How to Stain MidCentury Buffet

How to Stain MidCentury Buffet

Update!  I only use Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paint since publishing this post.  DIY Paint is 100% Natural, Clay Based, which makes it different from every other chalk paint product.  It is perfectly smooth, the colors are beautiful and cover well, even their whites.   It paints like liquid Velvet.  You won’t believe how good a paint brush and a can of paint can feel.  It is ahmazing stuff.  Check my sidebar if you want to know more.

I have been in the Dumpster again!  Not a big surprise, I spend way too much time being fascinated with other people’s garbage.  And I am not talking trash here.  I am talking finding REAL furniture and all kinds of good stuff to upcycle.

Last year I found this Drexel Heritage Mid Century Buffet/Credenza next to a Dumpster in one of my secret locations.  It was in nearly perfect condition, except the finish was peeling and needed rehab.

It was messed up! The finish was sort of orangeish and reminded me of the 70’s and someone who had been using too much QT. 

I have sworn off other stain products. (But not self tanners, they are so much better now!!)  Furniture stains are smelly, chemically and generally a real pain to work with, and don’t get me started on Gel Stains.  Let’s just say, they are most definitely not my thing.

****UPDATE:  I have switched to using Debi’s DIY Dark and Decrepit Liquid Patina, it acts like a stain, you can darken it or lighten it and it is LESS EXPENSIVE.  I no longer use CeCe Caldwell’s Paints. 

Last weekend I finally took the plunge.  I removed all the hardware and sanded the entire piece to remove the existing finish.  I did this inside!  I removed the dust bag from my sander and attached the hose of my shop vac.  It works like a charm.  Virtually no mess.  You can see all the details of how to refinish a piece of furniture using CeCe Caldwell’s all natural Stain + Finish here in this video.  

While the hardware was separated from its body, I gave it several coats of Gold Metallic Paint Spray Paint.  I did the same with the Metal at the bottom of the legs.

I got a little spray happy and sprayed my female bust (formally living as a lamp). She wanted to be shiny.  DO NOT TELL MY FRIEND Deb who did a beautiful faux marble paint job on it with another chalk based paint.   I can never leave well enough alone, and well, she had lived as a faux marble for the last two years and she needed a makeover…..

Back to the Buffet/Credenza.  I could not be happier with the finished project.  It was completely free, and I didn’t have to mess with any yucky chemicals, mess.  I didn’t even have to move the thing out of my Dining Room!

I love how the Stain I used brought out the beautiful grain of the wood. 

**Update, I now use  DIY Paint.  100% natural, 9 ingredients + Love.   Consistency of color and thickness is 100% the same every time.  No more guessing what you are going to find on opening, and very little, if any stirring required.  Plus, it costs less both to the retailer and to the consumer. Why would you use anything else!

The next time you come across a piece of furniture that needs some love, remember a makeover is easy!  Even a new stain job.

My “NEW” piece of furniture is gussying up my Dining Room/Living Room now.  Stay tuned, those MidCentury Modern Chairs I found FOR FREE are at the upholsterers and will be back soon to share.  

I love the updated look of having a mix of Modern Furniture and Traditional furniture.  If you would like to see more of my eclectic style, check out my Furniture and Cabinetry Redouxs.

Hope you enjoyed my trashy transformation on my MidCentury Buffet made over.

That’s it for my MidCentury Makeover.  Hope I inspired you to get out there and check your neighbor’s trash and local dumpsters.  You never know what trashy treasures you might find.