Pine furniture rewards patience. Its soft, open grain can develop a warm honey color, subtle character, and an inviting surface that suits both farmhouse…
An antique mirror can become the visual anchor of a room, but it does not have to stand alone. Surrounded by artwork, photographs, architectural fragments, or…
Decoupage gives an old piece of furniture a new visual language. With carefully chosen paper, adhesive, color, and protective finish, a plain drawer front or…
A furniture piece can look convincingly wooden while containing several different materials. A tabletop may have a thin decorative layer over poplar, pine,…
Quarter-sawn oak is one of the clearest visual and structural signatures of Mission furniture. Its straight grain, distinctive ray fleck, and resistance to…
A split wood panel can make an otherwise handsome door look damaged beyond repair. In many cases, however, the panel has separated along its grain rather than…
The fainting couch is one of the most recognizable pieces associated with Victorian interiors. Its long, upholstered form appears in period paintings, novels,…
A mid-century console table can reveal much about its period through its timber, veneer, joinery, and finish. Pieces made from walnut, teak, oak, mahogany, and…
Antique wood can look tired for several different reasons. Years of low humidity may leave a finish dull and slightly brittle, while accumulated wax, smoke…
A stuck drawer can turn a useful antique dresser into a source of worry. Older case pieces often have hand-cut dovetails, thin veneer, shellac or wax finishes,…