A Baker Sideboard Makeover Three Years in the Making

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been spending time evaluating our current inventory, especially the pieces we’ve had tucked away for quite some time. As a small business owner, there’s always a running list in my mind of projects I hope to eventually bring to life. Recently, I decided it was finally time to prioritize a few of those special pieces and start tackling them one by one.

One piece in particular immediately came to mind: a vintage Baker Furniture sideboard credenza that I’ve owned for nearly three years.

When I first acquired this piece, it was completely original from top to bottom. The finish was still in fantastic condition, beautifully preserved over the years, but stylistically it just never felt like “me.” Even so, I could never part with it because, at its core, it was still an incredibly well-crafted piece of vintage Baker furniture — and quality like that is hard to come by.

What kept delaying this project, however, was one very practical detail: this thing is HEAVY. At well over 300 pounds, this sideboard has been moved, hauled, and rearranged more times than I can count. Every time I considered refinishing it, I talked myself out of it simply because I knew how much work it would require before I ever picked up a paintbrush.

But once I finally got it settled back home again recently, I knew it was time.

This project became something a little different for me. Instead of refinishing a piece based solely on trends or customer requests, I decided to create something purely for the joy of it — a reflection of my personal style and the things I genuinely love. And if you know me personally, you already know that means pink, feminine details, and a touch of French-inspired charm.

One of my favorite discoveries during the process was hidden beneath the original hardware. The gorgeous brass hinges and pulls had been covered in factory finish paint for years. I carefully stripped each piece down to its original brass finish and polished every detail by hand. Seeing those warm brass tones come back to life completely transformed the character of the piece.

For the body of the credenza, I chose “Charleston Blush” by Mohawk Finishing Products — the softest, most beautiful pink that instantly gave the piece a romantic, vintage-inspired feel. Once the base color was complete, I lightly accented the carved details and French scrollwork to highlight the craftsmanship without overpowering it.

The biggest decision came when it was time to refinish the top surface. Initially, I considered a traditional darker wood stain, but I worried it would feel too heavy against the softness of the pink finish. Instead, I decided to try something I rarely use: an antique white wash technique. The end result was exactly what I had hoped for — soft and feminine while still honoring the strength and timelessness of the solid oak construction underneath.

This piece feels like the perfect balance of elegance, personality, and craftsmanship.

Needless to say, pink has always had my heart. Anyone who knows me well could probably tell you my wedding reception looked like a scene straight out of Steel Magnolias. So creating this piece felt a little like bringing a small part of that joy and nostalgia into furniture form.

I truly hope this piece brings a smile to others the same way it did for me throughout this entire process.

Until next time,

Mandy

The Bluegrass Manor