Repurposing A Vintage Cabinet From the 1950's

[@lindaniedo1216]

Beautiful! Your cabinet is a rare tiger oak and is probably from 1910- 1920's.

[@aliferefurbished]

I found a similar that went back to 1906 but didn’t have a picture. My husband and I agree that its probably much older.

[@heidisettles5537]

So much helpful content here! You had to be a carpenter, an artist, a resin sculptor, and refinisher/designer on this challenge. Those old sewing cabinets have such fragile, crackled veneer. The resin putty and gel stain are wonderful products for this application. I like how you shared your thought process on this transformation. I think advertising thie piece as a storage or beverage cabinet would be great.

[@aliferefurbished]

What’s funny is that I was looking for a smaller project to work on this week. When my husband pulled this girl out and said “this one, it’s small, and it should be pretty easy” I looked at him 🙄 and said, “you did not just say easy,” 😄I just knew. But, like you said, it’s a great piece to teach about the different steps and what it takes to save it. Thank you!

[@sherriethames6503]

This is your greatest piece to date. There are people out there doing this that can get the artistic side of it perfectly but those people wouldn't touch a piece like this. Too much damage that required technical skill and you are certainly up to the challenge. This is my favorite style of furniture and you remade it perfectly.

[@aliferefurbished]

Awww thank you, and yes, the thought of painting the whole piece in a more “creative way” did crossed my mind but I couldn’t get myself to do it. Glad I was able to keep it mostly paint free.

[@salvagedbykscott]

Walessa, I know exactly how incredible you are at restoring furniture but this one blew my mind!!! So good ❤

[@aliferefurbished]

You’re so sweet Katie! ❤️

[@oreobenavidez953]

Wow those claw feet look awesome it turned out stunning

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@cleopatracatra2097]

What a great job! From repairing the claw feet to your choice of stain color, you turned this piece into a happy lady once again. She now deserves a place of honor in her new life!

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! Yes, and I hope she finds a new home that honors her, with imperfections and all. ☺️

[@pamsheets632]

You're a miracle worker for sure! Wow, the claw feet look awesome! The entire project is now so gorgeous! This ole girl now looks young again and has another 100 years of life! 😊❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you so much! I hope she finds the perfect home. And yes, she can easily live for another 100 years.

[@mystichris1543]

Fabulous transformation! I've never seen this Singer cabinet before. I'd use it to store my vinyl LPs.

[@aliferefurbished]

Oh yea! Vinyl LPs inside and maybe the player on the top. 👌🏽

[@mousiebrown1747]

Living room end table! Thanks for a great video!!!

[@aliferefurbished]

I would keep it next to my couch in my living room or use it as a coffee station. And you welcome. ☺️

[@TheShizNat]

I sew and think this would make a great sewing cabinet still! Plenty of storage for tools and fabric inside.❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Yes! I agree.

[@mudrat52]

Awesome transformation ❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! 🤗

[@lydiakinnaman3679]

What a very interesting peice to work on.

[@aliferefurbished]

It really is!

[@GB-ps2ik]

Beautiful! I cringe when I watch so many people just sand older pieces and slap on some white paint. To each his own, but it's nice to see some more care and skill applied. Even if it's not “showroom perfect,” it's nice to retain the original beauty and character.

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you, I definitely paint plenty, but there are some pieces that deserve to showcase their perfectly imperfect character.

[@MrsJax304]

Great video and beautiful work. You look fantastic.

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! ☺️

[@flaminbird1]

What a lot of work you did and it shows! Looks very pretty!! Also that defiantly is Victorian era …well before the 1950s. Usually are referred to as “parlor cabinets” for the sewing machines when they were fancy like that .

[@aliferefurbished]

Oh thank you for the information! We do think she’s older, but don’t know the exact decade. Yes, lots of work, but I’m glad she’s able to display some of the tiger oak that we don’t see in the newer pieces. 😊

[@lisalally]

Thank you for sharing. Great amount of work for you but it was well worth it. Beautiful piece. 😍👏🏻

[@aliferefurbished]

Agree! Thank you.

[@lynneavalpatic3530]

Stunning job!! I love it.

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you 😊

[@shawndelaney9311]

Awesome job sticking with it! She came out very nice with new life!

[@aliferefurbished]

Yes! Thank you!

[@helenk5579]

Great job on repairing and restoring this little beauty. I see this piece as a drinks cart....happy you stained it!

[@aliferefurbished]

Thanks you! I’m happy I was able to stain it too.

[@toddylu6869]

Looks so much better!

[@aliferefurbished]

I agree! ☺️

[@statementdesigns]

Looks fantastic, Walessa❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you!

[@hickorygolddoc]

A well done beautiful save! ❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! 😊

[@Restorations.by.Rachel]

Wow, it looks like new! I think it would be so cute for linens in a bathroom or a wine storage like you mentioned. Great job!😍👏

[@aliferefurbished]

I think so too! And thank you! 😊

[@jannamarie3990]

It turned out great ❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you!

[@julianneboys4062]

I love the choices you made for this old girl. I reckon she’d make a great cocktail bar 😊

[@aliferefurbished]

Yes!

[@cindystuder9090]

I have one very similar to this. We did have to remove what was left of the veneer on the top and it had 3 tiny wheels on the bottom that we ended up removing so it sat level. We've got it in our bathroom where it stores bubble bath and extras of beauty products. It still has the shelf and mechanism for the sewing machine that was in it. When you flip the table out it lifts the shelf out where the machine sat.

[@aliferefurbished]

Thanks for sharing, and it sounds like you found a great way to utilize yours. ☺️

[@lydiakinnaman3679]

As an end table. Net to bed or sofa, next the a beautiful chair. It's beautiful. Like the added shelf inside.

[@aliferefurbished]

Yes, it would be great as a side table.

[@socorromeza1273]

You did a great job!

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you!

[@nadirschulz6701]

Very good job!🌷🌷

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you very much

[@SconesAndTea]

Perfect!!❤❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Glad you like it! ☺️

[@mousiebrown1747]

I think it's a whole lot older. (Circa 1930-ish??) I was born 1949 & I remember my mom's sewing cabinet of about late 50-early 60. It was much larger with a foldout leaf and side drawers. The style then was sleek and modern, and not that heavy dark lacquer finish.

[@aliferefurbished]

My husband and I had a talk about it, and we think she is older too. The two I found on the internet ranged between the years of 1906 and 1960. Since we weren’t 100% sure, we stayed on the conservative side.

[@tamioconnell8976]

Lovely.

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you!!

[@phoenixfurniturestudio]

This looks so good Walessa!! That gel stain did wonders for that old finish and you would never tell that the claw feet had been rebuilt 🤩😍👏

[@aliferefurbished]

Oh thank you! Gel stain was the MVP of this transformation.

[@cynrich1]

To avoid having to paint, I have a sheet of oak veneer that is enough to top all the panels on that table, I have used pieces of it to repair several similar tables already. You can easily remove the old veneer with a heat gun and a 2" putty knife. The original veneer is Flaky Tiger Oak which is rare now and hard to find, but the regular oak is ok if you do the whole panel.

[@aliferefurbished]

I had a few sheets of oak veneer but I decided to keep the coast down by leaving it as I did.

[@mimicope3404]

I think it will be a beautiful little conversation piece in someone's home. Great job saving it. I sew...I wonder what brand of sewing machine was in it?! Lol!

[@aliferefurbished]

There’s a good chance it was a Singer. And thank you, glad you liked it.

[@johnpinner1]

Great coffee station

[@aliferefurbished]

If I were to keep it, that’s how I would use it too ☺️

[@Fruity_lexia]

This looks way earlier than 1950s - 1910s or 20s maybe? Lovely job you did with it!

[@aliferefurbished]

I think you’re right, I wish I knew an antique expert so I could find out more information about it. And thank you!

[@marywiggins7411]

​@aliferefurbished it held a treadle sewing machine, earlier decade.

[@kaycox5555]

lovely! I think it is older....1930's to 1940's....

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! And I think you’re right. By the looks of it, it’s probably older. I was trying to be conservative based on the information I gathered.

[@VEE-rd7cu]

Great job on the crawls...hmmm, I might install some wine glass hooks inside and put a cutting board on top for cheese charcuteries.

[@aliferefurbished]

Yes! Great for gatherings

[@Maevic-fg3fm]

Small crack tip!!!! Thanks for that.

[@aliferefurbished]

Happy to help!

[@jeniceowen5184]

Love how you finished it but think it would look better with legs making it taller.

[@silvebeaton8511]

Love your work! Also love your videos. Can I ask do you record on your phone? How do you edit your filming? I really want to start a channel but so lost.

[@aliferefurbished]

Hi! I use my phone and a couple of apps to edit, on it’s called InShot and the other one Canva.

[@pattiobrien5408]

I put my glue in a small plastic bottle with a precision tip with a top. Sold on Amazon. No syringe needed 😊 Hope that helps! The piece turned out great ❤

[@aliferefurbished]

Thank you! I’ll look it up. I bought this small bottle once by the blue wouldn’t come out.☺️

[@pattiobrien5408]

@@aliferefurbished It definitely takes a little effort but if you keep squeezing, it’ll come out 😊

[@dorothypuntarich784]

❤

[@Maevic-fg3fm]

Be a great bedside table.

[@designabeej]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@mariavilarperis1882]

😍

[@patriciagraves752]

That is an old sewing machine cabinet. I have a similar one. It is all oak. The period is late 1800 as is mine. Mine is missing the machine but in perfect condition. It is our liquor cab it and has been for many many years.

[@aliferefurbished]

@@patriciagraves752 Love that you kept a yours and found a new use for it! ☺️

[@KaityWebster]

DAMG!!

[@aliferefurbished]

Thanks! ☺️

[@KaityWebster]

@@aliferefurbished you knocked it out of the park!

[@vickipitts3895]

It would have been a beautiful sewing cabinet.😢 I do like what you did though.

[@aliferefurbished]

She sure was, but one thing is certain in life, and that’s change. She was obviously ready for something different when I found her.

[@ulrichbohmer6534]

It definitely was!The Construction clearly shows it ! Im a little dissapointed that it was not tried to retore it as such, including the veneer damage on Top,which would not have been too difficult,just a little time cosuming!? Otherwise,nice!😂

[@aliferefurbished]

@@ulrichbohmer6534 Buying a new sewing machine and new veneer would have added a cost that unfortunately people are not willing to pay. I’m happy it can still be used in a new way. I have no issues compromising with old pieces.

[@furniturerevivalist9812]

Would not have this in my house. Just do not get the obsession with bar carts or coffee stations. Is that really all that it is good for?

[@aliferefurbished]

If you read the comments, you’ll see people have a great imagination and great ways to utilize it.