From Sad to Sensational: The Story of a Little Buffet Table

 

When I was in the throes of redecorating my home in the cottage style, I was obsessed with perusing the furniture section of my local Craigslist.

Obsessed, I tell ya! (Have I mentioned I can be a bit obsessive/compulsive?)

At least several times a day, I would scan the ads for pieces of out-dated and unloved furniture that were begging for a cottage makeover with white paint.

One Sunday morning I saw an ad for this drop-leaf buffet table on wheels. A heavy piece of glass, custom cut to fit the top center section, was even included.

These are the actual photos the owner posted in the ad.

 

Asking price: $50.00!

Believe me, I couldn’t call the phone number listed in the ad fast enough!

Once I saw it in person, I could tell years of obvious neglect had left this once pretty little buffet table in very sad condition. It had more than it's share of normal bumps and bruises. The finish on the top was all bubbly like orange peel and would require extensive sanding before it could be painted. One of the wheels wouldn't stay on because the leg was split. The hinges underneath the drop-leaf side extensions were so rusted, they would barely move.

Even with all of it's "flaws," I was willing to pay the $50 because I could see the potential in this little gem.  However,  just for the heck of it I wanted to see if the owner was negotiable on the price...ya know, because it was in such rough shape.  I asked her if she would be willing to take $35.  I fully expected her to be firm on her price of $50 but I thought if I was really lucky, she might counter offer with $40 or $45.  Much to my surprise and delight, she agreed to $35!

The trash-to-treasure transformation required extensive major surgery to repair the broken leg so it would hold the wheel. My husband carefully drilled out the center of the split leg, inserted a wooden dowel for support and then rebuilt the leg a little bit at a time by adding thin layers of wood putty around the wood dowel. (This was before I blogged so unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the repair process.)

When the leg repair was complete, I soon discovered sanding was not going to be enough to remove the bubbly finish. I had to strip it down to the bare wood. Many times during this labor intensive process of prepping the buffet for painting, I asked myself if the $35.00 I paid was perhaps even too much.

In the end, I think this little buffet table turned out so cute.

Of all the pieces of furniture I have painted, I do believe this is my favorite piece. And certainly well worth $35.00 now.  Don’t you agree?

 

Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch is our hostess for  Metamorphosis Monday.      Be sure to visit her blog if you want to see more inspirational transformations.