Shopping for furniture and decor isn’t always easy, especially when you have a particular vision. But one woman has revealed why picking “the ugliest piece” you find could actually prove to be the best decision you make.
Many people scrolling through Facebook Marketplace might have seen this yellow painted vanity table that was listed for $50 and kept scrolling—but not furniture flipper Jessica May Smith. As soon as Smith, 36, of Nashville, Tennessee, saw the vibrant item, she was “immediately drawn” to it, and wanted to know what it was like under the layers of paint.
While the piece was in terrible condition, Smith told Newsweek that she knew it “has potential” if it was restored. She doesn’t need it for her home, but she loves the challenge of taking something old and giving it a new lease of life.
“I knew it would be a super-satisfying process,” Smith said. “As it was such a uniquely designed shape, I was so curious to know what was underneath the paint and what it may have looked like originally.”
She continued: “I knew it would be a challenge, but there’s nothing more satisfying than taking off layers of paint and revealing what lies beneath. It’s my favorite game.”
When it arrived, the piece was in disrepair. A lot of the trimming was loose, the drawers didn’t quite function, and there were pieces of plywood that needed replacing. Smith said there was nothing easy about the transformation, which took around 15 hours spread out across four days to complete.
Smith removed a lot of the original plywood and veneer, stripped it right back, and used an electric sander to smooth the surfaces out. Fortunately, the yellow paint came off easily, but the primer underneath wasn’t so simple.
At times, she contemplated giving up entirely, but looking back now, she is so glad that she persisted. At one point, Smith discovered a maker’s signature from the 1970s, which she was fascinated to see.
“It’s one of the most unique pieces I’ve ever worked on and definitely one of my most satisfying before-and-afters. It was a lot of work, but also a ton of fun, and I hope the original builder is happy with how it turned out,” Smith told Newsweek.
The vanity table looks completely different now, as it has been restored and repainted to a mahogany color and given all-new brass finishes. There is not a hint of yellow anywhere to be seen.
Smith said she plans to sell the vanity table and hopes another family can make the most out of it for many decades to come.
Smith shared the transformation on social media (@theteddyjamesco) and it went viral with over 1.8 million views and more than 180,000 likes at the time of writing. Internet users were astounded by the new and improved look, which has led to an overwhelming positive response.
Smith said: “This was a labor of love, and it reminded me why I enjoy furniture flipping so much—the thrill of the unknown, the challenge of the process, and the satisfaction of giving a forgotten piece new life. I hope it inspires others to see the potential in old furniture and take on their own restoration projects.”
The video has amassed over 850 comments so far, as many people praised Smith for revamping this timeless piece.
One comment reads: “If you listen closely enough you can hear the furniture whisper ‘thank you,’ poor thing was DYING.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Such a beautiful job restoring that piece!”
A third person added: “you brought this delicate lady back to life.”
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