A Little Kitchen Update
It’s been a little while since I shared a full update on our kitchen, and let me tell you… things have taken quite a turn. If you’ve been following along, you already know my husband and I finally decided we were done waiting to start our remodel. After the last two home projects, I swore we’d take a breather—catch our breath, drink a sweet tea, maybe even enjoy a weekend like normal people.
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| Did you ever notice I always forget to take the before picture, missing drawer.. |
But then one morning, he simply woke up and said, “We’re doing it.”
And really… who am I to argue with that? I’ve been ready since approximately 2018.
You would think when you’ve been mentally planning something for years that you’d be fully prepared. Guess what? You’re not.
The Marketplace Find of the Century (for me anyway)
I last shared we had found the perfect kitchen island on Marketplace, scrolling, clicking, and squinting at photos wondering why no one adds dimensions to their listings... grumbling... and then BAM!
Found it!
A buffet.
A beautiful, arched, vintage buffet just sitting there on Marketplace in all of it's glory. And here’s the funny part: I had actually found this same buffet last year and I wanted it then. I remembered that arch clear as day, even though the rest of the piece was a little different, stained, not painted. But that arch? I could spot it from a mile away.
So, of course, I asked if we could see it in person. The seller said sure, my husband took a Friday off, and we drove about an hour to finally meet the arch that lived rent-free in my brain for a year.
Now, if you know me, you know I get nervous when we’re about to look at something that could potentially come home with us. My husband? Unbothered. Cool as a cucumber. “If you don’t like it, we won’t bring it home,” he said. Meanwhile, I’m in the passenger seat rehearsing polite decline speeches.
When we got there, the hutch top was gone—which was fine with me. I already had a vision: copper accents, lots of sanding, and so much character you could bottle it.
The seller had used it as an entertainment center, so there was a hole cut in the back for cords. That didn’t faze us—we planned on replacing the whole back with beadboard anyway. The structure was solid. It just needed some work… and a makeover back to stain instead of paint.
And here’s something important:
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can refinish furniture… you absolutely can.
If I can do this, trust me, you can too.
The Paint Store Adventure
Before we even made the trip, I researched and learned the buffet was originally a Broyhill hutch made of wood and veneer. Veneer makes me nervous because you have to treat it gently, or it turns on you fast.
But did it scare me away? Absolutely not.
I went to our local paint store—where, let’s be honest, they know me by name and probably have a bingo card for whatever project I wander in with—and brought a drawer to ask for advice.
I told the gentleman I didn’t want to sand because I wanted to keep the natural distressing. He suggested a chemical remover and assured me it didn’t have a strong scent.
Well.
His smeller must’ve been broken.
Because when I opened it, I thought I was going to be knocked straight into an asthma attack. Between the fumes and my already-touchy lungs, I was blinking back tears and reconsidering my recent life choices.
But we pressed on. We brushed on the thick paste, waited 15 minutes, scraped… and nothing.
Round two?
Still nothing.
At that point, sanding—the very thing I didn’t want to do—was our only option.
And honestly?
I’m glad it ended up that way, because the transformation was worth every dusty, sweaty, “Why am I like this?” moment.
How to Refinish a Wood and Veneer Piece of Furniture
A Beginner-Friendly Tutorial (From Someone Who Learned Everything the Hard Way)
Materials
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Furniture piece you want to refinish
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Orbital sander (we used a Dewalt)
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Sanding disks in various grits
Dremel tool with sanding wheel
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Microfiber towel (wet)
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Stain of your choice (we used Old Masters in Early American)
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Sponge brush (you will need several)
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Paper towels
Don't Forget to Pin for Later!
Instructions
1. Remove and Label All Hardware and Drawers
Before you touch a sander or open a can of stripper, take a few minutes to remove all knobs, hinges, and drawers. Label everything—trust me, future you will thank past you. I used painter’s tape and a Sharpie, nothing fancy. Snap a photo or two if you need to remember where things go. This step sounds small, but it saves a massive headache later.
2. Start by testing a small area
We chose a drawer to test the look of the raw wood. Once we sanded it down and realized we loved the natural tones (with stain applied to that one drawer) underneath, that sealed the deal—we were committed.
3. Sand all the drawers
One by one, my husband sanded each drawer. Then I tackled the top, even though we plan to modify it later. Every section got the same treatment.
4. Position the furniture so you can work comfortably
I set the buffet on its back using a dolly so I could roll it around and easily reach every angle. This saved so much time and prevented me from dragging furniture across the garage or setting up my work space, and moving around the buffet.
5. Sand carefully if there’s veneer
This is important: veneer can be paper thin.
In fact, we accidentally sanded through the veneer on a shelf and learned our lesson fast.
Go gently. Slow and steady. Let the sander glide—don’t press like you’re trying to iron out wrinkles.
6. Clean the wood thoroughly
A slightly damp microfiber towel removes all the dust. Let everything dry completely.
7. Apply your stain
I used a small sponge brush—my crafting go-to—and it worked beautifully, especially in the deep gouges the wood already had.
Wipe back the excess with a paper towel to avoid lint. Let dry 24–48 hours (something I struggled with, and sometimes did not abide by).
8. Apply wax to seal the wood
Use 0000 steel wool to apply the wax with the grain. Leave it for 20 minutes.
Then buff with a white cloth.
This step? My favorite. The finish turns buttery smooth, and honestly, I wish you could reach through the screen and feel it.
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| Remove and label your drawer pulls, top right side, right knob |
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| Label drawers, top right side |
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| Attempting paint removal with chemicals |
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| This is after two coats, not much progress |
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| Sanding it is! |
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| We began an assembly line on the back patio |
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| Remove sanding dust with a microfiber towel, it pulls it all away |
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| Apply stain, I used a sponge brush, it is what I am used to |
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| Pull back excess stain with paper towel |
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| Sanding the top |
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| With items that come painted from the manufacturer, you really have to work at the paint removal |
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| Sanding the front of the buffet, it helps to be on wheels - it moves, you do not need to |
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| Sanded and stained top |
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| Sanded and stained front |
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| Wax comes last, it finishes the piece |
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| Apply wax with steel wool |
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| The many stages of removing paint from the veneer sides |
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| Wipe down after sanding to remove dust, the black dust was everywhere |
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| Hand sand curves, it is the easiest |
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| I even tried the Dremel tool |
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| Removing paint from the legs was difficult, but I found hand sanding was best |
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| Staining legs with sponge brush, I left some of the black paint for more aged look |
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| Waxing legs |
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| Staining shelf |
The Part Where I Admit It Took Me a Month
Was it simple?
Technically yes.
Was it quick?
Absolutely not.
I work slower than the average person because of my health issues. There were times when the mask was fully strapped on, it felt like I was suffocating, so I took breaks whenever my breathing felt too tight.
But the high of seeing each section finished? That made everything worth it. I might even have fallen a little in love with furniture refinishing. (Don’t tell my husband.)
The distressing turned out better than I imagined. The black paint that had settled into all the nooks and crannies stayed right where it belonged, and once I applied the stain over the sanded areas… oh my goodness. Magic. Pure magic.
For years I’ve wanted wood in this tone for our kitchen. I just thought it was impossible to find. Turns out, you can create it—if you’re willing to put in the time.
Is It Still Becoming a Kitchen Island?
Well… maybe.
We originally bought it for the island, but now we’re not so sure. It looks almost too perfect in front of our window. So don’t be surprised if the next time you see this beauty, she’s in front of the window permanently. or maybe as an island afterall. We’re rearranging things as we bring in pieces and see what actually works.
And that’s the thing about remodeling: plans change in the blink of an eye.
We bought countertops last weekend.
We still can’t agree on lighting.
Flooring has become our newest headache.
The dream of refinishing our pine tongue and groove subfloors?
Gone. The old adhesive likely contains asbestos, and we’re not playing around with that. So we’re choosing to cover it instead.
Just another fire to put out.
Just another day in the Vintage Style Gal cottage.
I am so glad I did this!
If you want the old, timeworn look, you can absolutely create it yourself. You don’t need to follow trends, or copy what someone else has. You don’t even need to know what you’re doing at the beginning—trust me, I rarely do. You just need patience, a little grit, and a willingness to see what happens.
This was my first refinishing piece, and I have to admit, I have kind of fallen in love with it. I have learned I am not a furniture painter, and never will be, but I can remove paint, stain it, and give it an old time worn look. I absolutely did not work on this piece as a professional would. It was all trial and error for me, I worked in small, manageable sections. My thought was always I can always leave this section black if I am not able to get it just right. Luckily for me, I never gave up until I had it the way I dreamed it would be.
I can tell you neither one of us thought we’d be doing so much of this kitchen ourselves, but when people can’t see your vision—and you can see it crystal clear—you just know it’s your job to bring it to life.
And who knows… maybe this beautiful buffet-turned-island-turned-who-knows-what will become the first piece in a long line of refinished treasures.
