Others would throw this old wardrobe away, but we decided to give it a second chance and never regretted that!🤫🙌 While no one believed this antique would serve anymore, we could bring it back into life and blew up the network with the final outcomes! 🤯👏 Now, no one believes this is the same piece of furniture! 🧐😮 Check out the before-after photos in this article!👇
My grandmother’s old wardrobe was a massive, intricately-carved piece with delicate patterns that felt like they’d crumble at a touch. Its interior held sturdy pinewood shelves and partitions built by hand—old-world craftsmanship at its finest. With some creativity and a lot of patience, I set out to give it new life, transforming it into a fresh, functional piece.
First, I carefully removed every decoration, which was essential for a thorough restoration. I took off the mirror, leaving a bare frame, and planned to replace the back panel as well. The partitions inside were removed, restoring the wardrobe’s original layout, and I planned to install a new, even base.
Once I stripped the old finish, I was left with a simple frame that revealed the raw beauty of the wood. Cleaning the piece was tricky; pine is soft and full of resin, which clogged the tools and made the process messy. Where there was a varnish layer beneath the paint, stripping went smoothly, but where the paint had soaked directly into the wood, it was stubborn. Along the way, I found an amusing discovery: newspapers from 1961 tucked deep inside!
After the initial clean-up, I tackled the delicate carvings by hand. It took four days of meticulous work with basic tools—no chemicals—to uncover the beautiful designs hidden under layers of paint.
Next, I used a sander with coarse and fine-grit attachments, sanding carefully for three days until the wood was a fresh, lighter color. Although some areas were still stained from years of paint, I cleaned them as much as possible with a chisel and engraver. The doors were a separate project, with layers of paint embedded deep into the grain—truly a test of patience!
As I started reassembling, I chose a protective finish. I initially considered a rich, dark oil, but in the end, we decided to keep the natural beauty of the wood and went with a clear oil and wax finish. The wax added a faint yellowish tint, but it will soften over time.
I even cleaned up the hardware by soaking it in a solvent with vinegar to get rid of years of grime.
Now, all the metal accents are back in place, and the wardrobe is fully assembled.
The finished piece is a complete transformation from its former state!
I’m thrilled with the result and hope you enjoyed seeing the journey.
