I am looking for some sugggestions as to how to repair the finish on a piece of painted cottage furniture. A couple months ago, my Uncle gave me a bureau that he thought I might be interested in putting back together.
It has has spent the last 60 years sitting on the floor of a cellar in a 215 year old family farmhouse.
Moisture has taken its toll as many of the glue joints had failed and most of the finish within two feet of the floor is in poor shape.
I have reglued lots of parts and pieces, and replaced the two lower drawer sides, backs, and bottoms as they were warped beyond reasonable use. I also put a piece of pine in the back for a piece that was lost. It is now about as solid as it ever was but I am not sure about what to do next. It was pine, painted then perhaps varnished. Where the paint is gone, perhaps a dark stain? When I wipe a little mineral spirits on it for cleaning, those places seem to blend in better. Where the varnish is cloudy... I don't have a clue. It never was or will be a fine piece of furniture but I would like to do the best with it that I can. My wife thought it would look nice painted, or stripped and left natural. I am sure it would but then it wouldn't still be the piece I have looked at in the dim light of that cellar for the last 50 years and thought, too bad someone didn't fix this up! Or should I just leave as is and consider the blemishes to be a part of its history. Thanks for any suggestions!