Easy Buffet Makeover Using a Paint and Stain Combo

Hello Friends,

When it comes to restoring furniture, I’m all in. Any piece. Any place. Any time. And for me, the One Room Challenge just wouldn’t be the same without at least one refinished piece. This week (ORC Week 2), we share how a slightly beat-up 1970’s buffet finds its way to 2019.

Easy Buffet Makeover Using a Paint and Stain Combo

But before I begin, a little share. A friend of mine just sent me a text looking for the Week 2 post. I can’t tell you how it warmed my heart. Support and kind words are so very, very helpful as we push through these tough deadlines hungry, dirty, stressed and exhausted. So first and most importantly, let me say thank you. Thank you for every blog visit, social media share and every kind word. Thank you, thank you. How wonderful you are.

Disclosure: Product was provided by Fusion Mineral Paint, but all opinions are 100% my own.

In the Beginning

Well way back, like a gazillion years ago, the hubs and I bought our first new pieces of quality wood furniture. I don’t remember what we paid for them new, but we bought a Drexel table with six chairs and this matching buffett. About 14 moves and many years later, they still look almost as good as new. A water stain here and a ding there, but the joints are perfect and the dovetail drawers work like a well-oiled machine. 

So why would I get rid of these pieces only to spend good money for something new?

The answer is that I wouldn’t. 

It would be hard to replace this kind of quality.

Knock It Off

So after a thorough washing with a cleaner/degreaser, I grabbed my trusty hand sander, slapped on a fresh 150-grit sanding pad, and proceeded to get this piece in shape to receive paint on the body and stain on the doors.

How Far Can You Go?

Personally, I believe that sanding and stripping are those things that should be entered into lightly. You can always go over the area or piece a second time, but coming back from an over zealous swipe can be very difficult. So I like to take my time and use a light touch.

Easy Does It

To get the ball rolling, the body of the piece was roughed-up and a water stain completely sanded out. Then the doors were sanded down to raw wood. The sanding process is the same for both, but sanding down to the raw wood takes a bit more patience.

Switch to Hand Sanding

And once you get through the original finish where only a few stains remain, change to 120-grit sand paper and sand these out by hand.

If you are wondering why removing these stains matter? Because stain darkens the color it covers, it does not hide the stain like paint does. And so, if old stain spots remain, the newly stained finish could end up spotty.

After this, suggest to buff the entire raw wood piece with 320-grit sand paper and wipe it down with a tack cloth. That’s how to get raw wood to go all buttery smooth.

How to Use Stain and Finishing Oil All In One

 Stain and Finishing Oil (color Cappucino):

• Spread the product onto the raw wood using a paint brush. I used a cheap chip brush that could be thrown away.

• Wait up to 10 or 15 minutes.

• Wipe back the stain with a clean, soft and lint free cloth. I used pieces of an old tee shirt.

• With this product, there is no need to use a pre-conditioner on raw wood as it will penetrate and stain the wood evenly.

• The key is to apply the same amount of product across all of the wood and allow for the same set time before wiping back.

• Then wipe back with the grain.

• Once a door was completed, it was kept nearby to compare alongside others. This provided a visual prompt that my process was creating an even color across the four doors.

• Then all four doors cured for about 72 hours. The stain color sets in a few minutes, but the oil needs a bit of time to set and seal.

• Suggest to place the piece in an area away from family traffic and pet hair. I finished one door at a time and left it in place until the next morning. By then, the finish was a bit tacky, but moved easily. I just made sure not to touch the refinished front.

 

How to Use Fusion Mineral Paint

While the doors cured, the body was painted with Fusion Mineral Paint in the color Coal Black.

Here’s how it happens:

• Two coats are rolled onto the surface using a 4-inch microfiber roller. After the first coat dries, wait at least 2 hours before applying the second coat.

• The wet paint was not laid off (lay off) using a brush. This is a first for me.

• What is lay off? Applying paint with a roller and then dragging a synthetic brush made to minimize strokes across the wet paint. This helps to decrease brush strokes in the final finish. So why didn’t I do this step?

• The goal for this piece is to allow the matte finish of the paint engage the very slight texture from the microfiber roller with the existing rough wood look.

• And no, there was no buffing the top coat. I painted the piece in its new forever home and left it there to dry and cure.

How to Clean the Original Hardware

The original hardware is super heavy and has a fabulous shape, but had acquired a dark patina. Clearly, this hardware also needed a refresh.

How to clean hardware the cheap and easy way:

• Gather a container of Bar Keepers Friend, an old toothbrush, warm water and a soft clean cloth.

• Suggest to wear gloves, too, as this will wreak havoc with your manicure.

• Dip the hardware in warm water, sprinkle on some BKF and brush away.

• For tough grime, allow a piece to sit for a few minutes covered in a BKF paste (powder + water). I have a friend who who once cooked her hardware with super stubborn patina stains in an old crock pot! Yes! And the hardware cleaned up beautifully.

• But for me, I just gave it a good scrub, then rinsed and dried.

And goodness me, look at the difference.

Putting It All Together

From early comments, I realize this refinish looks complicated. And I totally understand where you’re coming from.  But now that you’ve seen the process, what do you think? Isn’t it super easy with the Fusion products?

I vote yes. That Stain and Oil product is amazing.

And the matte finish from the paint and the stain/oil is a perfect match.

More on this piece is coming in the final reveal of the room (Week 6). But until then, the table and chairs that go with the buffet are already stained using the Stain and Finishing Oil. I do plan to share a post with more tips and tricks for sanding difficult dining room chairs, including those pesky chair legs.

In the meantime, if you like this post, please keep or share by Pinning the image below…

Previous Weeks

In case you missed Week 1, click here for the Basement Family Room and Bonus Space Plan.

What’s Coming

Yes, I realize I promised a post in Week 2 about how to make a low ceiling go high, but the crews didn’t get done in time. It’s still coming. I promise. 

Our Hosts

And as always, we extend a special thanks to our gracious hosts, Calling It Home , One Room Challenge and Better Homes and Gardens. And invite you to enjoy over 200 more room renovations,  click One Room Challenge. #oneroomchallenge #ORC #betterhomesandgardens #bhgorc