{createinspire}: February 2013

Monday, February 25, 2013

Buffet Makeover

I fell in love with this little buffet this summer. I like that it's a little smaller but has so much detail on it. I've been waiting for some inspiration and it finally came!

Before

Check out her "jewelry"!

I really, really (yes, really!) wanted a wood top on this one, but the veneer was very damaged in more than one spot. I contemplated leaving it that way and then decided I wasn't going to take the easy way out, so I ended up peeling it. When I say "peeling" I really mean scraping, scratching, gouging, steaming....you get the picture. It's not a pretty process. Especially when there are two layers and, of course, this one had two layers (one is the actual veneer and the second layer is the sub they put over the boards to stabilize them). Two words. Not. Fun. I'll move on since we've had this discussion before. ;)

The end closest to you is the end where both layers have been steamed off. You can see on the back side of the buffet is the sublayer and on the floor is the actual veneer! :)

I just want you to know I have man hands now. They are blistered and worn out--I need a good manicure! I just might treat myself!

This is what the top looked like after everything was scraped off and it was sanded down with 120 and then 220. I was happy there was decent wood under the veneer.

And here she is ...

After

I love how the distressing turned out. The paint peeled in a way that looks very natural and I adore the dark wood underneath.

Aren't these legs yummy?! ;)

She's got updated hardware now, which compliments her so much more than those dangly things she had before!

The details on this piece are just fantastic, but they weren't really noticeable before. I dry brushed them with a color two shades darker than the top coat and then distressed.

I love this soft gray/green color. I wanted green, but I wanted subtle, too. It gives character without making too bold of a statement.

This isn't a very good pic of the top. It isn't this dark. I actually stained it too dark the first time and had to sand the whole thing back off again (yes, I did the same thing not too long ago. You would think I would learn my lesson!). It has an interesting grain to the wood...fits well the the rest of the piece. :)