Antique desk- I need advice on how to refinish or paint it?
I just purchased an antique desk with the leather top. The leather is actually in pretty good shape. EVERYTHING is in tact just some scuffs and scratches. It is a medium to dark finish. I want to give it a really dark rich finish. How would I do this?
Well, start by checking whether part or much of the value is in the original finish - as they say on Antiques Roadshow - "Somebody refinished it at one time and if it had the original finish it might be worth $10,000, but as it stands, about $3,000"
If you do too "good" a job, you may end up with such an even tone the details are lost and it is oppressive. Where is it light and where dark - a pattern of wear or exposure to light?
In any case, to get an even finish you will have to strip the existing finish and restain and varnish it.