Before & After: Rescuing a Damaged Veneer Table

published Mar 16, 2012
Add UsNew
See more Apartment Therapy stories when you search on Google.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Worn wooden side table with curved legs and a single drawer, labeled "before."
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Katie picked up this bruised and battered table from her favorite thrift store for the unbelievable price of $16.91. Despite the peeling veneer and the damaged finish, Katie knew this table was solidly built and had a lot of life left in it.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

With no way to fix the damaged veneer on the edge, Katie was forced to remove it using a damp cloth and a hot iron. She then used lacquer remover and sanding to take off the finish and the gold foil design on the top. Katie applied a dark stain and a dark wax to finish the top, really highlighting the burlwood pattern. Finally she painted the base a soft minty green and distressed it slightly before reattaching the original hardware.

Images: Katie Swafford/Foxglove Design