Cleaning, sanding, varnish, gold leaf paint and elbow grease went into this mid-century modern bookcase restoration.
The project
I have this beautiful mid-century modern bookshelf that had lots of paint marks, and wear and tear. I decided it was time for a quick refresh.
Steps
Step 1
The first step is to give the piece a good clean. I used Tricleanium All-Purpose Cleaner and some warm water. I was so surprised how much dirt and grime came off. Make sure you wear appropriate safety gear and follow the instructions of the product you are using.
Step 2
After I gave the bookshelf a good clean I started sanding. Depending on what your piece of furniture looks like, you might need to use some paint stripper first.
I started with the multi-tool and got into the corners, then used the orbital sander to go over everything. I did some back and forth between both tools until I got it back to bare timber.
Step 3
Next step was to paint it again. I chose Monocel stain and varnish in Jarrah, and did three coats.
Step 4
The base of the bookshelf was a bit of chipboard still in good condition, so I decided to paint this with Porters Paint's Alchemy Liquid Gold - Antique Gold. Since I chose to paint the base gold I also touched up the plaque with Rub n' Buff - Gold Leaf.
Step 5
I let everything dry for a few days and then placed it back in the office with all my lovely trinkets on it.
Tools and materials
Materials used in the project:
Tools used in the project:
