Buffet restoration: step-by-step instructions and interesting ideas

A sideboard is an antique cabinet used in a kitchen or living room to store dishes, groceries, and other household items. It was made of natural wood, without the use of sawdust pressing technology. Parts production and assembly was carried out in manual or semi-manual mode, with minimized use of power tools and machine tools.

In the space of modern design solutions, sideboards are used as rarity items. To do this, they are subjected to a wide range of restoration manipulations. You can restore the old Soviet sideboard yourself.

For self-restoration of an old sideboard, you will need to prepare a minimum list of tools and consumables.

Mandatory tools:

• Sander;
• chisels;
• knife with replaceable blades;
• drill;
• putty knife.

Related tools:

• hammer;
• nail puller;
• pliers;
• nippers;
• hacksaw.

Expendable materials:

• masking tape;
• self-tapping screws;
• wood putty;
• paint and varnish liquids;
• primer;
• wooden blanks;
• adhesives;
• nails;
• paint brushes;
• sandpaper of various grain sizes.

Remedies:

• gloves;
• respirator;
• protective glasses;
• chemical resistant clothing.

To restore an old sideboard with your own hands, at the initial stage it is necessary to dismantle as many of its parts as possible. This will allow the restoration work to be carried out in the most efficient way. This is especially true of the carved segment of the structure, the processing of which can be the most difficult.

To carry out dismantling manipulations, you can use the appropriate tools: hammer, nail puller, chisel and others. At a professional level, these works are carried out using a specialized tool that allows you to remove fasteners - for example, nails or metal staples, without damaging the surface of the wood and without violating the entire structural integrity of the product.

After maximum dismantling, it is necessary to grind the surfaces as much as the shape of each work piece will allow. This is necessary to remove particles from the surface of the upper layer of wood that have eaten into it over the years of operation. Such substances include fats, mold spores and other contaminants contained in wet room vapors. Due to the presence of these substances, the surface of the sideboard can be darkened, sticky, rough.

For grinding the parts, a specialized grinder is used that operates at low speeds and is equipped with a shock-absorbing mechanism that prevents the appearance of stripes on the surface of the wood.

After thorough sanding, remove all dust and prime the surface. If there are chips, cracks or scratches, they must be repaired with wood putty. This putty can be chosen to match the color of the paintwork, which will be applied to the product in the future. A common problem in this case can be the color difference between the filled spots and the total surface area. In this case, it is recommended to take small sawdust, paint them in the desired color and mix with putty. This will help reduce the difference in color combination.

Painting is carried out in accordance with the instructions indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging with the paint and varnish material. The basic rules for staining say that it should be carried out in a well-ventilated area using all personal protective equipment.

For best uniformity in application, it is recommended to use spray tools such as an electric spray gun or a compressor. In their absence, you can use a foam sponge, since its structure allows you to apply the coating without streaks. It is recommended to use paint brushes only as a last resort: they leave streaks and lose pile, which can remain on the surface and spoil the appearance of the product.

This is a special decoration technique that can be applied during restoration work. Its essence lies in attaching a drawing stylistically similar to the design of the sideboard to its surface. Pictures on canvas or paper can be used as a basis.

Carrying out restoration at home, you can paint the surfaces of the sideboard with additional paints... In this case, they should be in harmony with the color of the main texture of the sideboard cover. The use of colors that do not belong to the same group will impair the visual perception of the cabinet.

The application of varnish is necessary to prevent moisture from affecting the product. It can be used to give the sideboard a glossy sheen or matte finish. Varnish is used in cases where painting is not applied. The coating with this substance is well combined with the natural wood color of the product.

Since the sideboards are antique in themselves, you can use different tinting agents and a combination of varnishes to enhance the antiquity effect. The protruding parts of the product and carved ornaments located on it are covered with a stain or several layers of the same varnish, which makes them an order of magnitude darker than depressions and flat surfaces. This effect creates the illusion of antiquity.

When restoring the buffet, it is possible to change the direction of the style of its design. If earlier the sideboard was used for its intended purpose in the kitchen, then after repair it can even be placed in the children's room. To do this, the furniture must be painted in the appropriate colors: warm and bright. In addition, you can paint on its surface in the style of children.

There are also ways to give the sideboard a modern look. Having painted furniture in one solid color of a non-standard shade (for example, turquoise, gray or white), you can restore it in the Provence style. This will allow you to combine the sideboard with similarly decorated rooms.

To keep the buffet in proper shape, you must follow the list of basic rules for caring for the product. The cabinet should be installed where it will not be exposed to moisture, open fire, direct sunlight, mold and other negative factors.

An important factor for maintaining the proper condition of the buffet is the nature of its operation. Do not overload it, put hot, sharp objects on its surface that can damage the coating. It is important to remember that the interchangeability of the parts that make up the structure of such a cabinet is limited due to the age of its production. Breakage or damage to any of them may lead to the need for additional repairs.

This photo shows a sideboard restored in Provence style with decoupage. The combination of two non-standard colors (lilac and pale green) creates the effect of ease of perception. This color scheme has a positive effect on the mood of the beholder and evokes a positive emotional response. At the same time, the main stylistic orientation has been preserved, allowing you to feel the effect of antiquity. The tabletop has been replaced by an identical one made of modern materials and painted in the appropriate style.

Shown here is the sideboard that has been restored to preserve its natural wood tone. This solution makes it possible to bring its visual design closer to the original and helps the observer to feel the presence of antiquity. A similar effect is achieved thanks to a tinted paintwork and darkening of the protruding parts.

Next, watch a video on how to restore an old sideboard using decoupage.