The Furniture Flip That Proves Older Pieces Deserve A Second Chance At Life

Many new homeowners have experienced something similar to Reddit user u/MastaGAtomic when they found an old, discarded roll-top desk in their new home. The previous homeowners left it behind, probably assuming it wasn't worth keeping and it would be the new owner's problem. Instead of taking it to the curb to be tossed out, the Reddit user spent three weeks giving the forgotten roll-top desk a new purpose that perfectly suited their design needs — they turned it into a turntable storage. Having never repurposed furniture before, they could have bought something new—but why let a vintage piece with potential go to waste? They learned what many people are discovering: there are creative ways to repurpose old furniture, often resulting in something perfectly suited to your space.

The roll-top desk u/MastaGAtomic discovered in their garage had seen better days. Its tambour cover was rotten, the back panel was a total loss, and the finish was a mess — but the Reddit user saw potential. Rather than reaching for a paint stripper to remove the finish, they opted for an orbital sander, started at 120 grit, and worked their way up to a higher grit to remove the finish on the shelves. Because they were adding a stereo to the top drawer, they drilled holes for airflow and cords. To make it look like it was meant to house the turntable, they stained the desk the same color as the Fluance cover. They did admit when it came to staining, "I also used waaaaay more than needed to, so that's good to know." To finish, they used two coats of polyurethane, noting it was a "low-traffic" piece.

The last piece of the flip u/MastaGAtomic said they were doing was finding a new cover, figuring out how to integrate a power strip, and reattaching the old hardware, which was still soaking in a vinegar and water solution. They were also deciding whether to add the top two drawers back or try a different solution. Ultimately, it's clear they were happy with the result, saying, "First time attempt and pleased with the results!"

This Reddit user found success repurposing a vintage roll-top desk into turntable storage because, despite some damage, it had what older furniture has — good bones. This is often the case with older furniture that can be repurposed and given new life. It's true what they say, "they don't make things like they used to." While u/MastaGAtomic was lucky enough to find a free piece of vintage furniture in their new home's garage, many people may consider buying older furniture to be a worthwhile investment because of how well-constructed and durable older pieces often are. Even a roll-top desk, which may not seem suited for modern living, can be repurposed into something functional for today's home.