FURNITURE REVITALIZATION PROJECT - Bed Headboard

This furniture revitalization project is a great technique that renews worn and dated pieces with a warm finish. It is a twist on "shabby chic" with a twist of classic elegance. With this project you will see how miscellaneous pieces of collected furniture can be brought together into harmony and support each other.

BED HEADBOARD PROJECT

Finished Headboard

Let's start with a bed headboard. I found a bed headboard (see picture below) and quickly realized that I liked the fact it was solid wood, and had great detail and design. There were several issues with this used piece. First, the legs had been sawed off. Second, the finish had been sunbleached and worn. Third, the faux sculpted rod iron elements had been broken and fallen off.

Headboard "AS IS" before Revitalization Project

REBUILD AND SECURE THE STRUCTURE
Here is the step by step process in logically evaluating and rebuilding this headboard...

1) Clean the entire headboard thoroughly with Murphy's Oil Soap.

• This removes caked on debris, as well as clean and sterilize the surfaces.

2) Remove embellishments.

• This allows you to evaluate the embellishments and whether they are usable, or needed, and to evaluate whether they can be included in the revitalization project. Carefully use a tool to see how embellishments are attached, whether they are glued or nailed on, and whether they can be removed intact to be reused.
• In this case, the "faux" rod iron details actually were molded elements that were simply glued on. By using a small crows-foot nail remover, the remaining two molded designs were easily removed and able to be retained to be included in the final revitalization project.
• When I found this headboard, the "faux" rod iron detail from the center panel of the headboard had fallen off, and had broken into two pieces. 
• Let's come back to the decorative embellishment elements for a thorough discussion later.
• Using a small flat spatula, the glue remnants can easily be removed by carefully scraping it away from the finished wood surface. A light touch with sand paper may help smooth out any remaining particles of glue to get down to a smooth and unblemished surface.

3) Rebuild the supportive structure - in this case the legs of the headboard.

• This headboard is a king/queen headboard and was solid wood. Therefore it was necessary to rebuild the legs to support the headboard. This meant the legs on each side, as well as adding a support leg in the middle of the headboard.
• Since the legs had been sawed off a few inches below the bottom of the headboard frame. The legs had originally been constructed of 2"x2" wood supports. To re-extend the legs, it was necessary to add a piece at the point where the original legs were sawed off and return the headboard to the height needed. 
• How do we do this? I found it best to then use a second 2"x2" wood support running alongside the original support and the newly extended leg - as a "brace". This second piece was glued and bolted in 4 places - twice through the original support that remained on the back of the headboard, and twice through the newly extended leg. Twice at each location protects the supports from twisting on a single bolt. 
• A third support leg was added in the middle of the headboard. It was glued to the back of the headboard, and then nailed into the headboard where the wood framework provided enough depth to grasp the nails.
• Finally, the three newly reconstructed legs need to be evenly balanced and trimmed to insure they sit squarely on the floor.

FURNITURE REFINISHING PROCESS

Here are the steps in building a new finish on this project...

1) Priming Coat

• The headboard had a glossy finish. It is necessary to insure that any finishing layers applied will "bind" to the existing finish. Rather than stripping this finish down, apply KILZ Acrylic Flat Coat Primer in White. This product primes the existing finish by slightly dissolving the top layer and then binding to it as it dries. This creates a solid primer base that adheres to the existing finish. This prevents flaking and peeling of the new finish later.
• Apply as many coats as needed. In this case I applied three complete coats, and then spot primed any additional areas that may have needed it. The goal is to completely cover the darker finish from coming through.

2) Base Coat

• For this project the base coat will provide a warm foundation - select an antique white in a flat acrylic paint. 
• On this refinishing project, XXX was used as the base coat.
• Apply as many coats as needed to complete a solid and even base coat. 
• In this project two coats were applied.

3) Detailing Coat

• For this project....

4) Protective Finish Coat

• For this project...

EMBELLISHMENT REFINISHING PROCESS

Here are the steps in creating a new finish on the embellishments for this project...

Close-up of the faux Rod-Iron Scroll detail

1) Repairs

• In this case, the center scrollwork had simply snapped into two pieces. 
• To repair it, use wood glue and a heavy piece of flat paper (like a brown paper bag) to support where the glue is adhering to the broken pieces. 
• Once the glue is applied, press the broken pieces together accurately, and adhere the brown paper on the back at the junction point to provide temporary support. 
• On the front of the detail use a damp Q-tip to smooth out any bulging glue over the pieces. 
• Let the glued junction dry completely for a solid 24 hours. 
• Once completely dried - handling with extreme caution - carefully remove the paper and be sure no small paper bits remain. You can use tweezers if you need to grip and remove any paper bits. 
• Carefully set the repaired piece aside on a solid piece of cardboard for refinishing.

2) Creating a Bronze Finish Coat
The headboard had a glossy finish. It is necessary to insure that any finishing layers applied will "bind" to the existing finish. Rather than stripping this finish down, apply KILZ Acrylic Flat Coat Primer in White.

Refinished Scroll embellishment with a Verde-Gris Bronze patina