Forty One Furnishings

Forty One Furnishings Welcome to Forty One Furnishings! Thanks so much for stopping by.

This page is dedicated to a hobby I truly enjoy-transforming unwanted or overlooked furniture into refreshed, modern pieces with new life and purpose.

Let’s talk about this dresser for a minute…It’s been sitting in my garage for months. Every time I looked at it, another...
05/31/2026

Let’s talk about this dresser for a minute…

It’s been sitting in my garage for months. Every time I looked at it, another project seemed to jump ahead in line.

Well, I finally gave it the attention it deserved and wrapped it up today. I was feeling pretty proud of myself… until I slid the bottom drawer in.

And… it doesn’t fit quite right. 🤦‍♀️

Such is the glamorous life of furniture refinishing. Sometimes you spend hours sanding, cleaning, painting, and sealing only to discover one last surprise waiting for you at the finish line.

So this beauty is officially almost done. The bottom drawer repair will have to wait until I can carve out a little more time in the workshop.

The good news? The finish came out exactly how I envisioned, and I know it’ll be worth the extra effort when it’s finally complete.

Let’s talk old hardware for a minute…Some hardware is simply worth saving.When I first removed these pulls from a vintag...
05/30/2026

Let’s talk old hardware for a minute…

Some hardware is simply worth saving.

When I first removed these pulls from a vintage MCM dresser I picked up last week, they didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Dark, dingy, tarnished, and covered in decades of grime. Most people would probably toss them and order something new.

But underneath all that buildup was a hidden treasure.

After a bit of elbow grease, patience, and more than a little Bar Keepers Friend, these beauties came back to life. The warm brass tones and unique geometric details are exactly the kind of character that just can’t be replicated with new hardware.

I’m still deciding what color this dresser will become, but one thing is certain—the original hardware is staying. Sometimes the best part of a piece is already there, just waiting to be uncovered.

Furniture refinishing is a good reminder that things don’t always have to be replaced to be beautiful again.

✨ COMING SOON ✨This solid wood beauty is almost ready for its next home! The final two k***s arrive tomorrow, one last c...
05/25/2026

✨ COMING SOON ✨

This solid wood beauty is almost ready for its next home! The final two k***s arrive tomorrow, one last coat of poly goes on, and then she’s officially available.

I’m loving how the natural wood tones came through on this piece — classic lines, tons of character, and that warm timeless look that never goes out of style.

Stay tuned for the finished reveal!

A close friend spotted this beauty on the side of the road yesterday and immediately thought of me… now that’s a true fr...
05/24/2026

A close friend spotted this beauty on the side of the road yesterday and immediately thought of me… now that’s a true friend.

She had a great eye too — solid wood, classic lines, and full of potential. After she sent me the photo, I wasted no time hopping in the car to rescue it before someone else did!

Now the fun begins. My hope is to sand it down to a beautiful natural wood finish, but that dark stain may put up a fight. Sometimes these old pieces surprise you and transform easily, sometimes they put up a fight. Either way, I’m excited to see how this turns out.

Stay tuned for the transformation on this roadside save!

One of the questions I get asked most often is what products I use during the refinishing process… so let’s talk paint f...
05/20/2026

One of the questions I get asked most often is what products I use during the refinishing process… so let’s talk paint for a minute 🎨

My go-to is the Benjamin Moore Advance line in a satin finish. It’s specifically recommended for cabinets and wood furniture, and after trying quite a few brands over the years, I keep coming back to it.

The biggest reason? The self-leveling finish. That means as the paint dries, it smooths itself out beautifully, helping reduce brush and roller marks for that clean factory-like finish we all love. Of course, technique matters too — I’ve definitely learned along the way that the type of roller you use can make a huge difference!

Now for the downside… the recoat time. Advance recommends about 16 hours between coats, which can feel like forever when I’m squeezing projects into weekends and evenings. A piece that looks “almost done” can easily turn into a multi-weekend project.

And here’s a fun refinishing fact: dry time and cure time are NOT the same thing 👀
A piece may feel dry to the touch in a few hours, but full cure time — when the paint fully hardens and becomes durable — can take days or even weeks depending on the product. That’s why I always recommend gentle use at first, even after pickup!

Furniture refinishing is definitely a lesson in patience… but when that smooth finish finally comes together, it’s worth it ✨

A little weekend workshop update from Forty One Furnishings ✨I finally had some time to tackle a few projects this weeke...
05/18/2026

A little weekend workshop update from Forty One Furnishings ✨

I finally had some time to tackle a few projects this weekend! These beauties got a good deep cleaning, lots of sanding, and are officially prepped for primer.

I’ve decided to go the painted route on both pieces and I’m excited to see these transformations come to life. One is a three drawer dresser with lots of character, the other is a set of two drawer nightstands with great storage and a classic look.

Still time to customize if you’ve been looking for a dresser or nightstands!
Color choices, hardware, drawer liner options… we can make them fit your space and style. Coastal? Moody? Classic? Light and airy? I’m open to ideas!

Coming soon! This solid wood four drawer dresser is so close to the finish line and I can already tell it’s going to be ...
05/17/2026

Coming soon!

This solid wood four drawer dresser is so close to the finish line and I can already tell it’s going to be a beauty. A little more sanding, a soft tan wash, reattaching the bottom trim… then voila ✨

Once complete, this one will feature the warm natural wood look you all have been loving paired with updated gold drawer pulls for that perfect modern coastal vibe.

Stay tuned for the final reveal!

SOLD in less than 24 hours 🤍 honestly, I think that’s a record for me! Quite frankly… if this one didn’t sell, I was kee...
05/11/2026

SOLD in less than 24 hours 🤍 honestly, I think that’s a record for me!

Quite frankly… if this one didn’t sell, I was keeping it!

Just goes to show that with a lot of sweat equity, old treasures really can become beautiful again.

Next up… these gorgeous oversized nightstands 👀 They just need a few days of cure time and they’ll be ready for a new home.

Spent the best Mother’s Day morning with my kids and this afternoon my husband and I finally tackled a long-awaited spri...
05/10/2026

Spent the best Mother’s Day morning with my kids and this afternoon my husband and I finally tackled a long-awaited spring project for the workshop — a backdrop wall!

I’ve spent way too much time stressing over photo angles, backgrounds, lighting… and yes, occasionally relying on AI to help clean things up 😅 Not anymore!

And first up in front of the new wall… this warm, neutral beauty. Sanded, refreshed, and finished with updated gold tone k***s for that coastal / pottery barn inspired vibe.

Little by little this hobby side-gig dream keeps growing, and I’m really grateful for all of you following along.

Furniture refinishing tip of the day 👀“Is it solid wood?”Photo 1: Solid woodNotice how the wood is continuous with no vi...
05/06/2026

Furniture refinishing tip of the day 👀

“Is it solid wood?”

Photo 1: Solid wood
Notice how the wood is continuous with no visible layers or peeling edges. This side is one solid piece of wood throughout.

Photo 2: Wood with veneer overlay
This piece could still be described as “solid wood” because parts of it are real wood, but it is not one solid piece throughout. Instead, it has a thin wood veneer layer applied over another material underneath. You can usually spot this by looking for lines, layers, or peeling edges.

And before anyone comes for veneer furniture — not all veneer is bad. Some vintage veneer pieces are incredibly well made and have lasted decades.

This is also why I sometimes show up to pick up a “solid wood” piece and quickly realize… wellllll… not exactly.

The back, bottom, and inside of furniture will tell you everything you need to know.

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Attleboro, MA

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