Restoration Diary: The Art Deco Dresser that had me Fooled

Entry 01: Stripped, Shattered, and Starting Over

You know that gut feeling when you just know you’ve found something special under the layers of ancient paint and dust? That’s how I felt when I collected this old Art Deco dresser from the house of an elderly gentleman who had recently passed, layered thick with coats of white paint.

I was convinced there was solid wood hiding beneath it all, just waiting to be revealed. Imagining that warm oak grain, rich texture, and a light sanding job before calling it a day. I was excited about watching that thick paint melt away under my usual go-to paint stripper and easily glide off the surface. Classic rookie optimism.

Spoiler: that’s not what happened.

Hours of Stripping... For What?

After realising my usual paint stripper wasn’t up to the challenge and the paint remained stubbornly in place, I pulled out the heat gun. After a couple of hours of stripping away using heat and a scraper, the truth came out. What lay beneath wasn’t the solid wood I imagined—it was a wooden frame clad in thin ply veneer. Yes, the veneer was tiger oak and I’m sure it was absolutely beautiful before it was covered in a dark stain followed years later by the dreaded white gloss, but what I was left with was far from salvageable. The veneer has become brittle in age and under the force of the heat and sanding, causing burn through and chips.

Cue the heartbreak.

That moment when all your grand restoration plans collapse into a pile of paint chips is a special kind of pain. I seriously considered walking away. And this feeling stayed with me for days.

But Then — A Spark of Hope

Just as I was about to give up, I noticed something: the drawer fronts and base were made of something different - solid oak. Not veneer. Actual, honest-to-goodness wood with beautiful natural grain.

That little win shifted everything.

New Vision, New Direction

So, I pivoted. If I couldn’t restore it all to bare wood glory, I’d celebrate the contrast.

The veneer body? Patched, sanded, and prepped for a matte black painted finish. It gives the piece a bold, modern edge while still nodding to its 1930s origins.
The oak drawer fronts? I kept it natural—just a light oak stain to lift the grain, finished with Danish oil for that soft, warm sheen.

The combination of deep black and golden oak is, in my opinion, beautiful—moody but grounded. It wasn’t the plan, but it might be better than the original idea.

Hidden Treasure: The Handles

If you follow me on Instagram you will know all about these handles. Covered in thick white paint (like everything else), I couldn’t wait to see what was hiding underneath.

But after a long soak in paint stripper and a bit of elbow grease, they cleaned up into something incredible—a mix of solid wood (rosewood, I think) and metal fixings with delicate fluting details. They’re beautifully unusual, a little Deco, a little industrial, and 100% staying.

They're the kind of detail that reminds you why you do this.

What’s Left: The Mirror Moment

There’s still one final piece to tackle: the three-piece mirror that attaches to the back of the dresser. It’s what gives the whole piece that classic low-profile Art Deco silhouette.

They’re in fairly good shape from an initial examination, but I’m excited (and slightly terrified) to get started on them… you guessed it, there’s more white paint to address.

So, What’s Next for this Art Deco Restoration?

This wasn’t the art deco restoration I expected—but maybe it’s the one the piece needed. There’s something really satisfying about changing course and still making something beautiful.

I’ll be documenting the next steps: mirror repairs, final assembly, and the big reveal. Can’t wait to show you how it turns out.

Watch this space.