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Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting

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I was just about to leave the thrift store and go home and cry and BOOM.  There it was.  A gorgeous vintage sewing machine table looking straight into my brown eyes.  Do I sew?  No.  Do I want to learn how to sew?  No.  Do I love vintage furniture, especially at a fantastic price, yes.  Here’s the scoop —->It was priced $49 and I had a 35% off coupon.  SCORE!  Sold to the lady with red hair for $32.  Welcome to my “Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover Without Refinishing/Painting”…

Don’t forget to download Redhead’s e-book 30 Thrift Store Makeovers HERE!

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new! No refinishing required!

I have to be totally honest and tell you that I actually wanted to use this vintage sewing machine table as a vanity for my husband’s “shaving nook” for our upcoming master bathroom makeover.  I pictured a small modern white square sink set on top like we did here and thought it would be perfect in the sewing machine “hole”.  Well, the vintage sewing machine table sat in our garage for months.  Shame on Julie.  Then, a couple weeks ago we were moving some things around in the garage, and I asked my husband his thoughts on my wild vanity shaving nook idea.  He was not thrilled at all, so I pouted a little bit and then I made him help me bring it inside  😆 .  Mind you, I had completely forgotten that it actually still had a sewing machine inside of it.  How could I forget that???  I’m getting old you guys.

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

That night I decided to clean it up (photo above is AFTER).  The wood is just so beautiful, I had (have) no intentions of refinishing it.  I honestly feel it is stunning the way it is and I love the vintage wear and tear.  It just needed a little cleaning, touch-ups, and polishing (see below for exact tutorial and products used).

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

Above you can see how even the inside is in great shape.  After my 4-step furniture makeover process it looked brand new.  How do you like those baluster legs?  Va-va-voom!

Here’s the full package…

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

Please feel free to educate us all below in the messages on vintage National Rotary sewing machines if you are knowledgeable in that category.  Is this worth anything?  I may not know a lot about sewing machines, but I know beauty when I see it.  Between the stain color, the details in wood workmanship, and the curves on that sewing machine I feel I have the Marilyn Monroe of thrifty sewing machines right here!

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

Unfortunately, I didn’t take a before photo of all the angles, but I did remember to get the top.  Below is what it looked like straight out of our garage.  See the paint in the upper left corner?  I got it off.  See the scratches?  I made them blend in and add a vintage “feel”.  See the dull stain?  I shined that right up-without refinishing!

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

And after…

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

Doesn’t it look fantastic?  I absolutely LOVE the scratches.  I really do.  They add charm that a new piece just doesn’t hold.  Kind of like my face.  Well…it’s true.

You might be wondering what the heck I’m going to do with a beautiful polished vintage sewing machine table since I don’t sew 😀 .  I just happen to have just the spot for it at the end of our teal blue velvet sofa.  You see…I’m making a few changes to our front living room, and this is the first step.  I have lots to show you including a lamp makeover (okay there’s actually 2 lamps), a very large new mirror I placed above the velvet sofa (see below), new colorful rugs, and I took down my silver platter wall and tried something similar.  So, stay tuned.  Oh, and I better not forget to tell you that I am painting our dark built-in shelves white!

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

*** Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.  Read full disclosure policy here.

Here’s how I did it and the products I used are highlighted in blue so you can easily order them on-line if interested.

HOW I REFINISHED WITHOUT REFINISHING-4 SIMPLE STEPS

  1. Use THIS PRODUCT to clean off any paint or sticky stickers.  It took literally seconds to get the paint off with this and a cloth.
  2. Clean the wood and every nook and cranny top to bottom including the legs and inside by spraying a dry cotton cloth with THIS SPRAY and clean off any dust, grime, or dirt.
  3. Color every single scratch, or nick with THIS PRODUCT.  Chose the color that suites your stain the best.  After you color it in, wipe with the cloth you just used to clean the table with.  Repeat if necessary.
  4. Polish the entire piece 3 times (let dry 30 minutes in between) with THIS PRODUCT and a cotton cloth.  Let it dry 24 hours before placing lamp or other decorative pieces on top.

Check out this Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover without Refinishing/Painting! She used 3 very inexpensive products and it looks brand new!

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41 Responses

  1. robert urtel says:

    A good pick, I love it, Dad in NY.

    • Lori says:

      I’m so glad I read your article. I’ve been researching new sewing tables, and your post popped into my feed. It reminded my that my dad has been begging me to take my mom’s old machine and table. Now I’m so inspired to get it and clean it up. And clean up my grandpa’s typewriter table while I’m at it.

  2. ColleenB.~ Tx. says:

    Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.
    Glad you didn’t paint over that beautiful wood and them legs; Stunning.
    You have one outstanding sewing machine cabinet (is that wood cabinet oak?)and better yet, still has the sewing machine to go with.
    The National Sewing Machine Co. made these machines for Sears and Montgomery Wards. While Sears didn’t stay loyal to suppliers, Montgomery Wards did, so your machine is very likely one sold through them.
    Depending on the actual model, it may be as old as the 1800’s or as ‘new’ as the early 1950’s.
    Your machine with cabinet could run into the hundreds.

  3. Sue says:

    Beautiful and what a bargain, you did a great job!!

  4. Becky says:

    So nice to see a piece NOT painted!

  5. Kyle says:

    That makes a wonderful end table! It has a wow factor going on! My husband just finished a lamp he redid. Love it and working on an old bar, so cool! Nice job girl!

  6. Julie says:

    WOW! WOW! WOW! this piece is striking and beautiful and what an awesome job in restoring it! KUDOS my dear!

  7. Sharon Greer says:

    You did a good job; it looks great. Glad you didn’t paint it.

  8. Kathy Grey says:

    I have one of these in a hidden corner of my living room. ☹️ I have looked at it and wondered how I could fix it up. Now I know!! Thanks

  9. Cate says:

    How gorgeous is that, Julie!! Thank you for not painting it. It’s wonderful.

  10. Cyndi says:

    Lovely sewing table. Great job. What would you have done if the table top was veneer. I have an old pedal singer but the top is veneer and some pieces have broken off. I also have an old desk with a veneer pull down with a few pieces of veneer gone… but need advice in redoing it too. Thanks in advance.

    • Julie says:

      I am stuck on this one. Could you add wood on top of it and stain that? Search “Vaneer repair” on Pinterest. Hope you find a good answer!

  11. carol bittner says:

    Very nice item; you kept it in its original state and I love that!!! The cleaning and polishing is all it needed; brought out the natural glow of the wood. Looks SO NICE along with your blue velvet sofa. Thanks for sharing, I really like it alot.

  12. Maria C says:

    Great Fine! Very nice sewing machine and table. I have a National Sewing machine. Is your machine in working order? Did the accessories come with the sewing machine? They are very difficult to obtain. National was making the sewing machines from the late 1800’s to mid-century 1900.

    • Julie says:

      Maria, the plug is there, but it doesn’t look safe to use. I would need to have someone fix that first. I dont really have plans to use it, but maybe my daughter might in the future. She is a sewer!

  13. va in nc says:

    Just love it As well as everything you do! Keep filling me with
    projects I dream about.

  14. Chris says:

    Beautiful!

  15. Kelly Mahan says:

    What a wonderful makeover! I was thinking about doing something like this to my sewing table, but I was afraid to. Now I can’t wait to start the project!

  16. […] likes it, how about you?  I feel it looks fantastic on the vintage sewing machine table I saved a few weeks ago, and it almost matches my new blanket perfectly ? […]

  17. Ivory says:

    Wow, fabulous, and the location of it is perfect. I love what you did. What a lovely piece to own

  18. Lisa Hendrix says:

    As I collect sewing machines in cabinet, I APPLAUD your not painting this beautiful cabinet! After buying several in need of STRIPPING oil based paint!! ARRGGHH!! BEAUTIFUL JOB!! As to the sewing machine, she’s a later model from the ’40’s to ’50’s. Rotary style sewing machines are my favorite! They sew everything and are rugged!! FYI! If not being used for the moment, place e a piece of foam or padding between the rubber tip on the motor to save it from an indent that will give it a rough sound when running it. Should you need to replace it, find a medical supply house that sells black, cone shaped stoppers for beakers. Bore out a hole to fit the end of motor. Electric wire replacement is easy. Srveral good YouTube vids. Seems scary the firdt time, but you’ll wonder why you were so afraid!!

  19. […] CLICK HERE TO VIEW THRIFT STORE SEWING MACHINE MAKEOVER […]

  20. Linda says:

    That is a really nice vintage sewing machine. I have a similar machine. I gotta recommend that you see if she works and give sewing a try. It looks like someone recently took care of it, so it may not take much to resurrect her. Next thing you know you’ll be redecorating all your window treatments, pillows, and who knows what else.

  21. john clayton says:

    thanks for not latexing it.

  22. Mary C. says:

    You’re so lucky that beautiful cabinet wasn’t painted. I just got 2 old sewing machines in cabinets, one Singer treadle, and a White rotary. The Singer’s cabinet is original and nothing needs to be done to it. I’m using it for a sewing table for my serger, on top. But the White’s cabinet was painted a horrible coral pink with the insets painted light pink. I’m using it as is, in the guest room, as a bedside table until I can figure out what I want to do with it. If it was a nice as your’s is, I’d have mine proudly displayed in the living room, too!

  23. cheryle says:

    From Wikipedia, your sewing machine was manufactured by the same company that made Harley-Davidson motorcycles,Cars from Oldsmobile and Pontiac,National Sewing Machine Company’s &”Happy Day” washing machine, circa 1910, fyi

  24. Mary says:

    Hi Julie, I just joined your site. Fun stuff going on here! This table has inspired me. I have an old sewing table that came with our cabin…unfortunately it has been painted, but I’m tempted to strip it and see what beautiful wood has been covered up…any suggestion on what strippers to use?

  25. Chrissy says:

    The link for the last product no longer works. I believe it’s for the last step, the polish. Can you tell me what the name of the product is?

  26. sharon beales says:

    I have this exact sewing machine, it was my mother’s and she made my clothes on it. I also had it refinished. Do you have the small chair as well? I took the sewing head out to be able to move it easier. So excited to see how you did this!

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