Antique Values

Exquisite kit furniture delivers classic elegance at a down-to-earth price

For sheer beauty, few furnishings surpass that of a fine antique. When a piece is cared for from generation to generation, it develops a timeless beauty that belies its age. It's a true object of desire, at least until you flip over the price tag. Ouch.

If those numbers are a bit too rich, take a look at today's top-quality kit furniture. It lets you take a more economical yet no less satisfying path to fine, antique-style furniture. The completed pieces may be brand-new, but they perfectly copy the original. They're precision made of beautiful hardwood, and come in pieces that you assemble and finish. And that's where you find not only big savings but also a few hours of enjoyment.

Like other kits, the highboy shown here comes to your door as a box of parts. But the directions are thorough, and if you take your time, you can assemble and finish your way to a very fine piece. This highboy is made of beautifully figured curly maple, the kind with rippling, almost iridescent grain. It came with some of the major parts, such as side panels, already joined, so it took less than a day to build it. But before that was done, all the pieces were lightly sanded and then stained with Minwax^® Gel Stain Mahogany, which enhanced and deepened the maple's grain and color. Gel Stain also gives you easy application control with no runs or drips. Just wipe it on, let it sit for 5 minutes and then wipe off any excess.

The next day, all it took was a little glue and some common tools like a screwdriver to put all the pieces together. When the glue was dry, the piece was ready for topcoating with new Minwax^® Clear Brushing Lacquer in a gloss sheen. It flows on easily and dries to a hard, protective finish. It's the topcoat of choice for many professional furniture makers, and now you can use it to create a future heirloom that beautifies your home today.

Project Pointers

Since staining is commonly done on fully assembled furniture, why stain a kit it's assembled? It's done that way in order to ensure complete coverage in case a door panel or other part contracts or otherwise moves with changes in temperature and humidity. Stain applied after assembly could fail to reach seams that might later become exposed.

To get the right look and proper protection with new Minwax^® Clear Brushing Lacquer, you'll need to apply three to four coats with a high-quality natural-bristle brush. The lacquer dries quickly so that you can recoat after just 2 hours with no sanding between coats.