You might have seen this on Instagram yesterday.
My dear husband had been watering the plants for me while I rested my back. He tends to be overzealous with the water. The day before yesterday, I felt ready to water the porch plants once more (Don was in the city.)
I immediately noticed a large amount of water on top of the former kitchen island. And some of that water had run down the front of the piece. I ran for some paper towels and quickly realized that the water had probably been there for a couple of days, resulting in the veneer warping – both on top of the cabinet and on the drawer fronts.
I was actually pretty calm about it since I knew the veneers were problematical given the fact that this piece is now outside on the porch. The sides of the cabinet had already shown some evidence of warping. I grabbed a screwdriver to separate the two drawers (which had expanded due to the water) and then I started peeling the veneer.
Current status.
There’s more to do. Frankly, I had already envisioned getting rid of the veneer, which has been troublesome from the beginning – way back when I first painted this formerly dark sideboard. When it was still in the kitchen, I pondered taking the top down to the raw wood. But then Stella came and all of that was shelved.
The whole thing needs a new paint job and some weather proofing. Whether I keep it two-toned or paint it all white again is the question. So far, the cupboard doors are fine. I may peel the veneer on the sides of the cabinet.
Don, having been told of his overwatering mistake, said: “I like it better this way.” (I’m sure he does.)
I’m not averse to it either. It gives it some texture. And I like chippy things, which, given the current condition of the sideboard, is putting it mildly.
This will be a good Autumn Project.
Maybe Don is just trying to keep me busy.
Happy Wednesday.
I kind of like the chippy painted sideboard thing you got going there. I don’t own any painted furniture, inside or out. But, if it were me, I’d leave the top and drawer fronts natural, and coat the whole sideboard with some kind of preservative. I like the look of paint and natural wood. It will be fun to see what you decide to do!
Hope your back is feeling better….enjoy your day! ;)
Thanks, Donnamae! Back is a bit better, but still troublesome.
Take off the veneer, stain it and rub on several coats of Tung Oil. Tung oil makes it waterproof and is easy to apply, rub on a coat, let dry , rub on another coat. I did that to our dining room table years ago as we have a very messy child and it is impervious now. Also did it to my sewing table. Now it is lovely. Try it!!
Yes, I’ve used tung oil before. But I might go for a marine coat – just because it gets so wet on that porch.
I think it gives it more character too. Sometimes accidents result in something good. This just might be the case here too. Somebody – perhaps my cat knocked over a plant stand which contained 6 plants. 3 of my favorite pots were broken but it caused me to have to alter a jade plant that had grown very leggy, so something lost, something gained. Take care.
Yes, that’s a great way to look at it, Jane. In this case, it just accelerated what I was going to have do eventually.
Something fun to look forward to doing once it cools down! I can identify w a husband who is overzealous in the watering. My plants have definitely been watered quite generously this year. sigh. But they have been watered, and I can’t complain too much….. or shouldn’t!!
Hope you are feeling better today. So hot and muggy here today. Supposed to be less humid for the rest of the week starting tomorrow. yay!!
Very humid here today. We’re headed toward more severe thunderstorms later in the day. We had them yesterday, as well.
I gotta say – I like the color of that raw wood. I think it would be pretty darn gorgeous to see the whole thing that way. I’m not a big fan of good wood being painted. Plywood, sure. Average lumber, sure. But good wood? Nope, it should be protected but left its original color if at all possible. It would be a big project, but think of the sense of satisfaction! I used to help my Mom with refinishing furniture & enjoyed it immensely. I’m a master sander, BTW. I LOVE sanding wood. Just sitting outside on a nice dry [& hopefully mildly-breezy] day with a block of 2 by 4 and some sandpaper, rubbing all the roughness away. A lovely period of mindless thinking time too. I could feel my blood pressure drop. Fall days were the best for this. Hope you’ll seriously consider it, because that piece would really be beautiful “de-painted.” Peace. ❤️🌳
#Resist
#ImpeachTrump
Well, it wasn’t good wood. It was a dark and cheap veneer that covered the entire piece. That wood that you see there only emerged after I spent hours peeling and hacking away at two layers of veneer on the front of the drawers.
I’ll do whatever works and whatever will stand up to all the harsh weather we get, which also blows directly onto the porch and everything on it.
i liked that sideboard before, but i also like how it’s looking now …and wonder what you’ll end up doing with it. ??!? whatever you decide, i am sure it will be charming. it already is!
hope you mend completely and soon!
long day here (gone almost 13 hours), but alright. going to finish a little project and, i think, do some knitting to wind down.
hope you get a better night’s sleep tonight.
kathy in iowa
I’m not sure. Whatever I do, it needs to be weather-proofed!
Thanks, Kathy!