These 1960s Alrob bedsides came in with the full weight of six decades on them. Damaged laminate tops, tired finishes, hardware that had long since stopped looking intentional. Alrob made furniture in Melbourne through the mid-century decades with a quiet confidence in their craft. This pair shows why their pieces are worth restoring properly.
The laminate tops came off first: heating, prying, scraping, cleaning old adhesive off the carcass without damaging what sat underneath. New timber tops were prepared, glued down carefully, and sanded flush so they read as original rather than added. The join disappears into the piece.
The sanding process worked progressively through grits, finishing with hand sanding to 320. The stain landed in a deep warm walnut that still lets the grain breathe, rich and moody while feeling authentic to the era.
The original silvery nickel-toned handles were cleaned and polished, the metal feet restored, the drawer runners waxed. The result is a pair of 1960s Alrob bedsides that feel genuinely vintage and elevated at the same time.
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