Avoiding the temptation to jump into painting can be tough, but in some cases it's definitely the right decision.
This fab vintage fold down desk was a commission from a lovely return client who wanted to revive it for their new home. Years of oil and varnish build left it almost black in places, hiding some stunning detail.
After a good sugar soap I used a mix of varnish remover and sanding to get back to the wood. The desk is a mix of different types of wood which have absorbed previous finishes to different degrees giving it a lot of character. After a few repairs and cleaning up the hardware we opted for #BlackFriar wood dye to give it a heritage feel topped off with clear wax for an added layer of durability. I just love this matt finish.
The best part of this job is knowing that an object with such history attached has been saved for another generation #revivedontbuy