For anyone who has ever looked at painted-shut original woodwork and assumed it was beyond saving, one Brooklyn brownstone owner has offered a convincing rebuttal.
In a striking before-and-after post, the homeowner showed the restoration of bifold shutters from an 1890s bay window, revealing richly toned wood hidden beneath years of paint.
Here's what to know
The Reddit post, shared in r/centuryhomes, focused on one set of bifold shutters from the bay window of the owner's 1890s Brooklyn brownstone. The shutters had one painted face and one stained face, and so many layers of paint had built up over time that they were stuck open. Paint had also dripped through onto the stained side.
To clear out the grooves and leftover buildup, the homeowner used "a nylon brush, dental picks, and steel wool to get into all of the grooves" after applying Kleen Strip to the sticky stain residue that remained. Earlier in the process, a 24-hour round of Peel Away had already removed most of the paint.
Once the stripping was finished, the poster used Minwax Wood Conditioner to help balance the tones of what they said were two different woods, then applied Minwax Wood Finish in Early American 230. In their words, "The wood now looks amazing, if I do say so myself."
Commenters were quick to praise the effort. "Wow! What a transformation. Those turned out beautifully. Good job," one wrote.
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More background
In this case, the shutters are not just decorative. Once rehung, they can help manage light, privacy, and indoor comfort in a way many modern window coverings cannot replicate.
Operable interior shutters can reduce glare, help buffer heat from direct sun, and add another layer between the room and the window — benefits that may help residents stay comfortable while relying a bit less on energy-hungry cooling.
Saving existing woodwork can be labor-intensive, but it may still be less costly than custom replacements, especially in a historic home where matching the original craftsmanship can quickly get expensive.
One commenter put it this way: "Gorgeous. Beautiful job removing all the paint."
What can be done?
The work is still in progress, and the homeowner said they are tackling the bay window trim before they can rehang the shutters. They also made clear that finding a workable method took experimentation, not a single straightforward attempt.
The OP said, "I've been wearing all of the protective gear, working outside and/or with windows open, etc." That is especially important in older homes, where multiple layers of old finish can make even small projects more complicated than they first appear.
"Wanted to share in case someone else is looking at starting a similar project, or you've already done this and want to reminiscence about how much effort this all takes," the OP wrote. "I know it'll be worth it! One day!"
Where can I learn more?
If you're tackling a big home project, these stories show how other homeowners are approaching major upgrades. They cover rooftop solar installations, roofing advice, and HOA disputes.
• At an off-grid cabin, turning rooftop solar panels into an upstairs deck sparked plenty of discussion.
• Homeowners pushed back after a roofer's solar advice clashed with standard installation guidance.
• In California, an HOA demanded an expensive solar renovation from a frustrated homeowner.
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