I recently decided to tackle a refinishing project. This buffet was my grandmother’s. It’s been sitting in her storage shed since before I can remember. After she passed away, my dad gave it to me. He knows what a softy I am for old finds. I couldn’t just let it sit there and continue to deteriorate. The termites and water had done enough damage on the thing as it was. I thought it was going to be a BIG project but it ended up being pretty easy.

The wood was good and solid so I decided to just sand it down a little and leave the damage. Why you say? As I was taking out the drawers and taking off the doors, I found fingerprints from past paint jobs,  letters in the wood where someone had practiced their school handwriting and one of my uncles had carved his name in a drawer. I decided to leave all those memories I’d found by just sanding a little and staining the wood. I left everything intact….even the termite damage. I’m so glad I did. I love it SO much. I have a piece of my grandmother and grandfather and a piece of my childhood memories.

Uncleaned and ready for a refinish.

My uncle Donald’s carving and a lot of paint fingerprints.

Sanded just a little and ready for stain.

Ebony stain applied.

After two coats of Deft for protection and shine plus new knobs and hinges, it was all ready to go in the house.

I placed it at the base of my basement stairs and am using it as a gift wrap station/center.