You Have To See How This Antique Wardrobe Was Given New Life

Every so often you get lucky enough to find furniture that only needs just a little bit of love. I refreshed this antique wardrobe with a few simple steps.

You Have To See How This Antique Wardrobe Was Given New Life

I am going to be completely honest with you, when I look for furniture, I make sure the pieces have good bones. The outside condition doesn’t really matter to me, I go into this KNOWING I want to paint it. Rarely do I look for pieces that I don’t want to paint. This however was the exception. She needed a little love but not the paint kind of love.

Below is the supply list I used to do this antique wardrobe makeover of love. ❤️ These are affiliate links they do not cost you anything to use but I get a small commission from it to support my small business. ❤️

Supply List:

1. Big Mama’s Butta- Orange Grove

2. Dixie Belle White Lightening

3. Bronze Gilding Wax

4. Premium Chip Brush

5. Redesign Modeling Material

6. Tulumn Keyholes Mould

7. Art Alchemy Aged Brass Wax

8. Redesign Wax Brush

9. Titebond Multi-Surface Glue

10. Rag

11. Bucket
    

Cleaning Up The Antique Wardrobe

The first order of business is to clean this huge piece of furniture. This is what they call a knockdown wardrobe. I come apart in pieces for easier transport and to fit the smaller staircases and hallways of European homes. I added a cool little video below of me breaking it down and putting it back together to show you.

Dixie Belle’s White Lightening is what I used to clean this piece. I went over it twice with this solution, making two separate batches of the cleaner. Man was she dirty!! After you clean a piece of furniture you need to ALWAYS go over it with clean water to remove any residual cleaner left. As a result you will have a better surface for paint or wax to adhere to. 

Refreshing The Wood And My Home

My home has smelled of citrusy goodness for days now, so really this was a two fold operation. One, refresh and rejuvenate the wood. Two, get it un-musty while making g my home smell divine. Okay that was three wasn’t it? Anyways I digress. I used my Redesign Wax brush on the entire inside and outside of this antique wardrobe. I made sure to wipe off the excess after I was done applying it.

Scratch NO’ MO’

Do you see this magic? There WAS a scratch there I promise!! Look what a little natural oil can do for your wood furniture!!! 

Adding Some Gilding Goodness

The next step was to highlight this pieces details. Of course I didn’t want to use paint so while the Big Mama’s Butta was still wet I worked some magic with the gilding wax. Therefore giving the piece a glowing look. I applied the Bronze Gilding Wax to the center of the ornate areas and then worked my way in a circular motion outwards with the premium synthetic brush.

Check out the different on the crown of the piece. Subtle yet powerful….is that even a thing?

Replacing Key Hole Appliques

The appliqués that were around the existing key holes were broken or breaking. I used my Tulumn Keyholes Mould with the Redesign Modeling Material and made new appliqués. First pulling all the old ones off, then cleaning the area. I created the appliqués by pushing and overfilling the moulds. I then used my thumb to wipe the excess and level off the material. After I popped the appliqués out of the moulds, put glue on the back and taped them into place.

Applying Wax To The Appliqués

After the appliqués were secured in place and the glue was dried, I gave them a facelift. I used an artist brush and Art Alchemy’s Aged Brass to match the appliqués to the piece. 

This was the last and final step of the antique wardrobe’s makeover!! She now smells great and has a little shimmer to her.

What do you think? I would love to hear it!