Ginormous Buffet

I found this fantabulous buffet on Craigslist. I've been dying to do a buffet like this FOREVER. Although, I've wanted to do one a bit on the smaller side. I mean seriously this thing is humongo (I know that isn't a word, but it is in our house!)

So, I had this vision of a petite little thing that would look great as a changing table or tv stand...But this thing...I wasn't sure, however...it exceeded all of my expectations. And I am seriously in love.

It's honkin' big. And missing a pull. I was so sad, but I searched on-line. Found the exact one on a random website and decided that I would save my sixteen dollars(!)and use something else.

Aren't the drop pulls just gorg?!

So, I primed it.

And then painted it Krylon Pewter Gray.

I put four of the original drop pulls on the drawers and then two pinkish rose pulls (from Marshall's/Anthro) on the doors. Oh, the secret is inside the doors. For some reason, I didn't photograph that, but inside the cabinets are green! So fun.

I distressed it so that the white in the primer and the wood showed up in various spots. I also put a coat of poly over the whole thing. Nothing serious, just slopped it on with a paper towel. (You think I'm joking, but I'm not. I really use a paper towel. Actually, I use those heavy duty paper towels that come in the yellow box.)

I think I may keep it. Put our tiny little tv on it...I'd have to shift our entire living room around, but that's okay....or maybe it will sell...

I love the detail. It was so masculine before and I think the gray and the distressing and the flower pulls really added a nice little feminine touch. Not too much though, so I don't think it is too girly.

I know some of you are wondering why I didn't use a glaze on it. All those great little creases...I thought about it, in fact I had stain and glaze both ready, but I decided that I didn't want the "aged a hundred years look", just the slightly worn look. I love glaze...don't get me wrong, but sometimes it can make things look dirty and I didn't want that on this piece!

Sit, relax, admire....maybe you can come over and I'll let you touch it.

So pretty.

Here's what I've been up to.

Painting this:

And these, and the piece that goes with them:

And trying to do something with this crap:

(umm....I just don't know if that's a fail yet or not.)

And trying this out:

(Smoked pork butt. We like to say "pork butt" in our house. Tom cooked it...All. Day. Long. Seriously. I'm not a fan of pork, but  (ha!) I tried it for Tom's sake. Flavor, good. Texture, not so good.)

That's what I've been up to. Can't wait to show you the results of photos one and two! Photo three, eh, I'll show you if it works out....

Attention! Attention! We have another walker in the house!

Gus is 15 months old on the 29th.

This week he started walking.

For the last few weeks he's been on the verge. Taking a few steps here and there. Moving about and realizing he can carry things in his hands, and put things in his mouth while standing up tall. 

He LOVES it. Seriously. I've never seen a kid giggle so much over walking.

And of course the older boys love it and clap for him and encourage him like crazy. It is the best ting to watch.

Okay, I know these aren't the best photos, but come on, the kid is on the move!

Dresser for the boys. And some more chairs!

There's my baby on top of that dresser. My belt sander. I love that thing. It's making tops of dressers and desks and wash stands look great.

This dresser is actually for my family! I picked it up at Goodwill the other day for a mere $24.99. It's nearly finished and already in the boys' room. It's just waiting for these drawers to have pulls put on. Actually, the pulls are already here, but the screws are too long and so I have to get new ones. Plus the top two drawers previous holes were too high for the fantastically amazing cup pulls I got and I needed to fill the holes and drill new ones. Ugghh....

So, it sits. Painted and stained and handsome (not pretty, because it is in the boys' room), if I could just get my tush around the corner to the hardware store...really.

I also have these sitting in the garage. They are already painted. I love French Provincial Chairs. They are just so fantastic. I grabbed all six, for seven dollars a chair!

I painted them white. And distressed the bejeezus out of them. They turned out great. I'll show you in a few days....weeks...whatev.

Remember this material....?

Apparently it isn't a staple at JoAnn's. It should be. We all love it, don't we?! It's called Mary Jane Confetti. I have the sku and the article number if you would like it just let me know. When you go to JoAnn's you'll have to order it. And you have to pay for it before it comes in. It's strange, but whatever. My closest JoAnn's doesn't stock it. BUT, the warehouse has something like three thousand yards. I ordered a bolt so I won't have to worry about not having it when I need it. 

A bolt is 8 yards. 

I'm ready.

Table is done.

Wow. That took awhile. I think, because it was Tom's grandma's I was really nervous about refabbing this piece. Ugh. I was freaked.

I did a step by step and I'm going to show you...so just hang on. There's a lot. A LOT!

I got my fancy face mask awhile ago, but this was the project that I told you I was doing the other day. I got my mask at Home Depot for thirty bucks.

Here is the table. Before. The top is trashed! Oh look, the chairs have no cushions.

First, I painted the base white. I primed it and it sat in the garage for a couple of weeks like that, then I sprayed the entire bottom white. Even the bottom of the table top. I love the effect. Read on.

I took the belt sander with 80 grit sandpaper to it. It took one hundred million hours to finish. I went through three belts of paper. 

That's a lot of varnish.

Then I took 120 and got the remaining bits of varnish and stain with the palm sander. I think I used 5 sheets of that. It's a big table.

Then to finish up and smooth things out I went over everything with 220 grit and got it nice and smooth.

After I cleaned off the table and wiped things down (use a wet rag to get all the sawdust off), I took a rag and some ebony stain and wiped it on. It was super dark and I left it that way for several days.

Then I took some of this fantastic stuff (bought at Home Depot for around 8 bucks) and wiped it on the table. Because the stain was still fresh, the wax lightened up some areas that the stain didn't stick, and it brightened it up beautifully. It gave it an amazing shine.

After I let that sit over night, I wiped the table again and then did two coats (waiting a day in between) of polycrylic. I love polycrylic. LOVE IT.

The chairs are covered in a fabric I picked up at Ikea for $6.99/yard. I think it adds a fantastic updated touch. 

Two of the chairs we got with the table. Two of them I picked up at a flea market, and the other two came from Goodwill. None of them look like they do now. I love this set. LOVE it. I'm on the hunt for two more chairs for the ends. I'm thinking wingbacks or something with some oomph. Something that really stands out.

It's found a new home already with a fantastic family. I'm so happy that they are going to be able to use it. Plus, they said we could come and visit.

This post brought to you by The Safety Patrol

Rule number 1. Always wear gloves while staining or your fingernails and the tiny creases and crevices in your hands (You all have those right? Not just me?) will look like vampire nails.

Rule number 2. Always wear your respirator while spray painting. I mean really, how attractive is this:

(Just keepin' it real.)

That's it. Safety patrol duties are done. Just wait until I show you what I did while wearing this today...well yesterday or the day before, whenever you are reading this drivel.

Why did I wait so long?

I'm not sure why I waited so long to paint this. Seriously. WHY?

I picked this little thing up off of Craigslist for way more than I would normally pay for something, but it was in perfect shape and I really just wanted it. Bad.

Midway:

And here's the after! 

I painted (with a brush) Aegean Blue by Martha Stewart (btw, I love the sample jars. They are perfect for little projects like this) all over. Then, I put a layer of Martha Stewart Sea Glass over the top. 

Then, I sanded the edges. I love this piece, it's my favorite one...today.

Boy vs Girl

This is how five bff's who are boys and girls play together....

Hello Blue Eyes.

xoxo