Cassie Bustamante

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Furniture Makeover: Gray Neoclassical Sideboard

January 10, 2018 by Cassie 24 Comments

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Hey there, friends! How about we dive into the first furniture flip of the year today?  December came and went and I worked on not one piece of furniture, knowing that January was looming and I would have to get my tail in gear for the January Sweet Clover sale.  Well, then January arrived, and I ended up with a pretty busy work schedule for the first two weeks and panic struck… how was I going to get anything done!  Not to mention, the temperatures outside were not conducive to sanding. Thankfully my husband is willing to put up with a lot of crap, because that’s basically what’s going on over here at the moment, but I am happy to report that I’ve been able to finish two new pieces and am going to be ready for the sale next weekend. (Thank goodness!)  Today I am going to share the first furniture makeover: gray neoclassical sideboard.

Seagull Gray Neoclassical Sideboard Makeover

This post contains affiliate links.

I found this piece at a local auction and fell in love with the hardware and details, but also really loved the size and storage that it offered.  However. the wood finish was just sort of lackluster.  I am a fan of natural wood when it’s beautiful and suits the piece, but I truly thought that it would be improved with paint.  As I mentioned, the temperatures here have been ridiculously low and sanding this one outside was not going to be an option, so I purchased a bottle of liquid sander/deglosser by KleanStrip and hoped it would do the trick.

Now, I planned to haul this big guy into the basement with Chris, but as it turned out, my protruding belly made that really awkward… so we laid a drop cloth down on the kitchen floor and I worked right in there.

Neoclassical Dresser Before

As you can see in the background, my kitchen cabinets have been repainted and are just awaiting new hardware, so we have that going on, plus some life stuff getting in the way.  Let me explain… this photo accurately depicts the current state of my life:

Neoclassical Sideboard During As you can see, the doors are off our kitchen cabinets so we’ve been living like that for a week, I am painting in the kitchen in order to get things done, and Snowball has some anal gland issues so she’s been wearing a wrap and the cone of shame.  Also, the dogs are hating this cold and missing their walks but want to be with me, so they’re lounging on the drop cloth while I try not to paint them… Yep, it’s a glamorous life I am living! 😉  We’re all just over here trying to make the best of things.

Anyhow, let’s get back to  how I actually did this makeover.  One of Chris’ soccer teammates recommended using a scrubby sponge with the liquid deglosser, so that’s exactly what I did.  I didn’t want to use my nice bamboo sponges, so I got some cheapo disposables like these.  I poured the deglosser into the sponge and then used the scrubby side to go to down on the sideboard, scrubbing in circles, and then using a rag immediately after to wipe off the residue.  If you don’t wipe with  a rag immediately, the residue will dry on the piece which you don’t want to happen because the paint won’t adhere to it.

After I gave it a good scrubby deglossing all over, I cleaned it with Simple Green, just to remove any other grease or dirt I may have missed.  Once the sideboard was completely dry, I was able to paint.  I applied the first coat, using General Finishes Seagull Gray, a beautiful soft and cool gray. If you’ve been around here for a while you know that General Finishes is my absolute favorite paint to use… although prep is required in the form of sanding or deglossing, no primer is required (but I do recommend it strongly when using white), and the finish is super smooth.

When I am not certain if paint will stick (and since I had not sanded and used the deglosser I was a little worried), I do a scratch test and scratch several areas with my fingernail after the first coat is dry to make sure the paint stuck.  Indeed, it stuck in this case and I was safe to apply my next coat!  I ended up applying a total of 3 coats for a nice solid finish.

Seagull gray Neoclassical Sideboard Furniture Makeover

After it was painted all over, I used 220 grit sandpaper to distress the edges and details to give the piece a little more depth.

Distressed Details on FurnitureAfter the distressing was complete, I applied a coat of Black Bison wax in neutral; this is my favorite wax to use as it’s non-toxic and leaves a nice hard finish after buffing.  I applied the wax all over the piece with a rag and allowed it to dry for about a half hour.  Then I used a clean rag to buff it; generally I buff in circular motions, but I loved the lines on this piece so I buffed in long lines along the top and sides and doors.  Buffing gives the finish a little luster and makes it harden and protect better.

Seagull Gray DIY Furniture Flip

Those original knobs and  backplates really stand out now against the soft gray,

Using original hardware when painting furniture

gray Neoclassical Dresser Credenza DIY Makeover

This piece definitely provided me with some valuable gems….

  1. Deglosser is my best friend this winter.
  2. I can survive utter chaos, so I should be able to handle a new baby no problem.
  3. I can’t quite lift and move like I could just a couple months ago.
  4. My husband and kids really love me to put up with the perfect storm I’m creating inside of our home.

All is well that end’s well, and fortunately, this piece turned out even better than I expected and it’s already at Sweet Clover, ready for January 19-21, and ready for its new home!

Gray Sideboard Makeover

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Filed Under: furniture transformations, General Finishes, Sideboard, Sweet Clover Barn

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Comments

  1. Emy says

    January 10, 2018 at 7:26 am

    This piece is gorgeous!
    My house has been looking like that too. We bought a heater for the garage finally and it’s the best thing ever. Until you run out of kerosene and have to wait for your husband to get home so you have ask him ever so nicely to go into the cold and save your day. 🙂 Even with a heater, I have painting projects everywhere.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:46 am

      i am glad i am not the only one! it still looks pretty much like that, too.

      Reply
  2. Julia@Cuckoo4Design says

    January 10, 2018 at 10:04 am

    So pretty and love those knobs so much.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:44 am

      thank you, julia! it’s not my typical piece but i loved it!

      Reply
  3. Tanya Derrey Bingham says

    January 10, 2018 at 10:40 am

    This makeover turned out beautifully Cassie! I love that you share ALL that is going on:)it’s reality for sure in all our homes!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:42 am

      thank you so much, tanya! i like to keep it real. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ellen Shook says

    January 10, 2018 at 11:18 am

    This turned out beautifully! I am sure it will not last long, as someone will snap it right up! (Where do you get all this energy?) 😀

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:41 am

      thank you, ellen! i really hope so! 🙂 right now i am riding high on second trimester energy but i will be in the third saturday and anticipating a slow down… so gotta use it while i got it! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jessica says

    January 10, 2018 at 11:25 am

    That turned out beautiful! I love that you kept the original hardware. The grey is a nice shade too! I am really digging it!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:40 am

      i love keeping the original hardware when possible! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Fiona, Lilyfield Life says

    January 10, 2018 at 4:33 pm

    Beautiful piece and paint job Cassie. Love the colour, such a soft grey.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:38 am

      thank you, fiona! it’s a great classic piece!

      Reply
  7. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    January 11, 2018 at 8:29 am

    That soft gray is beautiful! Totally impressed with the liquid sanding stuff. Poor Snowball, I hate those dang cones. The cabinets look great though!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:37 am

      thank you so much! and we got her an inflatable donut shaped one that is so much better!

      Reply
  8. Lisa says

    January 13, 2018 at 8:15 am

    Cassie I totally love this piece and wish it was coming to live in my dining room! I can see it in a living room too with a couple of pretty lamps and a big piece of art. Love the lines of it and that hardware, and the color you chose is perfection!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:33 am

      i wish it could, too! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kim says

    January 15, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    It’s such a pretty piece! I love the color you chose!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 16, 2018 at 9:32 am

      thank you, kim! i just love that gray and i think i am in a gray mood since i have the nursery on the brain!

      Reply
  10. Gretchen@BoxyColonial says

    January 18, 2018 at 10:45 am

    I love the scale of this piece–it looks huge!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      January 23, 2018 at 4:52 pm

      it really is a big one!

      Reply
      • Jill says

        January 24, 2018 at 9:18 pm

        Cassie, I love it! I am thinking of painting my cabinets with seagull gray but I am worried it is a cool gray vs. warm. Do you know what I could mix with it to make a more warm grey? I want to use general finishes milk paint.

        Reply
        • Cassie says

          January 26, 2018 at 10:39 am

          Maybe cool wasn’t the right word but more neutral? I love seagull gray cabinets and my friend used it on hers- you can see her kitchen here: https://www.cassiebustamante.com/2017/02/harmony-hill-farmhouse-gray-kitchen.html

          Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Furniture Makeover: Gray & Wood Midcentury Dresser - Cassie Bustamante says:
    January 16, 2018 at 5:00 am

    […] I finished the neoclassical sideboard, this dresser was next on the docket. I had planned on painting it white, but after using Seagull […]

    Reply
  2. Sweet Clover's January Furniture Clearance Sale! - Cassie Bustamante says:
    January 17, 2018 at 5:00 am

    […] week I shared with you the makeover of this gray neoclassical sideboard.  It’s the biggest piece I have at the moment, and probably the […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

smugmug16 I'm a simple girl with a love for design and DIY, and making a beautiful home on a budget. I thrive on vintage finds, coffee, sarcasm and puns. More than anything, I love my family and want to create a cozy personal space where we can create memories that will last our lifetime. Life is what you make it, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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