Re-WHAT?

So what is it - exactly - that we DO at Re-Invintage? Repurposing? Or refinishing? The answer is...well, yes.

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Refinished dresser and two nightstands repurposed from a waterfall vanity.

At a glance, the words all sound kinda the same: reinvent, refinish, repurpose. But they have different meanings, and if you're buying a piece that has been re-worked, you may want to know what was done to it, and how to properly care for it.

Let's start with our shop's name. Re-Invintage is a whimsical portmanteau, combining reinvent and vintage. What we actually do (or re-do) varies from piece to piece.

Most common in our line of work is refinishing. We may paint over a tired piece to give it a new lease on life. Or we may strip or sand part or all of it, and either stain or paint the exposed wood. In these cases, the finish has been changed, but the piece is still used for its original purpose, whether it's a table, a chair, a desk, or a storage piece. If you have a piece that needs to be updated, we can help you with a wide selection of chalk paint, milk paint, oil- and water-based stains, sealers and waxes.

Frequently, we will go a step further and repurpose a piece. Old vanities are a favorite for repurposing into nice tall nightstands with great storage. Old headboards and footboards often get reworked into benches. Windows and doors become headboards. Ladders become blanket holders. Side tables and dressers are flipped upside down and re-made into gossip benches and dog beds. Repurposing old pieces is limited only by our imagination.

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Repurposed vintage chicken nesting box hung above painted buffet.

When it comes to decor, the sky is the limit. Everything from old tobacco baskets to tarnished silver platters and ironstone plates can be transformed into wall art. Chippy tool boxes grace dining room tables as candle holders. Chicken nesting boxes and old parts bins become chic storage. Corbels and other architectural salvage are re-used indoors to add character and charm to homes that lack architectural detail.

Sometimes we'll get scolded by customers who are concerned that we are 'irreparably damaging a piece with paint or more drastic alterations. And we understand their desire to honor the historicity of a piece.

But we also know that most of our reinvented pieces were mass-produced during the last century. They are tired, dated, and in many cases, cast-offs discarded by their owners. Many of our re-invintaged pieces were dragged out of sheds, attics, basements or barns, where they were moldering away in their original state. It's good to know we're giving them a new lease on life, and extending their usefulness for another generation or two.

So....what have you re-invintaged lately? If you need help figuring out how to bring new life to an old piece, come see us soon. And be sure to check out our Friends & Fans page for inspiration and help from fellow re-invintagers.

Happy reinvintaging!
~Terry

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