Dee...When using Old Fashion Milk Paint, the imperfections actually make the piece look more authentic; Seriously! Buff out the milk paint with some 0000 Steel wool a bit heavier around the worn spots or imperfections. The result is a beautiful distressed look that could not be achieve any other way.

If I was going to put a glass top on something such as this, I would consider investing the ...»

Hi Dee, I just got your email about my painted piano and I came over here to look at your buffet pics. I think you should definitely use Chalk Paint on it. I use it all the time and you don't have to sand or prime the furniture before you use it. It's so easy and dries very quickly. I have at least a dozen projects on my blog with tutorials on using chalk paint... http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/ ...»

google chalk paint (not chalkboard paint) and homemade formulas......wonderful to work eith and perfect for these old pieces.

I do not do refinishing at all and really admire people who can do it. I think my reluctance comes from a lack of confidence and patience! Good luck to you! Send photos of finished product!

I would lightly sand the whole piece..other types of paint you can try are Ce Ce Caldwells...its a GREEN paint..I have used all different paints and this one has been the best by far..(and no I am not a seller of it, I just love it) It comes in such great colors too... Good luck and I can't wait to see what you do with it.

I'm with your Hubs Dee. If I work hard at refinishing something I want it to look new and pretty. I just can't imagine doing all that work and then destroying it. LOL I suppose if someone paid me enough and I didn't have to look at it once it was theirs I'd do it, but I just couldn't do it otherwise.

If you use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint you would not need to sand it. The chalk paint will stick to any surface without sanding. I do not know if there is a dealer in your area that carries the paint. You might have to order it. You can find out more about it by googling Annie Sloan and go to her web site. There you will see colors and lots of information. I have used it for many projects. Let me know if you would like to see some of them. It is expensive...$35. a quart but is worth every ...»

While I havent used ASCP, I have read many posts of those who have made their own chalk paint, you might google or bing it.Seems easy enough to make your own. But I dont know about the wax. How brave are you ...to do a COLOR?

It looks amazingly like a bedroom set that I inherited from my grandparents (both the color and the type of finish picture attached). I've been considering my options about refinishing and am leaning toward using chalk paint.

This is my very first post on Hometalk and I'm also very new to the furniture rehab world. I'll try to let you know how mine turned out if I get it done before you work on yours.

I agree with CeCe D about using the chalk paint. It is easy and fool proof. You can even make your own so you don't have to special order Annie Sloan (or pay her high prices). Using the chalk paint lends itself to a aged distressed look though. If you want something more contemporary you could spray paint it. I've done a lot of painting on built-in cabinets and furniture and those two are my favoroirtes.

Have you considered stripping the finish off the top to see what kind of wood is underneath? You may have some very beautifully grained wood under all that finish. If the wood is not good looking you can all ways paint it, but I am partial to natural finishes like Tung Oil. It is easy to apply and it brings out the grain in good looking woods.

Dee, do you mean a real wood laminate or counter top type laminate? It's it's real wood you can sand the finish off. I've done that a couple times recently with great results.

Yes you can sand the surface but if it is a thin laminate of wood you may sand though it. I would suggest that you try a good jell type of chemical stripper on the inside of a drawer facing ( or some other out of the way spot ) first to see if it works on the finish. And then lightly sand the surface after stripping the finish off. I have used this same process several times. The worst thing that ever happen is that the wood underneath was not up to my standards, and I painted the piece ...»

Warren is right. If you do chose to sand you have to be very careful. Especially on the edges since it's so easy to over sand there.

Both pieces I sanded the finish was in bad shape of the if the pieces were exposed to moisture for long periods therefore less sanding was needed to rid the remainder of the original finish. It's hard to tell by your photos if the finish on your piece is in poor repair or it that was the look it originally had.

You're welcome. I know what you mean about not getting projects like this completed in the time frame you first had in mind all too well!

Dee W Have you done this piece? It is lovely and I am curious to know how it turned out. I bet SheilaG, Plum Doodles would love toget her hands on it. She would give it a name too.

Dee W Boy do I know that song!! Well someday, it will get done. You will have a burst of energy and tada!