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Rant: A client asked me to leave a piece 'unfinished' on purpose
I was working on a mid-century dresser for a woman in Portland last week. She told me to stop before the final coat and said she wanted the wood to show some wear and feel a bit rough. She called it 'honest aging'. I've always been taught to make things smooth and perfect. It made me think maybe we over-finish some pieces. Has anyone else gotten a request like this?
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jennifer_west2mo ago
Had a buddy refinish a table and the buyer made him leave one scratch from the original owner's dog.
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dylan2654mo ago
That "story of his family" line hits hard. It's true that trying to make everything perfect can actually strip away the character. Some marks are just meant to stay.
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jessel354mo ago
Totally get where you're coming from. I used to sand everything down to glass and apply like five coats. Then a guy wanted his table to keep all its old dings and scratches. He said they were the story of his family. That idea really stuck with me. Now I see how a perfect finish can sometimes just make a piece feel cold and new. That "honest aging" thing is a real vibe.
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