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Saturday, April 6, 2013

Charcoal Gray Buffet

Well we're not exactly having a heat wave just yet, but at least it was warm enough to paint in the garage this past week. I still needed a heater and only opened the garage doors a bit for ventilation. I tried painting in the driveway, but it was just too windy. But I completed four projects and I'm feeling pretty darn good about that. First up, this pretty charcoal gray buffet.


This one was a curb side find, thanks to a phone alert from my friend Peggy. And funny little story ... this particular house has a somewhat questionable reputation in the neighborhood with some odd comings and goings. When I saw the huge stash by the curb, I actually felt the need to ring the doorbell to be sure the furniture was really up for grabs. As we were waiting on the porch, a car pulled up with five young guys. At that moment, I was really glad I wasn't alone. But I have to say, they were as nice as could be and even helped us load this piece (super heavy) before jumping back in the car and disappearing again. Three trips later, I had two buffets, a farmhouse table and four chairs in my garage!


I bought this color last fall when a client requested black for another project. It ended up being a little too charcoal gray, but I knew it would be perfect for this piece. It's my favorite paint - Behr's Paint and Primer in One. The color is Cracked Pepper and I just love it!


I went over the entire piece with a sanding sponge, then washed it down with TSP.

 
I used two coats of paint and distressed lightly.


Then I finished up with two coats of Minwax Wipe On Poly. And be sure to follow the directions and use steel wool between coats, it makes all the difference!


I just love the slightly curvy drawers ...

 
and the pretty doors.
 
 
 
The pulls were classic and perfect for the style of the buffet, so I just freshened them up with a little Rust-oleum Hammered Metal Spray Paint in Dark Bronze.
 
 
 
The door knobs were missing, so I just pulled some from my stash of old knobs and gave them the same finish.


The hardest part was moving this piece. Pictures in front of the garage doors was as good as it was going to get. Then we barely got it loaded back up and delivered to Main Street for our upcoming tag sale. There was no way we could get it up the steps and into the house without help, but thankfully we have some very nice (and strong) neighbors there!
 
 
So there you have it, my first piece of furniture in quite a while - woohoo! There are some showers in the forecast this week, but we might actually see 70 degrees. I feel a painting frenzy coming on!
 
 

44 comments:

  1. So pretty! Glad you had some strong backs to help you! Can't wait to see the other pieces.

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  2. Well, THAT was worth waiting for! Boy- what a find and what a do-over- xo Diana

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  3. I cannot believe you got that for free! It came out beautiful, I just love the colors you chose! - Susan

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  4. it looks beautiful! i love that finish- so sleek! you did a beautiful job with the poly!

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  5. Such a pretty piece with it's curves and the fluted detail on the side. It looks so pretty in it's new color!

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  6. Very beautiful piece Sharon! Thanks for the tip about using steel wool in between the poly coats.

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  7. I love this dresser! And such a great deealll!!! lol

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  8. I love Behr's Cracked Pepper - one of my favorite colors for odds and ends. This dresser looks great! It almost has a matte, metallic look.

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  9. Beautiful transformation Elizabeth! LOVE that bit of silver!
    xx
    Anne

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  10. Oh I love that gray! It really turned out beautiful. Would love it if you would link up at my {all things creative} link party:)

    http://www.theblissfulbeeblog.com/2013/04/1-year-blogiversary-linky-party.html

    xo,
    amy

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  11. Wow!! I love the transformation! Can't wait to see what other miracles you work!

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  12. Sounds like you had a great find at that house. What a great buffet Sharon!

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  13. What an incredible find Sharon - it's just stunning now - really!!!
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  14. So fun to see the free houseful of furniture getting a gorgeous makeover! Just a suggestion, for what it is worth. TSP your piece first, then sans. Sanding first w/o degreasing pushes the dirt and oil into the furniture further, then they work their way out. Love that color, and as always, the finish looks perfect!

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  15. Amazing what people put to the curb...lucky you! I love the color you chose for it. So happy we are finally going to get some good painting weather!

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  16. Beautiful, Sharon! I've been telling my husband that lucky people back east can just pick up furniture left on the side of the road. For free! He didn't believe me until I read him your post. Maybe if we Idaho bloggers start leaving a few old pieces at our curbs, the same system will catch on here. I wish!

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  17. Love it!! Hard to believe these people were just leaving this by the curb! Meant to be for you to transform.

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  18. What a difference! It's so beautiful now and the color is so elegant, love it :)

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  19. so amazing what some paint can do--it looks like a totally different piece!
    fab job Sharon!

    gail

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  20. Beautiful! I love the color, will have to put Cracked Pepper on my must try list!

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  21. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Awesome find! Would love it if you would link this up to Give Me The Goods Monday: 1 Party, 5 Blogs! http://www.rainonatinroof.com/2013/04/give-me-goods-monday-3-link-party.html
    Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

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  22. Gorgeous ! Thanks so much for all your painting tips :)

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  23. What a lovely find! You did a great job..love the color!
    Selene @ Restoration Beauty

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  24. I really like this color. I admire how creative you get with your paint colors. I'm such a bore, always staying with the shades of white on my furniture. I need to take more risks :) Good luck with the tag sale.
    Leslie (gwen moss)

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  25. I love it !!!!! GReat color choice.
    I am now following your blog


    according2sharon.blogspot.com

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  26. This turned out beautifully! I love the paint color before - will definitely have to try it out!

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  27. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  28. Wow! Beautiful, you did a fantastic job ;)
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  29. Wow Sharon, what a score! Happy Painting, Dee from My Painted Stuff

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  30. Beautiful! I wish I could find a curb-side find like that! My weather is finally warming as well. After the mulching is done, the painting of furniture will begin! Life to the full! Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle

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  31. I love that Cracked Pepper color! I think I need to make a trip to Home Depot today for a sample - doesn't hurt that Home Goods is right next door either! Can't wait to hear about the tag sale!

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  32. Omigosh, are you kidding me? This was a curb find? Sheesh. It's beautiful!!!

    -andi

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  33. Warm weather brings out the painting frenzy in me! That gray is a wonderful color - so elegant. great transformation.

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  34. Oh, I love your story on how those pieces of furniture came to be part of your home! So glad you had help lifting that into your car as you sure didn't want to leave it behind! A beautiful piece with so many uses!

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  35. Oh my goodness, that buffet is absolutely beautiful! If I lived anywhere near you I'd be begging to come to your store and buy it. But alas, I'm in Wisconsin, so I'll have to content myself with staring at pictures of it and hope I can find a piece to paint using those colors at a garage sale or flea market this summer.

    I always love your furniture redos - I wish people left furniture sitting on the side of the road here like they do out by you!

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  36. So fabulous!! I am a huge fan of grey and that paint is beautiful! Do you use a bristle brush or roller to apply the paint? Found you through My Repurposed Life's Catch as Catch Can 117...

    Cher @ Designs by Studio C
    http://designsbystudioc.com

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  37. I can hardly wait for spray painting weather here either! We actually had an ice storm Thursday, and more snow today!

    The dresser turned out beautifully Sharon! Thank you for sharing it at to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a lovely week!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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  38. Well now I'm commenting a second time because I coming from Glitter Glue and Paint throwback - love it just as much as I did then though !!!
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  39. Thank you for showing off this beautiful piece! And for stating what the colors were - I was making a decision of what to do with the vanity and a built in vanity top and hutch in the dressing area. Going with a dusty mauve (looks more like a dusty lavender/plum) and this color will pop on those dated pieces that I can't replace... THANK YOU!

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