So last week, I went out the hardware store to buy some stuff for my yard. While I was on my way home I decided to stop at a local thrift store. I usually try to stop as I pass because that is how you find the good stuff. You never seem to find beauties like these when you are actually looking. Ironic, huh?

I did my normal walk through and I spotted this piece in the back. Once I saw it I ran towards it, hoping it wasn’t already sold. One of my favorite parts about my job is actually finding furniture like this. This is a true gem. 

I saw the price tag and thought, okay, it’s high– I had to think about it. Then the manager came by and told me it was half off day! My jaw dropped! Don’t be fooled though, this is still the most I’ve ever paid for a buffet by far. But so, so worth it. The only problem was it came with a table that they would not separate. I thought about it, and told them I would pay for the whole set but I was only taking the buffet. Crazy, right? They took $30 off for me and I left the table. I seriously hate painting tables THAT much. I didn’t even want to deal with it. 

While I was at the hardware store 20 minutes prior, I ran into my dad. No big surprise– I feel like that store is his second home. I called him and asked him to come pick it up for me. He did! My dad refinished furniture thought out my whole childhood. My parent’s house is full of antiques that have lasted 30 plus years. That is the thing about buying furniture that is antique or redesigned such as I do; It stands the test of time, unlike the furniture you buy at big box stores. They recently started redecorating their house and I am now helping them update their pieces with gorgeous paint finishes to match their new home decor.

This post contains affiliate links. You don’t pay any more from ordering from these links but I earn a small commission so I can continue to bring you more fun projects! They also allow me to show you exactly what I use so you know what I’m referring to!!

Material List:

• White Lightening Cleaner
• Howdy-Do Hemp Seed Oil
• Big Mama’s Butta
• Redesign with Prima Eternal Gold Wax
• Denatured alcohol 
• Bar Keepers Friend
• #0000 Steel Wool
• Toothbrush
• Rag and Warm Water

While my dad was over, we decided that this piece is absolutely gorgeous and that I was going to restore the wood, instead of painting over it. This piece couldn’t have come at a better time because Dixie Belle just came out with a Big Mama’s Butta and Hoody-Do Hemp Seed Oil and I was ready to try it. 

To start, I mixed White Lightning Cleaner with warm water. I cleaned the whole buffet thoroughly with a rag, toothbrush, and also a plastic spatula that I wrapped my rag around to clean the edges. Then I rinsed the buffet with water and let it dry. You could really tell where the oil and age had built up on this piece. This is how the wood looks after using the white lightning.

Once it was dry, it was time to buff out the scratches and further clean it with the hemp oil. It had some worn in glitter, minor paint splatter from when someone likely painted the room it was in, and a few scratches. At first I thought I would just use the Big Mama’s Butta to restore this piece after cleaning it. My dad showed me how to use #0000 Steel Wool to buff out all the scratches, clean the glitter off, and the little paint splatter that was on it. Then I thought, hey let’s try that hemp oil instead! Oh my goodness! It really was a better product for this job. I poured a little hemp oil in a bowl and dipped my #0000 steel wool in it. I ended up using this for the whole piece, applying the hemp oil with a toothbrush to the details. Its super important to note that the higher the 0 with steel wool, the less abrasive it is. #0000 is not very abrasive, so it doesn’t scratch the wood.

I applied the Big Mama’s Butta on the top for extra shine and used it throughout the interior of the piece as well.

Once the hemp oil cured for 2 days, it was time for the details!! This piece has such beautiful wood details, I decided that it would look amazing with gold on them! The warm tones of the wood are a perfect match with gold. 

This part is important: in order for the wax to stick properly, you need to clean the oil off the details where you want it to stick. I used denatured alcohol to clean the oil off where I wanted it to stick. You could also just use rubbing alcohol, but you need something to get the oil off. You can see the video if me doing this here.

I applied Eternal Gold Gilding to all of the details with my belle brush and my finger. It was the perfect touch! Since the hardware was already gold, I cleaned it with bar keepers friend, and applied gilding wax over them as well. 

I love the way this turned out– it will be hard to part with. I love the wood grain and artistry of the gold details on this piece. The gold just gave her a little boost of glamour. What do you think? Do you like it? This piece is available for sale. You can view the listing here.