It’s rewarding to work with something that’s already stood the test of time, but there is a trick to updating pre-loved furniture to make it useful and current again.

I have a three-step process that works for most makeovers…

① REMOVE ONE PART taking away the most dated or broken thing.

② ADD A MODERN TWIST with a new element to improve function.

③ UPLIFT THE EXPERIENCE by making it more sensory.

BEFORE This midcentury side table was originally designed to have a phone on top, an address book underneath and maybe a notepad on the little shelf.

“My three-step process helped transform this vintage table into a modern device-charging station with hidden access for electricals.”

— Natasha

① REMOVE ONE PART

While the base was in good nick, the boxy top was made out of plywood clad in laminate and no amount of sanding was going to make the chipped surface look better. This was the part to go.

DIY TIP Fasteners in old furniture often develop surface rust. If they’re still functional, pop them into a jar of Bondall’s Ranex Rustbuster to soak for an hour. They clean up nicely, ready for reassembly.

② ADD A MODERN TWIST

A new top was cut from a 300mm-wide pine panel to the same length as the original box. I clad it in a piece of close-weave bamboo rattan for a retro feel that compliments the original style of the table.

I adhered the rattan with Bondall’s Bondcrete, taping it to dry. Then I added a mitred frame cut from Porta shelf lipping in Tasmanian oak to hold the rattan, securing with tiny 15mm bullethead nails.

DIY TIP Add a hidden access point in the back of a shelf or cabinet for charging devices using a 25mm hole saw, positioning it at least 25mm from the edges and drilling from both sides if possible. Fold sandpaper to smooth inside and round-over the edges slightly.

③ UPLIFT THE EXPERIENCE

For this piece, the sensory upgrade is in the surfaces. Using Monocel Clear Timber Varnish with an aerosol application seals the table from top to base, soaking into the rattan to protect against moisture while bringing out the lovely rich grain of the solid timber legs.