Buffet Reveal

On Thursday, I told y'all all about my blunders with the "blasted" buffet.  First of all, I have to send out a huge "Thank you!!" to Shari from Turnstyle Vogue Design and Styling for giving me a much needed "subtle" challenge (works on me every time) and kick in the boo-tay to get this buffet completed.  I probably would have talked myself out of ever tackling it, if she hadn't given me a little nudge.

A little background on this particular piece...

I had initially found a buffet (late 20s) that I adored on Craigslist.  Unfortunately, it was also 2 1/2 hours away and the hubs vetoed it.    The buffet I wanted was a measly $20 because it had some veneer damage (very similar to the one you just redid, Shari), but taking our one ton Dodge to get it would have cost quite a bit in fuel (This was back when gas was hovering around $3.75/gal.)  The hubs reasoned that I could spend $100 on one closer and still spend less than I would spend getting the one I wanted.  Made total sense.  So, that night I sat down on Craigslist and found one that was being sold for exactly $100 and was two hours closer.

The seller did not have pictures posted and I have to admit that I was really disappointed when I got there.  It was definitely not what I had in pictured when he told me it was late 1920s, early 1930s.  Obviously, it was no where close to that old.  The veneer was literally buckling off in huge waves.  It was pitted, chipped, and scratched.  Hinges were falling off due to stripped screw holes.  Knobs were broken off.  Basically the only thing it had going for it was that it had really good bones.  It will be the first and last time I ever go to buy a piece of furniture to refurbish that doesn't have a picture with the ad.

These pictures really don't convey how bad of shape it was in...

Well, being I had just drove 30 minutes and I was determined to have a buffet, I bought it.  I did talk him down to $60 from his original asking price once I pointed out all of it's issues.  My bull headed nature does tend to get me in trouble sometimes, but its also that nature that drives me to tackle things and get them done. Or, at least that's what I tell myself.  ;)

By the time I got home, I knew I had really bitten off more than I thought I could chew.  Of course, I wasn't about to admit that to anyone (Anyone = The Hubs).  So, once we moved it on to the back porch, it has sat there mocking me every time I've come in the back door - for the last 2 months.

Finally, last Wednesday I decided I was going to attack the beast.  I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I was going to get it done. I knew that there was no way in the world the hubs would let me buy another piece of furniture of that size to refurbish if I didn't get that one done.  Plus, Shari's little challenge of "Looks great!  Now how 'bout that buffet?!  Lol." on Wednesday's foyer table reveal really made me decide to tackle the stinkin' thing.  ;)

So, I spent all day Wednesday taking off all the veneer.  Wouldn't you know that the veneer on the doors and drawers were all able to be pulled off by hand, while the top of it fought me like no tomorrow.

  I hated that buffet.  Thursday was spent sanding the little bugger and filling in all the holes and gouges with wood putty.And that evening was spent with the hubs applying paintable wall paper to her doors and drawers.  THANK YOU, DEAR!  Friday morning, I did the finish sanding and went shopping for the paint and knobs.  

  By Friday afternoon, I had her primed and sitting with fans blowing on her from every direction (Patience is not one of my virtues)...

And by midnight I had one coat of paint on...

Saturday morning, I touched up all the spots where I could see the primer through the paint and let that sit all day.  I didn't want heavy coverage since I knew I was going to add some distressing.  By that evening, I was ready to start glazing. (Sorry I didn't get pictures of that part.  I was really intent on getting that far and not screwing the entire thing up.)

Once I got the glaze on the first door, I realized that the "Stone Slate" I wanted to use was too light.  It didn't make the detailing pop like I had envisioned.  Thankfully, I had some "Tall Cattail" on hand and it totally rocked!  Thank the Lord for small favors!  Unfortunately, the glaze really clashed with the knobs I had picked out.  Boo!  After putting on three coats of polycrylic over a nine hour time period (I swear I hardly slept), all she needed was different knobs.

This brings us to Sunday...  As we headed to Noah's last football game of the season, we swung into Menard's where I agonized for a good 45 minutes over the perfect knobs.  For once, the hubs was the one tapping his foot impatiently while I declared one set of knobs perfect, before putting them back when I spied something else.  LOL!  I think I finally decided on the 1000th set of knobs that I picked up after picking up a hundred other kinds and then putting them back.  I'm sure I looked like I had some kind of split personality issue going on:  

"I've found them!"  

"No, I haven't."  

"Oh!  These are it!"  

"No, they're not."

"Finally!  These are it."

"Wait!  What about these?"

After suffering through an hour of football where my son's team got completely pounded by a team that broke every YSF rule out there - and watching as my son got clotheslined repeatedly causing him to come off the field once when he couldn't breath due to a blow to the neck (Ever wanted to hurt someone else's kid????) - we finally came home and put the finishing touches on my beauty - namely, putting in the drawers, putting on the doors, and adding the knobs.

That's right.  I said, beauty.  Did you catch that?  I tamed the beast!  :)

And now donning a lovely "Covington Blue" by Benjamin Moore and glazed with "Tall Cattail",  please allow me the pleasure of introducing you to my beautiful new-to-me buffet...

And I got the hugest compliment ever from the hubs...

"Would you consider selling it?"

Ummmm...  He got a "No Way!" accompanied with a "Have you lost your ever-lovin' mind?" look.  LOL!

So, here's a quick recap:

Now I have my husband's full support in redoing any furniture that I want.  :)  He's even talking about accompanying me to some auctions.   Annnnnndddddd...  Turning the barn into a workshop where I can work all through the winter!!!  SCORE!

I must say that the pictures don't even begin to do her justice.  I love how she's distressed and aged in all the right places.  I adore her color.  And the knobs are just the right touch.  I chose right!  Its funny how one piece of furniture can motivate you to complete an entire room.  Now I've got to get a move on to get the diva's room done, so I can start working on the dining room (How many times have I said that in 3 months???).  She's just too pretty in that shabby (not in a good way) room.

I've linked up to:

Primitive and Proper: Piece of Work Wednesday Furniture Link Party #57

Restore Interiors: Restored It Wednesday

Lil Luna: Link Party #47

The Vintage Farmhouse: Creative Things Thursday

The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday

Chic On A Shoestring Decorating: Flaunt It Friday #74

Altar'd: 31 Days of Fabulous Furniture {Day 10: Makeover Monday}

Kammy's Korner: Trash To Treasure Tuesday Link Party #2