Furniture Refinishing
How to Know if a Vintage Dresser Is Worth Refinishing
Structure, drawer construction, and proportion matter far more than the current surface. Here is what we look for first.
Every piece that comes through the workshop is judged on the same terms: structure first, surface second. A tired finish is easy to correct. A frame that has given up is a different conversation entirely.
Solid joinery, drawers that run true, and honest proportions are what make a piece worth the hours it takes to finish properly. Those qualities are common in older furniture and increasingly rare in new furniture built for volume.
What we look at first
Drawer construction, back panels, and the way a piece carries weight tell us most of what we need to know. Veneer damage, missing hardware, and a worn surface are almost always fixable.
How the finish is decided
Color is chosen for the piece and the room it will live in. Light, material, hardware, and surrounding furnishings all factor in, which is why the same color reads differently from one home to the next.
If you have a piece you are unsure about, send a few photographs and the dimensions. We will tell you honestly whether it is worth refinishing.
