I just picked up a vintage teak desk that I really love, but the previous owner shortened the legs, leaving the desk at only 25.5 inches high. I'm aiming to raise it to about 29-30 inches for comfort. I want to make it look as original as possible, so I'm considering a couple of options.
Option 1 is to find another vintage piece with legs of a similar style and length, but I'd have to drill holes for dowels and connect the drawers to the new legs as well. Option 2 involves finding some walnut (or possibly teak) legs that are around 4.5 inches tall, which should be easier to source, and then staining them to match. I'd glue or screw these new legs onto the existing ones. What do you all think? Would either option structurally work?
2 Answers
I agree with Crafty - option #2 is probably your best bet. Just make sure when you’re getting that new wood for the legs, you check that the diameter matches closely with the existing legs. You’ll want to sand it down if it’s a bit too wide, and for screws, just a simple wood screw should do the trick for attaching them. It might not be a perfect match in color, but if you're careful with the finish, it should look pretty seamless!
It sounds like you’re on the right track! For adding height, I had to deal with a similar situation on an old bed. You might consider attaching a new wood section at the bottom of the existing legs if you're going the second option. You can find plenty of restoration-grade legs or bun feet that look great! Van Dyke's has a wide selection too if you're looking for style options.