now.
Any thoughts?
Jessica
Hi there back, Jessica! Thank you, and good girl, dumpster diver! Excellent question — and a great one for our team of smarty readers weigh in on.
What do you think, readers?
Is it righteous to restore wrecked vintage furniture back to its original finish?
Or, can we get creative?
I definitely have an opinion, but family hold back.
Cathleen says
If this were just any ugly wood dining table, you could paint it but a true, quality mid-century piece deserves better.
I have never had enough money to pay anyone to restore furniture for me, so all of my pieces I have done myself. I have to retore 6 Moller Teak Dining chairs right now but I know I will have AWESOME pieces when I am finished. Nothing makes me feel so good as to look at my finished products afterward and know “I did that!”
While it does take some time, elbow grease and patience, you can do it!
I have done it in very small apartments even. Just get a mask or take the worst parts (like the staining or finishing) outside.
Best wishes!
Kirsten says
You found it. It’s yours. Do what inspires you! Although I am a HUGE proponent of preservation, we’ve become a little ridiculous in our “standards”. Pretty soon all creativity will be lost if people feel like they must conform to some arbitrary set of rules passed along the internet. Repurposing, reusing, recycling, etc.: these are also admirable contributions. Have fun with your found pieces!
Laura J says
AMEN!
Just another Pam says
I agree with both of the posters above. It’s not like you’re planning on painting a clown portrait over the Mona Lisa here.
Some things can be easily restored but some just aren’t worth the time, effort and money. Yes, even the chunks can be fixed though you’ll know they’re there but at what cost? I’d try very hard to save the wonderful scarce chairs but the table is pretty basic and it’s unlikely you’d ever recoup the cost of your efforts unless some kind of HW rapture happens and your table gets left behind. ;o)
Becky Leach says
Min-Wax Antique furniture restore, and Howard’s Feed and Wax will have this brand gorgeous in just one afternoon in your backyard, and for only about $30 ( $15 + $10 + some rubber gloves and 0000 steel wool. ) IF you paint it, it’ll take day and days of hard work to get back to that gorgeous wood, instead. I’m begging you! 😉 Save that wpod.
Sputnik Housewares says
Please do not paint it! I have come across several pieces of HeyWake furniture and restored them easily! There is a dealer on Ebay that makes an exact match to Wheat or Champagne that you just wipe on with a cotton cloth after the wood has been stripped and sanded. I have ordered from them twice and I have been thrilled with the results.
Here is the link here- http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHAMPAGNE-refinishing-stain-HEYWOOD-WAKEFIELD-/150759947327?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item2319fe3c3f
Heywood Wakefield furniture is solid wood so you can easily strip it and sand off any rings or splitting. My first piece was a horribly water stained and moldy vanity which came out great and gave me the confidence to take on another project. Here are a few before and after shots of a thrifted dining set we did.
before- http://www.flickr.com/photos/sputnikhousewares/4519046437/
after-http://www.flickr.com/photos/sputnikhousewares/5072214304/
Seriously please don’t paint it, put it on Craigslist and someone will give it a great home, you can then spend the money on a black lacquer set if that is what you really want.
Jennifer says
Man… Heywake in the dumpster?!?!? We collect HW and have the cats eye chairs in our dining room. Haven’t checked in a while but I remember the cats eye chairs with arms were actually pretty rare. So I cringe to think about painting it. I would definitely refinish the chairs, you could even sell them, I’d be interested, btw! And look for something fun for the kids instead. The table definitely seems like it’s on its way out. I don’t think Heywake looks right painted at all. The beauty is all about how the lines of the furniture works with the wood. Just not right to paint it!!
Scott Swank says
I wouldn’t pay someone to refinish that, but I would give it my best effort. 1. Hit it with a chemical stripper, per the instructions, 2. give it a reasonable sanding, nothing crazy here, 3. stain it with a reasonable blonde, 4. give it a protective top coat.
That’s not a ton of work and I suspect that it will give you a nice result without dropping the kind of cash that a pro would want.
Cheers,
Scott
Stacy says
In my opinion, painting these pieces never looks quite right. No matter how nice a finish you put on it, to me it sticks out like a sore thumb when mid-century wood furniture is painted. It might just be me-but I see stuff at thrift stores and on craigslist all the time that someone has painted, and I’ve never liked it. I’ve painted my share of furniture from other periods, but I wouldn’t do it to this set. This must really push one of my buttons, I was just ranting about it a few days ago. But they’re my buttons-so have fun with your find!
Laura J says
I think you should do whatever makes YOU happy … obviously, whomever left it on the side of the road didn’t appreciate what a nice piece of furniture it could be. Or maybe they didn’t know how to fix it. But you’ve saved it from a worse fate of being tossed in the landfill. So make it beautiful to YOU and enjoy! I love the idea of saving old things, but by the same token – we don’t live in museums (or at least we shouldn’t) …
Tracey says
I vote for FUN=the BLACK Laquer!!! You could keep the legs the original color and then it would be like an Art Deco/Hey Wake cross-breed:) Yes….Hey Wake has vintage/value….but heck…so does your life with the kids and family. Deck it out in the glossy, glossy black and let the kids enjoy a stylish, high fashion art table. It will make them feel special….they are more precious than a “potential” heirloom. Go for the extraordinary.
Kathy C says
I agree! Paint the top black lacquer!! Especially if kids are going to use the table. Nothing destroys wood more than kids doing art projects! If I had to pay top dollar to have it refinished and restored I’d probably never let my boys touch it!
Natalia says
HW furniture is made with good quality, solid wood. Consider that if you paint that table and chairs, it will be next to impossible for you or the next owner to remove all of that paint later on and restore the table to a natural wood finish.
Consider also that HW furniture has at least some value with damaged original finish, because it can be refinished. If you paint that table, it will be worthless except as a functional piece.
I would echo AtomicHipster’s recommendation to use Howard’s restore-a-finish and/or Howard’s beeswax conditioner to make the table at least somewhat presentable. Also, you could use a waterproof tablecloth or other resilient covering (e.g., we use loose sheets of spare linoleum) that will hide the flaws and protect the surface from further damage when the table is used for work and play. That way, you will still have the option of having the table professionally refinished at a later date.