A Second Life Thanks to Kathy's ReStore Thrift Flip
When a well-loved antique dresser was donated to the ReStore, Kathy Wilcox a ReStore volunteer, knew there was something special about the piece.
"I was intrigued with it, but unfortunately it was in pretty bad shape - heavy black streaks, large ink spots, missing a handle, etc. But it was extremely heavy, so I knew it was very well made," said Kathy. She decided to take a chance on the dresser and purchased the it for $50 at the Habitat ReStore in Lansing.
The dresser on the Habitat ReStore sales floor in Lansing before Kathy purchased it.
Uncovering a Story
When Kathy pulled out the drawers, she discovered that the dresser had two markings inside. One mark was a stamp: “Trimmed by No. 9. Inspected September 27, 1898. Mueller”. The other mark was a personalized message: “Mary Scott, May 16, 1910. Commencement From Mother and Father”.
Then, she knew she had a beautiful and treasured family heirloom! She strived to honor the piece and restore it to its original beauty.
Kathy's new dresser in the middle of her DIY process.
Kathy's ReStore Thrift Flip Process
The step by step process that Kathy used through her ReStore thrift flip:
"First, I hand sanded through several layers to get it at its natural state.
I used mineral spirits to clean it thoroughly as well as denatured alcohol for the final cleaning.
Then, I applied several coats of polycyclic topcoat, sanding lightly between each layer. I did not use oil-based finishing products for I did not want the wood to yellow or appear orangey over time. The wood ended up being beautiful Bird’s Eye Maple!”
A New Life
After the several day DIY process, Kathy was finally able to step back and see the dresser in its intended form all the way back in 1898.
"This beautiful 125-year-old heirloom is the nicest piece of furniture in our house!” says Kathy.
The dresser finished and styled in Kathy's home.
Benefits of Shopping at the Restore:
In addition to the ability to flip donated items, you can feel good about your Habitat ReStore purchase because it...
- Saves you up to 50% off regular retail prices
- Helps build and repair homes in your local community
- Keeps good, reusable items from heading to a landfill
Send us your ReStore thrift flips!
Just like Kathy's ReStore thrift flip, we would love to show off your beautiful furniture restorations, upcycles, and crafty DIYs. Email your before and after pictures to ReStore@habitatcr.org!
