Hi! I found this at a garage sale, and although it is a lovely piece, I would like to make it more modern. My vision for this possibly includes changing the legs and knobs, removing or replacing the accents on the door and around the bottom edge, and either replacing the top or somehow make the existing top less wavy around the edges. I’m concerned that I might damage the wood if I try any of this, and any suggestions on ways to avoid making a mess of things would be greatly appreciated. I am fairly new to woodworking, and I welcome any advice on the proper tools to use, tips and tricks, styling advice for this piece such as what type of legs, etc., and the best place to order affordable parts like legs and knobs. The legs are screwed in, and the knobs appear to be screwed in or screwed and glued in. If this post needs more images, please let me know in the comments. Thank you Fine Woodworking for this wonderful site, and thanks in advance to anyone who has anything helpful to share.
Replies
Legs, knobs, accents, edges, top... It seems like you bought something you don't like much at all. IMO you'd be better off starting from scatch and finding a good home for this.
Thank you so much for the response. Now I know exactly what to do! This was truly helpful advice.
Is it veneered? If so, it would be difficult to do anything and getting colors to match, and of course you'd be eliminating the style. I have a similar table and mine is veneered. So yeah, I'd leave as is.
Thanks for your comment. It is veneered. I researched this table and it is actually an antique humidor! I had no idea!
My first thoughts were in line with @MJ.
This is a challenging piece to change. It is hard to know if it is original, with the drawer front looking a little incongruous, but it is in keeping with French furniture of the late 1800s. It might be a better use of the piece to restore it sensitively and sell for perhaps USD 200.
I understand the dislike of the spindly legs and tall stature, but you don't have a lot of wood to play with there so opportunity for change is there.
The top is the easy part. That could be removed, cleaned, flattened and perhaps a more modern square top with an under-bevel created. You have enough material there to sort the warping out and leave a nice edge.
I'm not a fan of the drawer - though it is a common design, it is blocky where the rest is curvy and it does not gel well with my taste. I would probably remove the top of the unit to make it more a modern bedside table, but this would require you to remove the side panels, which may not go well. If you just truncate them then the veneer will look odd.
The legs are very challenging. I think you could possibly truncate them just below the carving, but with them turning inwards, it will always look a little insectile if you do. There is nothing to stop you removing the bottom of the legs and grafting them back on a little higher, but that would be a job for someone skilled with carving. Doable but - gulp. Getting all four to look the same? Not easy.
Alternatively, you could completely change it, keep the legs as they are, cut it off just above the legs, apply the top and you have a low table or plant stand. The drawer might suit that better, and you will need something to fill in the gap so win-win. You will have to do a fair bit of fiddling, but that would work.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful and helpful answer! This is one of the reasons I love this website! I appreciate your feedback and advice very much!
Yes, I agree with all of that! I just searched this piece by photo, and it turns out that it is actually an antique French humidor! I don't see any markings on it, but the drawers are dovetail and the bottom drawer is actually a door that has a marble cabinet inside! Some things are not really lining up, though. Should the craftsmanship be slightly off, or should it be exact?
To change this as you describe will ruin it, especially if it is considered an antique. I hope you are not serious. Please sell it to someone that likes it for what it is and buy something of a style you like.
I'm not changing it. I've decided to have it appraised and possibly sell it. Thanks for your concern, though.