Depression Buffet Makeover

Joni DeMore- Malone
by Joni DeMore- Malone
A friend of mine called me with the offer of a free buffet that he'd come across.. I quickly accepted, sight unseen. Visions of ornate scrollwork and carved legs filled my head..... that quickly changed when this wooden beast showed up in my driveway. I sidelined him for months. And months. And months.
Almost a full year later, I woke up with a plan for him and ran downstairs to put my plan to work.
The veneer on the top had started to lift, so, I decided to investigate and see what was underneath. If it was junk, I'd decided I would just repair and paint. If it was decent wood, I'd see it through.


Oak! Planks of solid oak- which completely went with the farmhouse idea I'd planned.
I saturated some towels, got out my steam iron, and planted myself in the basement for about 5 hours. This was work!
I used my palm sander, low grit to high, and got him ready for the next step.-- a 50/50 mix of denatured alcohol and shellac. This concoction is a beautiful pre-stain method, and the only one I ever use. It makes the wood so lovely and accepting to stains.
I wanted to show off this lovely grain, so, I chose a mix of General Finishes Gel Stains, in both 'Nutmeg' and ' Antique Walnut', before sealing with their Gel Topcoat Urethane.
I painted the body and drawers in my favorite black; General Finishes Milk Paint's 'Lamp Black'. I sealed the painted areas in their High Performance Topcoat, in a flat finish, which leaves a slight sheen.
Using Mod Podge, I lined all of the drawers with my favorite Waverly fabric .(thick fabric works the best for lining drawers)
I'd ordered the gorgeous ceramic knobs from Decor Steals sometime over the winter, and picked up a few of these back plates from Hobby Lobby. I wanted the doors to have a little difference from the drawers.
We lugged the buffet upstairs to stage for photos so that I could list it for sale.
.... a match made in Heaven, right?
I couldn't go through with a sale.
I promptly pulled my ads... It absolutely belonged right where these photographs took place. He's all mine.
You can find this piece and others on my Facebook page:
Frequently asked questions
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  • Lee Ann Grant-Boyd Lee Ann Grant-Boyd on Jan 07, 2017
    When you paint, do you use a sprayer, roller or brush?
  • Denahensley Denahensley on Apr 28, 2017

    Beautiful job where did you get the knobs?

  • Nicole Nicole on Apr 29, 2017

    I have inherited my grandmother's buffet. The veneer is chipping . I always planned to redo it. Dare I hope there is wood underneath? What's the best way to check without damaging it too much in case there isn't?

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