I bought this buffet off craigslist for DD. We were going to paint it white for her new apt. We hauled this down 2 flights of stairs and managed to get this beast into the car and home.
I sanded the drawers and put on a coat of white paint, but was not happy with the results-it needed to be stripped of all the hideous red paint. Just a sanding to rough it up was not going to cut it.
That was my project yesterday. After hours and hours of stripping(still not done), the wood underneath was in bad shape. I was hoping to leave the top a wood tone, but a big chunk of wood peeled off so I patched it with wood filler. I still need to do more paint removal, but decided this baby is going to be mine with all the work I'm putting into it
I was thinking of painting it a turquoise-ish blue color. My vision is a chippy turquoise with a brownish glaze, something that has a layered look, not a smooth shinny piece. If all else fails it'll get painted out in white or black but I wanted to get suggestions.
Posts: 2646 | Location: Bay Area, Calif. | Registered: Mar 16, 2004
Great project to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on in Duck Egg Blue color. When you sand this paint you can easily control the level of distressing. The brown will show through where you want it to. Once it's to the look you love, then you can clear wax it with Annie Sloan clear wax. You can even use some of the Annie Sloan Dark Wax to highlight any features it might have on it. I love Annie Sloan productss and the finish they give to painted furniture. The price of these products is well worth it. I've been using it a lot when painting furniture for a friend's gently used furniture retail shop. Good luck.
I made my own with the addition of Plaster of Paris... and I mixed my own color to match Graphite A/S paint. I bought A/S paint and thought I would prove to myself they were different... when dried... I can't tell the difference! The home made one sanded a bit easier... color and feel was the same..
So, for your own color mixes it is nice you can make up some of the paint yourself.
And for places you want a large patch of paint not to stick... apply a bit of Vaseline first on that corner or edge. This way, when you sand, it will come right off easily or not stick in the first place... makes for a neater patch without taking off the bottom stain or color.
Good luck with your project!
And don't forget to keep a mason jar full of this paint color (especially IF you make your own) so you can match one other item or a couple of small items to go with this piece!
Posts: 8542 | Location: East Space Coast, Florida zone 9B | Registered: Feb 11, 2003
Thanks Mary Ruth, I am going to try my hand at making it, I read about the vaseline step.
I have a sample card of Behr Plus Lotus Leaf-I think that may be my color of choice.
This piece of furniture wasn't of the highest quality so I'm open to experimenting with home made chalk paint. I've been wanting to try it out. Right now I'm still trying to strip the legs of the beast.....
Posts: 2646 | Location: Bay Area, Calif. | Registered: Mar 16, 2004
Lots of suggestions for colors, but the main question should be: what is the color theme of the room it will be in? My latest "favorite" color is teal, so I like that suggestion, but, if it won't go with the rest of the room that would be bad. You need to pick a color that will complement the decor. I think almost any color would work. And b/c it's not "good" wood, I'd go with a high-gloss lacquer and maybe switch out the hardware.