There is something attractive about furniture. The unique beauty is hidden behind a thick layer of varnish. Once I saw a cabinet in the far corner of a relative's home in the countryside, I couldn't forget about it. In my head I already imagined how beautifully it would stand in our living room. My relatives didn't understand the idea, but they didn't oppose it.

By the age of 40, I had cultivated a unique passion for restoring, remodeling, and crafting woodwork. This process is wholly captivating; once you start, you can't stop.

Here's the story of how I remodeled a cabinet from the USSR, including who was involved, what was required, and how long it took. I began this journey during winter when I received a nightstand from the USSR. The delivery guys complained about the weight and suggested this "old stuff" should be discarded, not brought home. Despite their grumbles, I was thrilled to have a new project in my house. I sanded the four legs and eagerly awaited summer to begin working on the cabinet itself.

The cabinet was in a "tired" condition, with scuffs, visible signs of age, gum stickers, and a right door leaf that could barely close. Despite its condition, the nightstand's shape and potential for transformation were appealing. This became the starting point for creating a new nightstand. It's important to clarify that I didn't perform any restoration, just a simple refresh of its appearance.

Required for the Job

1. One patient, sturdy-built man for lifting and carrying.
2. A construction hair dryer.
3. Trowel spatula.
4. Grinder.
5. Two types of paint rollers (small and medium), and a brush.
6. Alkyd paint.
7. Oil for wood products.

The first step involved thoroughly cleaning the cabinet of stickers, plasticine, and dirt. This was followed by removing the doors and the back wall. Then came the lengthy and intriguing process of varnish removal. This was my first time, so I made a few mistakes. I mistakenly thought that a store-bought spray could easily remove the varnish. However, varnish removal proved to be more difficult. I had to purchase a construction hairdryer to assist in the task.

Tips:

1. Wear a face mask for safety, as heating the varnish releases a toxic odor.

2. Wear closed shoes. The lacquer hardens and shatters like glass once it falls to the ground, posing a risk of injury.

Removing the varnish from the entire cabinet took about a week. My right hand ached from the effort, and the weather conditions kept changing - alternating between sunny and rainy days. I had to enlist the help of a sturdy man to move the cabinet back and forth. Despite the occasional negative comments, I was so engrossed in the process that I barely noticed them.

After removing the lacquer, it was evident that there were problem areas where the veneer had come off with the lacquer. After contemplating it for a while, I decided to leave it as is.

The next step was to eliminate the burgundy tint using a sander. The noise was quite noticeable, causing some embarrassment, but I persevered. Sanding was so laborious that my hand was shaking afterward. I used 80 and 120 grit sandpaper for the task. The cabinet began to lose its old appearance in the process.

The third step is painting. I decided to make the cabinet in Scandinavian style, painting the inside white, and leave the outside untouched. I opted for alkyd paint. I had no experience in painting before. I washed the surface from dust and dirt, degreased with vodka and started painting, without applying primer. The first paint I bought at the nearest store started to roll off. I had to go to a large construction store for new paint. I covered the cabinet inside with 3 coats of paint.

Next, I began to work on the exterior of the cabinet. It was decided not to return the doors. I renewed the back wall from the leftover MDF panels that were left after the renovation. The most pleasant part began, that is coat the outer part and the legs with oil. I used oil that I already had at home - floor oil to protect the wood. The nightstand aired out on the porch for a few days. After that it settled in the living room and the TV set stood on it perfectly.

The project took a month and required significant physical effort. However, I derived immense pleasure from the creative process and the realization of my idea.

I have contemplated creating new doors to completely conceal the shelves for 1.5 years. If I decide to proceed, it will be a continuation of this story. I wonder if it's worth pursuing?

Next, I have the remodeling of two armchairs to look forward to, a task that has been waiting for a while.