Can we go Thrift Shopping?

Yes, that's a Macklemore reference for all you unhip youngsters, just kidding. I had been searching for a buffet to add much needed storage and counter height space to our dining room. Its currently not open to the kitchen so I wanted somewhere to serve drinks and food but that was also functional and pretty. Everything I saw in stores or online seemed too bulky and heavy or it had a cool minimalist vibe but it lacked the storage I needed. So when my mom called me from Salvation Army saying they had something the right size for $93, I sent my husband over to get it, sight unseen. Whats the worst that could happen?

Here it is as soon as we got it home. Of course, I immediately covered it with stuff just to make sure it worked.

I immediately knew I wanted to paint it and it was the perfect size project to try out the new Magnolia Home paint collection. The Magnolia Home paint is in a Kilz base which I have only ever used as a primer or ceiling paint. Mostly because it is a bit cheaper. Overall, the paint was a pretty good quality. Not too thin or runny and dried pretty quickly. My biggest compliant is the color. This is definitely a charcoal with navy undertones. Not a black like I wanted. The color was called "Fine Black" I am looking at your Joanna Gaines on this one, the name and sample square were totally misleading. Lucky, I like navy so the piece still worked in my space but I was looking for more of antique black. I also swapped out the existing hardware for a glass-looking knob from Lowe's. This gave it a bit of glam. You can read more about choosing paint colors from this post.

"Fine Black" by Magnolia Home at Ace Hardware

New glass knobs are a nice touch to give it a bit of sparkle 

Painting furniture can be an easy DIY project but its not a quick one. For this project, I used a semi-gloss paint that you would use for trim and cabinetry. Some people swear by chalk paint which gives a more matte finish. Any product you choose, make sure the piece you are painting is prepped. Start with a mild cleaner, if its "well-loved" you might be scrapping years of gunk off (a table I once painted I swear had boogers on the underside!) Once the piece is clean, its time to sand. Even if the paint/primer says you don't need to, sanding will make paint go on smoother and help avoid chipping. If you want a really smooth finish, you can even sand very lightly in between coats. Make sure you do a quick wipe down after sanding so the dust doesn't get stuck in between your paint and furniture.

Once you are sanded, time to paint! You can use a roller on large areas to get an even coat. I did 2 full coats and a touch up coat. It really could have used one more coat but I was happy with how it looked and ready to get inside and put back together. You can use a paint brush saver (like this one) or a plastic bag to wrap your brushes so you don't need to wash them in between coats.

Finished and ready for parties! If only I could keep the wine rack full.

Here is how I currently have it styled and in the space. I have changed the decor on top every few days but I am happy with it for now. I really wanted to highlight the painting. It is a piece by my grandmother and is really special. It has found a perfect home above this buffet. What do you think about thrift shopping for furniture? Ever paint something to give it a face lift? Tell me all about it.