I restored a thing 

I’m glad people like you exist. Restoring abandoned, damaged furniture is, to me, more than an aesthetic or artistic endeavor. It’s an affirmation of tradition, history and our past.

Entrance bench, for when you remove your shoes/boots. Room to store shoe brush, gloves, interior shoes/slippers, etc.

My grandparents had something similar from that age, as one of the other comments mentioned, there was a veneered back panel to about 6' below that was a shelf for hats and gloves, below that on the panel was a mirror so you could check yourself that all was correct before you left home, appearances were very important in those days, oh, they had a cushion on the seat, for comfort when putting on or taking off the best shoes, which were stored under the seat, one of the lower cupboards held a clothes brush and a soft hat brush. Hope this helps. Regards from Wales.

Great work. So nice to sit here with my feet up watching this. My hands got sore from paint removers, sanding etc. now I can watch you. Your skills are way better so Im good just watching. 👍

Nice work. And let’s raise a glass to shellac! Dries fast, looks great, covers smells, seals wood, forgiving to use, recoats easy.

I’m trying (emphasizing the word: trying) to strip off paint from raw wood ( yes someone actually stripped it down and painted on the raw wood) from an oak circa 1885 spoon carved child dresser/ commode. Originally I took it to a restoration place in Amana Iowa. There estimated to restore it was $1200. I’m going to at least TRY to strip it down, but I may end up shelling out the money for this piece. I know this piece isn’t worth what I paid for it much less the $1200, but it’s a beautiful little piece and I LOVE spoon carving, not to mention I love real wood, not this new crap they make now. Just want you to know it’s so wonderful to know there are others out there that love old furniture and find satisfaction in restoring them. Thank you for giving us all some hope.

What an unusual piece! You brought it back to life beautifully as usual. I’m always happy when I see you’ve posted a new project. I really enjoy your videos

It looks Art Deco and a hallway piece. I would think for guests waiting to be seen and a place to take of outdoor shoes. It looks like there was a mirror and coat/hat rack that was for the back too.

I always look forward to your videos. Beautiful workmanship.

It ended up being a very nice piece of furniture whatever it is! You gave it back is prestige!

The “Thing” came out beautiful. Great job. And I love Mahogany…beautiful wood grain!!!

Your woodworking skills, video skills, and great sense of humor are wonderful. The pieces you choose to share with us are unique. I love watching your videos.

Beautiful! The two holes in the back? Could it have been a hall stand with a mirror and such? Your work is so wonderful.

Definitely looks like a bench where you would sit and put your shoes on and off. I wonder if maybe it's supposed to go on top of a desk with that thin locking drawer..... It's neat whatever it is!

What a beautiful piece of furniture. I like to restore mid century pieces from my childhood. I wish I had 1/10th the tools you have. Your videos provide me with many tips. Thank you!

That is a highly unusual piece. I think it is an old timey Hollywood glam bench. Can't you just see it in a 30's movie? Excellent work. You make it look so easy. 10+ out of ten rating. Have to add, the finish you did on this bench actually looks better than the original when I compare the old color to the new.

That is a unique piece 👌 and very stylish. Alls it needs now is a cushion on the seat to make it comfortable and protect the veneer.

Your brother from another mother is very handsome. 😉 Beautiful and unusual piece.

You and your twin brother work very well, by the way , fantastically well.

I would call this a butler… it used to have a mirror on the back and there would have been hooks on the side of the mirror for jackets… the odd sized doors on the bottom could hold shoes… You could sit on the bench part to put your shoes on, then check yourself in the mirror before heading out the door…. I would love this piece… Thank you for giving it a new life.

I just love your work! You know how to bring furniture back from dead and yet keep it looking original with that patina and not overdoing it. It just like it’s 50 year old, but someone took extremely good care of it. After I found your channel I cannot watch other channels. It just doesn’t match the level of craftsmanship that you have👍🏻

The glow of the refinished wood is beautiful .

Wow, this restored piece looks beautiful! The handles are very charming. I loved seeing you talking about mahogany and then leaving the piece with a beautiful color. Watching you work with your clone was a double pleasure, hehe. The video track showing the finished piece brightened everything up. 🌹

Все ваши работы прекрасны ещё и тем, что вы оставляете их такими, какими они были изначально. Минимальное вмешательство и мы видим задумку авторов, которую вы нам открываете

I have watched all of your videos and now watching them a second time, thank you

That’s a beautiful little whatever. Nice job.

Wow ! Your hands helped the grain of the wood stand out beautifully on this piece.

I love how the richness of the wood came out. It's definitely an unusual piece. And you made it shine!

Every time I watch your videos I wish my Dad were alive to see them as well. He restored furniture as a hobby after her retired, and he would have loved to watch you work! Your techniques would have definitely helped his efforts. Thanks for posting another great project, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Handsome and witty antiques restorer restores a... thing.

A trick that I found for getting funny smells out of furnishings (and sometimes even off of small objects) is to take some regular barbecue charcoal, put it in an old, clean sock to keep it from smudging everywhere, and toss it into the cabinet or drawer (or enclose it with the smelly object). It does take a couple of days, but it works :)

What a wonderful job on an unusual piece! Good thing you had your "brother" to call on for help - you two could pass for twins. I have no idea what this is, but some of the comments point out distinct, and very different, possibilities.

ES USTED UN VERDADERO ARTISTA RESTAURADOR ... LO QUE MÁS ME GUSTÓ ES QUE NO USÓ PINTURA, SINO QUE LE DEVOLVIÓ AL MUEBLE SU ASPECTO ORIGINAL... MIL GRACIAS 😊💖😊

That was a funny start to the video, Ahti. Because there were no visual references, you only got to know actual size of the piece when you put your hand near it. So The Thing, is a hall bench. Lucky the draw handle didn't go missing. It's over 80 years old and it looks like new, beautiful restoration as always.

I'm getting wiser, the second I saw that veneer I knew it was better to replace than repair. Beautiful restoration 😎

Truly a masterful restoration. Bravo!!! I do hope your finger is healing. I did enjoy the before and after and every step in between. In every one of your videos I learn something new. Thank you and keep the videos coming. 😊

I like that 'thing' it would look great in my hall but out of my price range. Brilliant to watch your restorations. Thank you

I love it! You brought a unique piece of furniture back to life.

That is such a pretty art deco little bench… can picture it in a lovely deco styled bedroom at the foot of a bed. Lovely little piece for sure. I would gladly give it house room, especially with all your hard work and how beautifully it turned out. So wonderful that you were able to replace all the veneer on the piece that was so badly damaged. Its much, much prettier too with the singular color. As always, your skills are amazing, you are so, so talented! What I wouldn’t give to be able to hand over some pieces of antique furniture I have for you to restore!!! When I see one of your videos pop up? I am always happy as it is just such a pleasure to watch you work, your talent and skill! Thank you so much for all the wonderful videos.

What a wonderful hall bench! I think I saw one in a bank once!

My husband, In his 70s, says it is a bench. Roman style, used to have a high back, very ornate. The holes would have been where the supports for the back attached. The drawers and doors would hold gloves and shoes.

What an interesting piece! I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Fantastic job, as usual Ahti. Thanks again for sharing your gift with all of us! 🙂

What a beautiful piece of furniture. Your restoration certainly did it justice. I would suggest a cushion to protect the top surface of this bench - something in the high Art Deco style!

I enjoyed watching this video with my coffee this morning. Watching you work is so relaxing. You really made this piece beautiful again!

That is the most beautiful "thing" I have seen this year! ❤

Another beautiful restoration! I personally like the color better then the original. Again, thank you for sharing your wonderful woodworking talents!

Looks like a woman's makeup vanity, or part of one. It might have had a lower section to it with a mirror attached to the back. Lovely restoration as always, sir.

Замечательно! Прекрасная вещь, что бы это ни было

Очень красиво сработано. У вас талант художника и реставратора. Спасибо за видео, лайк однозначно.

It's an Art Deco style custom-made piece that we used to buy for pennies to use the wood to repair a piece of furniture because otherwise it's worthless, the work is worth more than the cabinet itself. But like everything it's a matter of taste because for someone it's the ceiling.

The transformation of this piece was well done.

💕🌻Looks good. Love the end part with you thinking on the bench. Haha, too cute 💕🌻

A veneering video!! As usual, great great great!! Hip hip hurray!

Hall bench. The cabinets on the side may be for storing shoes in, top drawer for handkerchiefs. I'd probably make a thin cushion to go on the top to protect the finish on the wood. Beautiful and unusual piece.

Получил огромное удовольствие от просмотра. Браво МАСТЕР!!!

I thought it was quite ugly at the beginning. You have returned it to it's original beauty. I like the way the curves at the ends of the seat wrap around to become curves of the cabinet doors. The pulls are lovely, look like tassels. It seems to have a Chinese aesthetic to it, but of course modern and Art Deco.

Looks to me like an old “Dressing Table” without the mirror. My aunt had one here in Australia back in the 60’s. Yours was in pretty good shape, but your work certainly increased its value. Looks really nice now.

This is the most stunning piece I've seen you restore to date!

This is a nice example of an Artdeco desk style. Nice job in this restauration.

My aunt had something quite similar at the foot of her bed when I was a small child. She told me it was her Cleopatra throne.

A very nice thoughtful and sympathetic restoration. ❤

No mirror to put back? That is a pretty finish, your brother did a good job too. Birdy

Whatever it is, it is now a beautiful piece of furniture which I would love to have in my own home.

Como siempre un buen trabajo 👍🇪🇸 saludos desde España

I love that "thing"! Very unique looking and it turned out beautiful. Almost looks kind of like a bench.

A lovely transformation

An interesting little bench the like of which I have not seen before. When you sat on it at the end of the video the size really became more apparent but what ever the piece you have restored it beautifully.

This is absolutely stunning. Thank you for making and posting your videos! I have learned more from you than anyone else on RU-vid. Your work is magnificent!

I like the idea of a place to hange shoes. My great grandma had something like this in the middle of her front windows with a Massive fern so I would have guessed plant stand.

I love how much I always learn in your videos re. Mahogany. ^.^

I really enhoy all of your videos, they are so satisfying to watch and so very helpful too! This piece of furniture has to be one of my fabourite one you have restored, it's so unique! Thank you so much for sharing your craft, it is so precious!

Likely part of a bar set up. I've seen similar in old bars.

That was one ugly “thing” before you restored it. I was really shocked at how great it looked when it was finished! Excellent job!

You did a really good job and I am happy to see the beautiful desk get a new life.

how nice to know how to restore ..... it almost seems to build them again. It gives it new life. As good as ever 😊💋💋💋. Greetings from Italy

Lovely piece of furniture 😍. I love antiques. The drawer and door pulls are really unique

I just love it when you restore a thing! I get so giddy when I see you pop up in my new thing feed! Thank you.

It is a lot smaller than it looked when you were working on it. Nice!!

Good project! My next is a 60s bar cart. Mad Men style. Looking forward to that one 👌🏻

Stunning restoration...the "thing" looks like new! 🤣

Good little lac bug, friend of man. So good to see so many helpful hints and examples, such as spreading the glue on the back of the whole piece of veneer, letting it dry, and THEN cutting the pieces. Also applying the middle portion so the grain is right, then putting pieces on the ends so there's an overlap --- all designed to let things do just what they want to do (veneer shrinks with heat) and still have a beautiful and controllable result. Time for me to order more ultrablonde shellac, so I can start French Polish on the 1887 Steinway C and its new parts, which need to be turned from maple to faux rosewood. (with powdered aniline dyes mixed with the alcohol and shellac.)

I would guess it to be a Captain's chair, for sitting at the foot of a bed. With drawers and cupboards for clothes items like stays, socks, shoes, garters, etc. Made in an Egyptian motif which was popular in the early 1900s.

😄😄Watching you working on this 'thing' didn't give me any hint of it's dimensions. I imagined that it was 1.5 m long x 70cm tall! So seeing you sitting on it at the end, suddenly it looked TINY! 😆😆 Your restoration work is wonderful. Thank you for sharing

The piece turned out beautiful. It’s definitely missing a piece for back

You are a man of many many talents !

What a lovely colour of the wood it really had a nice warm tone to it.

A shoe bench? Put in the entry hall to put on/take off your shoes. Maybe store them in the cabinets. The little drawer is for keys, shoe horn. I'm just guessing. But it sure looked pretty when you finished it.

What a wonderful bench.

Just another nice restoration... of a thing. Not sure what kind of thing, but it is now a nice looking thing...

Stunning. I would have that piece of furniture in my house. Fantastic restoration. Congratulations 👌❤

Dare I say it's one of your finest jobs. Greetings from Brazil!

WOW. How amazing is this transformation!!!!

You are such an inspiring craftsman. I learn a lot from you, thank you and I love your humor

Its for shoe shines; The cupboards are for keeping customers shoes until they were ready for them. (I don't know why.) The shallow front drawer is for keeping shoe shine supplies in. Or all storage was for shoe shining supplies. The ends are raised so customers could rest their feet on it and NOT slip off the ends while getting their shoes shined. This item was usually set on the ground. That's my hypothesis.

Don't know what it was.. But now know what it is! AWESOMENESS!

Stunning Art Deco piece with Oriental influence in design. The moment I saw it I fell in love with it. I expected it being more contrasting in colour and a bit shinier as they often were made originally. However the restoration is fantastic. Love it, love it! 🤩

LOL your brother! Another fun and enjoyable video. I could watch you apply shellac for hours!

Before you started, it just looked odd. After, it is beautiful...whatever it is.

I think it is a beautiful piece! Made when things were made to last! Thank you for making it beautiful again.

Ahti did his normal beautiful job on the Thing.