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Expert: - 9/15/2008


Question
Eileen:

My mother-in-law recently gave me her old "oak" 1980's china cabinet and I like it but I feel it needs to be more mordern for my taste. The cabinet is I oak I think with dated hardware.  How can I modernize it?? I've thought about painting it black and replacing the bronze hardware.  But I am not sure if I should sand off all the varnish before I repaint it, or if I should paint it black, or stain it with a gel stain...Please help..

Thank you

Crystal

Answer
Hi Crystal
Nice to hear from you.
You may have asked the wrong person this question LOL.
I would never paint over oak myself.
Especially an oak china cabinet.
First I would try updating the hardware.
It may just bring it up a notch as this bronze hardware does get tiresome.
If you do decide to paint, there is no need to sand the finish off.
Just a light sanding with 120 grit paper so the paint will stick.
Any stains you try should be tested on the inside of a door where it will not show if you do not like it.
Good Luck
Kind Regards
Eileen

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Eileen Cronk

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Hi..I can answer most questions about the repairing,stripping and refinishing of all your old furniture and wood items(the things we call antiques)I can give advice about what to buy/avoid at auctions/flea markets. I do not give appraisals on antiques.

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