This 90+year old Japanese tea cabinet was my signature piece when I started my furniture restyling business years ago. Made of solid mahogany and held together with fine wooden dowels, this very weathered piece had seen better times. The beautiful textured glass doors panels with metal inset pulls caught my attention. The little cabinet had potential to be something grand.
As in the Japanese style, this piece had to be delicate and functional. Preserving the simple contemporary East Asian style was important. As small as this cabinet was, it offered multiple uses with its removable shelves. Japanese hang it on the wall or place it on the floor to store tea and tea accessories.
To me, it needed to stand on its own legs, getting some height and visual balance. I designed and fabricated the legs and moldings in solid mahogany for a close match. Blending old and new is important to give the restyled piece a coherent appearance—like a good addition to a house that looks like it’s always been there.
After stripping and repairing was done, the top and the bottom were reinforced to install the crown molding and the legs. Custom moldings between the cabinet and the legs tie it all together visually. A mahogany stain unified the new and old wood giving it a rich tone.
And there it was. The little Japanese tea cabinet that could be grand.
Here are some other examples of furniture transformation.
Thanks for reading.
I don't monitor this post, but feel free to contact me with questions or comments at gina@furniturerestyler.com
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