Don’t you just love watching restoration shows and videos? May it be cars, appliances, and even furniture? There’s something about these types of videos that are just so fulfilling.
Maybe, it’s because of the amazing transformation and the hard work that a person puts into the process of restoring something.
Since the pandemic, people had more time to spend staying at home; that is why restoration and DIY projects have been so popular lately.
What better way to spend your quarantine time than to create something worth your time and effort?
If you have some pending DIY and restoration projects that have been in your garage, then this is the time to do it. Just take a look at this awesome video from three years ago.
After watching this restoration video, we’re sure that you’ll want to start your own project soon.
Now, what’s nice about restoration projects is, of course, the wide variety of choices that you have. You can choose from old furniture in your house, or find something “new to you” to work on.
From thrift stores, dumpster dives, a friend’s home, and of course, our favorite – the garage sale finds.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
Ross Taylor uploaded a restoration video on his YouTube channel in 2017. He shares how he was able to find a very worn Art Deco vanity/desk.
He saw it at a yard sale, but what we love about his story is that he didn’t have to buy it. It already had a sign that said it was for “free,” and of course, Ross knew that this item was his.
After all, it looked like no one wanted this free item.
But, thanks to the people who didn’t bother checking the vanity desk, Ross had found his treasure – his next project.
Looking at this desk, you’d think that no one would be able to use it again, but you’d be wrong.
Ross Taylor knows when he sees furniture worth his time.
As a woodworker for many years, he knew that he would be able to restore this, and he felt excited!
He documented his restoration project, and the results will shock you! Let’s go ahead and see how this genius was able to restore an old Art Deco desk into something sleek and sophisticated.
Preparing the Vanity/Desk
The first step that Ross took was to assess the furniture. The first thing that he did was remove the clock. Then, he used a heat gun to warm up the paint. He wanted to scrape it off so that he would be able to save the original design of the desk.
However, it didn’t work.
He decided to just apply a paint stripper to all the parts that had paint, and then, he left it to sit for 24 hours.
After removing all the old paint, he allowed it to dry for a few days. He then started using a smaller tool so he would be able to remove all the leftover paint from inside crevices and corners.
Doing all the Repairs
According to Ross, the drawers were the real problem. They were in the worst shape, and he had to make sure that he was able to do the repairs while still preserving the original style of the desk.
Once reassembled, he decided to add glue blocks on the bottom part of each drawer – this is to give them additional support. He removed and replaced all the pieces that no longer worked, and this took the most time, according to him.
After reinstalling the major parts, he started the staining process.
He chose a much darker color for the body but for the drawer fronts, he chose a lighter shade.
He’s not just into repairs and restoration, as we can see the progress of the desk; we can also see just how keen he is with the design and the details.
Being able to watch this transformation is just wow! Ross was so dedicated to his project that you’ll see how much he loves what he’s doing. We were in awe as we saw the before and after photo of this Art Deco desk.
We’re pretty sure that the previous owner regrets giving this away for free.
Look at how stunning it is! We love how Ross improvised with the drawer handles as well. The gold accent goes really well with the color of the desk, plus, the clock works perfectly!
If you were to see this desk, how much would you think it’s worth?
Right now, you might also be thinking of looking for furniture to fix, and please do, there’s nothing more fulfilling than being able to restore something so beautiful.
Follow Ross Taylor Woodworks for more of his amazing restoration videos.
To see the miracle transformation he completed on his free desk, watch the video below.
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