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This antique washstand refresh is so easy! Give your vintage piece a brand new look with minimal effort, keeping with vintage qualities too!

Hello friends! I’ve got a special little makeover today. I didn’t do a whole lot to it and tried to keep some of the original integrity of the piece, too. And I love how it turned out so much, I’m planning to keep it! I hope..haha. I will try to use it in the new room out back. We’ll see!

How have you been? We’ve been busy, busy around here! And yes, still working on the room. It always takes longer when you are the crew, lol. But we are getting there. Yippee! It’s almost time for HVAC and electrical, so that’s exciting. I can’t wait to finish it and share will y’all.

Today I’m sharing a ReStore find. I posted about it long ago when I found these two pieces. (spy those cuties???)

I shared the other small table a while back. You can see it here >> DIY Tiled Side Table Makeover

Antique Washstand Refresh

This one was still in pretty good shape but a little worn, as you can imagine. The hand towel bars on the sides were a little loose but easily tightened. The only thing I had to do to this one! So refreshing! It’s nice to not have to do a bunch of gluing, screwing and fixing sometimes, you know?

I originally considered painting this one because of this ink stain.

But I didn’t want to lose the pretty woodgrain. So I just called it “character” and went with it instead.

SAND

So before doing anything else, I grabbed some 220 grit sandpaper and lightly sanded the entire thing.

And when I say lightly, I do mean enough to take most of the top layer off. (which came off quite easily)

Like so…

I wasn’t removing to REMOVE, if that makes sense. I wanted to take off that top layer, create some tooth for adhesion and also for looks. I actually wanted to leave some of the original stain behind on purpose.

See? It’s not sanded down to the bare wood, but just enough.

CLEAN

Next, I cleaned it up with some TSP Alternative.

That’s all that stain I sanded off (and probably aged staining too)

WASH (as in paint wash)

I decided to use Algonquin for this project.

You only need a little bit, so I grabbed a tester and got to work.

I usually make a wash with a mix of water and paint. This time, I took an old washcloth, wet it and wrung it out, dipped it in the paint, and “washed” the wood with it.

If it’s too paint-heavy in one spot, then I’d go over it with a dry brush to smooth it out.

Here’s how it looks with the legs done to give you an idea of how this wash is going to look.

It’s crazy how much it changes it, isn’t it?
I love how you can still see all of that pretty wood…and the “age” too. Now it’s just in a different way than before.

I worked my way around, rubbing on the paint, then going back over it and wiping most away. Again, dry brushing, as needed.

Isn’t that a cool effect?? And SO easy!

It gives it a completely different look and feel.

Once done, I let it sit and dry for a few days.

WAX

Adding poly as a topcoat was a consideration, but I decided to use wax instead. I thought wax would be a good fit for the look and feel of this piece. Plus, it would get into the wood and condition it somewhat as well. This is how I like to use wax these days.

Then I decided to add some of the paint and make a tinted wax to give it an added layer of dimension with the “washed” look.

By the way, that Fields of Lavender wax (linked below) is such a joy to use! I just love it. (It’s scented with real Lavender essential oil)

See how the grooves and crevices in the wood grab that tinted wax??

Front right leg done…

(Don’t mind the shoes or dog toy in the background lol)

All legs done…

Rubbing it on and wiping it away.

Drawer before wax…

Drawer after…

I didn’t paint wash inside the drawer because I had planned to paint or line it. It was in such good shape, I just added the colored wax instead.

The original pull didn’t get anything other than a little tinted wax, too.

BUFF

Lastly, all that’s left to do is buff to shine.

Look at that gorgeous luster!

This is when I love wax.

And it feels ahhmazing when you run your hand across it.

 

REVEAL

It looks perfectly aged, but in a completely different way now.

With a very relaxed feel.

A perfect match for a coastal-style home.

Styled up a bit.

And with a photo of my “littles”, who I can’t believe are full-grown adults now! Wow, time flies!

Treasure those moments, every single one!

Hopefully, this one will be staying in my coastal-style home! Stay tuned, I’ll let ya know! ;)

PIN it to save it!

 

Have a blessed weekend, friends!

xoxo