Studio Portfolio · Olympia, WA

Furniture Restoration Portfolio — Olympia, WA · Real before-and-after work from an Olympia workshop.

This is where hesitation turns into trust. The marks, surface wear, outdated finishes, and forgotten shapes are not the ending. They are the starting point for thoughtful vintage restoration.

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All Transformations Sligh Empire Dresser Sage China Hutch Natural Bedroom Set Carved Nightstands

★ Featured Studio Transformation

Antique Sligh Empire Dresser

Solid mahogany Empire chest with original tilting mirror. Worn finish replaced with a rich, hand-rubbed warm gray-brown stain that lets the flame grain and original Sligh maker's label shine.

Solid Mahogany Aged Brass Hand-Rubbed Satin

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Empire-style mahogany dresser by Sligh Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, ca. 1880–1930, before restoration — dark mahogany, worn surface, brass keyhole escutcheons, Olympia WA

Restored Sligh Furniture Co. antique Empire dresser with tilting mirror — warm gray-brown stain, aged brass hardware, boho-styled bedroom setting, Broken Souls Restoration Lacey WA

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Heritage Refinishing & Surface Revival

Antique Empire Dresser & Mirror — Sligh Furniture Co.

A genuine antique Empire chest from Sligh Furniture Co. of Grand Rapids — solid mahogany, original brass hardware, and a tilting mirror — restored to a warm gray-brown stain that respects the piece's age without looking museum-heavy. The original Sligh maker's label is preserved inside the drawer.

Oak china hutch before restoration — dated honey-amber finish, brass hardware, leaded glass doors with etched floral oval medallions, South Puget Sound WA

Oak china hutch after sage green painted transformation — matte olive finish, black hardware, leaded glass doors, styled with vintage pottery and botanical books, Broken Souls Restoration Olympia WA

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Painted Furniture & Interior Detail

Oak China Hutch — Sage Green With Botanical Drawer Liner

This solid oak china hutch came in dated and heavy. It left in a muted Pacific Northwest sage — quiet, warm, and alive. New black hardware replaces the dated brass. The interior drawers are lined in a hand-chosen passionfruit and lemon botanical print, visible the moment you open them.

Bedroom set before restoration with dresser and nightstands in an older honey wood finish

Finished natural bedroom set after restoration with dresser, matching nightstands, lamps, and calm styling

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Full Set Refinishing & Room-Ready Styling

Warm Natural Bedroom Set

A dated bedroom suite with a heavy honey tone was brought into a softer, more collected direction. The finished natural tone, matching pieces, and styled after photo show the kind of full-room transformation clients can actually feel.

Ornate carved oak nightstand pair before restoration — honey amber finish, acanthus leaf column detail, scalloped apron base, Lacey WA

Carved nightstand pair after two-tone cream and walnut restoration — cream painted body, dark stained wood tops, black hardware, farmhouse styled with lantern and greenery, Broken Souls Restoration Olympia WA

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Two-Tone Painted & Stained Pair

Carved Oak Nightstands — Cream Body With Dark Walnut Tops

This pair of ornate oak nightstands had incredible carved column and acanthus leaf detail that was getting lost in an overpowering amber tone. A cream-painted body with dark stained tops created contrast that finally lets the carving breathe — farmhouse-collected, never builder-grade.

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Oak console cabinet before restoration — stripped to bare wood showing beautiful chevron grain door panels, ready for dark stain, Tumwater WA

Matched oak console cabinet pair after dark espresso stain restoration — farmhouse styled with eucalyptus, candles, and a large wooden wall clock, Broken Souls Restoration Olympia WA

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Dark Stain Revival & Matched Pair

Oak Console Cabinet Pair — Dark Espresso Stain With Chevron Detail

These oak cabinets had chevron-pattern door panels hiding under years of old finish. After full strip and prep work, a rich dark espresso stain made the grain the hero — and placed as a pair, they anchor a farmhouse living room.

Original long wood dresser before the sage floral finish transformation

Sage green dresser after restoration with floral center detail and warm wood top

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Painted Revival & Decorative Detail

Sage Floral Dresser

This long dresser was revived with a soft sage painted body, a warmer top, and a floral detail that gives the piece a custom focal point without losing its storage function.

Carved desk before restoration with a pale painted base, geometric wood top, and one drawer open

Carved desk after restoration in a rich black painted finish with ornate legs and restored drawers

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Painted Finish & Carved Detail

Black Carved Desk

This carved desk moved from a pale, partly stripped piece with a patterned wood top into a dramatic black statement finish. The darker color brings the carved legs, apron, and drawer fronts forward while keeping the piece elegant rather than heavy.

Long dresser before satin black restoration with dated orange wood tone

Satin black dresser after restoration with warm wood base and brass hardware

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Satin Black Finish & Hardware Styling

Satin Black Dresser With Warm Wood Detail

A dated long dresser became a stronger modern statement piece with a controlled satin black body, warm wood contrast, and polished hardware.

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Carved console table before restoration on a studio work table

Restored carved console table with warm wood finish, round mirror, neutral decor, and preserved detail

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Wood Refinishing & Detail Preservation

Carved Console Table

This carved console table moved from stripped and unfinished to warm, polished, and architectural. The curves, legs, and carved details stayed intact while the surface became smooth enough for a finished room.

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Stacked wood nightstands before restoration with dated amber finish

Soft natural nightstands after restoration styled with lamp, flowers, and warm decor

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Natural Refinishing & Interior Detail

Soft Natural Nightstands With Hidden Pattern Detail

Heavy amber nightstands were softened into a calmer natural finish. The drawer interiors received a patterned detail so the restoration feels finished even in the places most people overlook.

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Vintage desk before restoration with worn dark finish and missing hardware

Finished black vanity desk with brass hardware, warm wood top, mirror, and styled decor

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Painted Finish, Wood Top & Hardware Styling

Black Vanity Desk

A worn vintage desk became a modern black vanity with brass hardware and a warm wood top. The shape stayed classic, but the finish direction made it feel intentional, useful, and current again.

Finished Pair

Painted Finish & Hardware Refresh

Soft Green Painted Nightstands

A pair of nightstands finished in a soft green tone with warm hardware. This is the kind of painted transformation that keeps detail visible while making the pieces feel calmer and more modern.

Finished Pair

Pair of black painted nightstands with gold hardware

Dark Painted Finish & Gold Hardware

Black Nightstand Pair

A matching pair of nightstands finished in black with gold hardware. Small pieces like these can completely shift the mood of a bedroom when the finish is controlled and the hardware fits the style.

Finished Pair

Natural Walnut & Carved Detail

Carved Walnut Nightstand Pair

A pair of carved walnut nightstands featuring chevron border relief details and French curved legs. A clear, warm satin finish brings the natural wood grain forward, complemented by polished vintage brass hardware.

Statement Credenza

Ornate olive green credenza with stained dark wood top and pierced scrollwork doors

Botanical Painted Finish & Ornate Carving

Ornate Olive Credenza With Scrollwork Doors

A statement buffet and credenza finished in botanical olive green with a rich dark wood top and pierced rococo double scrollwork doors. The finish highlights the intricate fretwork while keeping the storage piece timeless.

3-Piece Suite

Three-piece bedroom suite in slate mineral blue with stained wood tops and matching nightstands

Multi-Piece Suite Transformation

Mineral Slate 3-Piece Bedroom Suite

A matching master bedroom suite including a nine-drawer low dresser and companion nightstands, restored in a mineral slate tone with warm stained wood tops and dark contrast hardware.

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern Refinishing

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Credenza

A nine-drawer mid-century walnut credenza featuring sculpted brass wave pulls and tapered legs with brass ferrules. Cleaned, toned, and sealed to let the authentic walnut grain take center stage.

Finished Pair

Natural Wood Character

Rustic Wood Nightstand Pair

A rustic wood nightstand pair that brings texture and visible grain into the portfolio. Not every finish has to be painted; some pieces are strongest when the wood character stays forward.

Surface Detail

Surface Tone & Hardware Detail

Tall Cabinet With Aged Finish

A tall storage piece with an aged, layered finish and ornate hardware. It shows how a finish can add depth and character without turning the piece into something disposable or flat.

Detail Moment

Restored drawer interior with floral patterned liner and refinished wood frame

Interior Styling Detail

Patterned Drawer Interior

The outside earns attention first, but the inside is where a restoration starts to feel personal. A patterned liner turns a simple drawer into a small custom moment.

Adding More Photos

Your piece could be next.

If your furniture has good bones, the finish does not have to be the ending. Send photos and we’ll help you see what the piece could become.

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