oh my buffet!

Some people call it a sideboard but I call it a buffet. No matter what you call it, it's such a great piece of furniture. Those legs! The designs! The storage without overcrowding the space! It's perfect and I wanted one. But they don't make them like they used to and even if "they" did, I wouldn't spend $500+ on one. I also knew no one would have it in the color I pictured for my gray & white dining room.

here's the style I like:

but I wanted it to look like this buffet painted by European Paint Finishes

I just love it and wanted to do something similar. So I searched. And searched. And searched for probably 2 months for a buffet on Craigslist that met my budget. I got bupkis. I didn't give up. Then one day in a town 40 minutes away there was an old buffet in someone's storage unit that called my name. It was darker than I wanted and in rougher shape than I imagined. But it had wheels!! I went. I loved. I painted.

 

But first I did something only a rookie would do. I tried to take off the veneer. I know you just winced and maybe got a little angry. I get that way too just thinking about it. But if you only saw the shape it was in you would try to fix it too. Okay, maybe not. I took off about 25% of the top before realizing it was a bad idea. Then it sat in our garage for about 3 weeks before I tackled it again.

I headed over to my local hardware store for some wood filler and a sander. While browsing through hand sanders I heard someone ask "whacha lookin' for?" Paranoid and distrustful I brushed off the older gentleman with the long fuzzy gray beard and said "just some sandpaper."

He continued, "what are you working on?"
"Just a piece of furniture." Leave me alone.
"Oh, well I refinish furniture too, maybe I can help."


Sigh.


He then proceeded to explain to me everything and anything I could know about sanding manually. I casually said I was using a bit of wood filler to fix some problem areas. He asked what problems. I hesitated. He was a wood purist and I knew what his reaction would be if he found out I defaced a perfectly nice veneered buffet from the 1930's. I told him that the top veneer had been partially removed. The curious old man pressed further, "how did that happen?" I'm a pitiful liar.

"I did it." I frowned shamefully.

"Oh, I see" he kindly stated, "well I won't chastise you for that, but you probably should have left it alone".

I knew very well he was right and that's why I was standing in the sandpaper aisle, trying to find a remedy for my mistake. He gave me very useful information on how I should approach my boo-boo and then wished me the best of luck. I saw the doubt in his eyes. I thanked him and grabbed my supplies and headed home.

My first step was filling in the spots I took off the veneer then sanding it as smooth as possible. It wasn't easy. I did my best. You can judge me if you must.

After I sanded it down really good I vacuumed and cleaned the piece really well. I wanted to keep some wood detailing because I love when pieces have some of their original character mixed with paint. I cleaned up the hardware, which was REALLY nasty before scrubbing it with silver cleaner and lemon juice.

I wanted to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Florence but it wasn't at my local shop when I painted this piece. Because I have such great luck it was made available a week after I completed this buffet. Oh well. I made do with Benjamin Moore Paint & Primer in 1 in Juniper. What a color!!!! I used 2 coats on the body and 3 coats on the top surface. I love it. It adds so much character to the dining room!

Chalkboard Painted Mirror

I never liked the way chalk felt. It makes me cringe to hear someone write on a chalkboard. I shudder to think about fingernails. I still went out and bought a can of chalkboard spray paint. That was about 5 months ago. It sat with my other spray paint colors, watched as they were chosen for projects, wishing it were next. I just didn't know what to do with it. Then I remembered the mirror that was given to me. It was an "I don't want this anymore, Sarah do you want it?" kind of deal. Usually when family members are about to give something away they ask me first. I'm not a hoarder, I just like free stuff.

I had already started painting when I realized I should take a picture.

It was a small, nicely shaped mirror painted a shade of green that made me want to cry (see above). I knew I'd paint it but had no clue where to put it. So I started painting it with ASCP in Old White hoping I'd figure out what to do with it. I love that color. That's when it hit me! CHALKBOARD PAINT! The mirror was begging for it. I gave the mirror 2 coats, let it dry and prepped it for use today! It is now our little welcome sign as you come in through the garage..

Framed Butterfly Print

I made this  for a friend's baby shower as part of her gift. She is having a girl, so butterflies and pinkish hues work well for this project. If it were a boy I may have to think twice. 

Anyways...I needed a small cute frame to paint but I also needed a frame that had a matte. Don't let the picture deceive you, it's about 5 inches tall. I just thought you would like to see the lovely friends forever ducklings. So...cute. Ducks are what come to mind when I think my best friend. But they had to go for this baby shower gift.

To beautify this frame and matte I used 2 colors, ASCP in Old White for the frame and an oops paint that is a very pretty grey/blue color for the matte. Both received 2 coats of paint.

I always have a hard time letting things dry. While I waited I went to my computer, printed out the word "hi" in Maiandra GD font.  I placed a purple butterfly sticker (Target dollar bin!) above the word and cut it out to fit my matte. I would have chosen a pink butterfly because it looks better against the gray paint, but my friend doesn't like pink, so there you go. I still might change it. I couldn't wait to put it together!

up close

DIY: Gold Painted Bookends

I read this great post from Centsational Girl on how to style bookshelves. While reading I saw the goodwill finds she painted gold and used as bookends. I went to my nearby thrift store and picked up a couple myself, grabbed some primer and spray paint and made my own.

The purple vase and brown/white jug were $1 at a local thrift store. They are heavy, clay creations, but did not have the best paint job. The great green Grecian...(oh, alliteration almost worked) pitcher I picked that up at an antique store for $5. It has really great details that I thought would stand out when painted. I grabbed some spray primer and gold spray paint and began.

I'm generally a patient person. But with painting it's difficult for me. I want the prime coat to cover the first time. I've learned since doing these bookends. Thick coats lead to drips and more work. Next time I'll do one thin coat, let it dry, then another coat, let it dry, then another coat if needed. THEN I will paint. But I did all of these in like...30 minutes. Don't judge. I'm new to this and was really excited. 

I did have to sand down some drips after the prime coats dried. Then I sprayed with gold spray paint. I did 2 coats of gold. 

Ta-da! I like them and once I paint the back of the bookshelves they will stand out even more!

DIY: painting a dresser with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint



I keep a running list of items I would like for our house. It's long. I stopped by the goodwill on a Wednesday after lunch with a friend and found this lovely dresser marked $15. Wait...$15? But it's so...heavy, and detailed, and in decent condition? I looked at the piece carefully and took the tag off and claimed it!

Here it is before:

Originally I wanted to use this as a buffet, but decided it would be best in the master bedroom. The room is also neutral, so I wanted a bolder color. Since this was my first furniture project I wanted to make it as easy as possible. Enter Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg. Yes, it's expensive at $36 a quart...a quart. The frugal side of me said "WALK AWAY." But I bought it after reading online how great it is. It's true.

1. No priming. I cleaned up the dresser, including the piece of chewed gum (ew) on the front.


2. I used 2 coats and used less than 1/4 of the can for the ENTIRE dresser including the drawers. I couldn't believe it.

I bought the Annie Sloan clear and dark wax, although I've read several people who have used cheaper furniture waxes and got the same result.  

After 2 coats of paint I put 1 coat of clear wax, let that dry, then started with the dark wax. I used it sparingly...because it goes on thick. I brushed it on carefully with a small painter's brush, then immediately wiped it off with cheese cloth or a soft tshirt. I did this until I got my desired look. The drawers took awhile because they are so detailed. I put an extra coat of clear wax on the top of the dresser since it's used most often.

Then I gave the hardware a coat of Rub and Buff in Antique Gold to complete the project.

After they all dried I put the hardware back on and it was love at first sight!

The total cost of this makeover about $40...if I break down how much paint I actually used and add in the Rub and Buff for the hardware. I found the Antique Gold Rub and Buff at Michael's.

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