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DIY

(Dessert) Buffet

I have been patiently waiting for my husband to build me a buffet for my dining room.

I found this on picture on Pinterest, and was drawn to it right from the start.  It is long and not too wide so I knew it would fit in my narrow dining room and be ample room to set up even the biggest of dessert buffet’s, and the extra shelving would provide much needed storage for this room.

Step by step instructions how to make this.

Photo via Pinterest.  Source Anna-White.com

So after several months Tim finally was ready to begin the build.  We referred to the plans at Anna-White.com.  It is made up of regular 2 x 4’s, some 2 x 2’s, and rough pine planks all purchased at our local Rona store.  We had to modify the construction a bit because we did not have a Kreg Jig, but I think ours turned out pretty darn close.

buffet 1

You will have to pardon the lighting, but since it is dark at 4:45 in the afternoon, I had to use overhead lighting!

It took Tim about 4 hours total build time.  Since we didn’t have the Kreg jig to pre-drill pocket holes, he used a special drill bit to create them.  He used tiny angle brackets underneath the pine shelving to attach this.  You cannot see them at all, and they will support quite a bit of weight.

buffet 3

I love the crossed end brackets.  They are mostly decorative, but did add some stability.

buffet 4

The corner details adds a bit of an old industrial feel.

buffet 6

Once the construction was finished, I “aged” the wood using a solution made by shredding a “wad” of super fine steel wool (use gloves and eye protection) and stuffing it into a 1 gallon (4 litre) jug of plain white vinegar.  I left the lid slightly loose and using the handle of an old wooden spoon, gave it a bit of a stir a couple of times a day.  After about three days the steel wool had completely dissolved.

Step one involved making some super strong tea.  Stronger than you would ever consider drinking.  Brush this over the entire surface of the table.  Let it dry.  This helps to add more tannins into the wood, which will help the vinegar/steel wool age the wood.  Once dry, brush the vinegar solution on the wood.  My table only required one coat to get the patina I wanted, but you easily could do two or three coats if you where wanting a darker color.  Below is a picture of a piece of the virgin” wood laying on top of the “aged” wood.  The last step was waxing the entire table with clear Minwax paste wax.  This provides a light protective coating to protect the wood from spills.  The wax helped to deepen the color of the wood slightly without really changing the aged gray colour.

buffet 5

You will notice the variances in color of the aged wood.  This adds a dimension of depth and that rustic character.

I also soaked all the corner brackets and their screws in the same solution over night.  They were originally silver but this turned them grey and a bit rusty.  Perfect!

buffet

Just imagine this buffet covered with desserts at Christmas time!

I borrowed these lamps from my living room, so now I will have to pick up some buffet lamps and find some more wicker and wire baskets to adorn the shelves below that will hide everything from cloth napkins to magazines, extra wine glasses and silverware!

buffet 2

I think it turned out perfect.

Tim now has the task of building a matching one to house our television on top, with its components below!  Since he found it a really easy project and is so pleased with the outcome he has promised to make it is this weekend while I start on my Christmas baking

Wednesday it will be back to the regularly scheduled programming – I will share a recipe for Blueberry Cheesecake Squares!

Until next time….

Red Cottage Chronicles

 

 

 


24 Comments

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Comments

  1. Sarah Beth says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    That is beautiful! And I love those floors!

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      November 12, 2013 at 7:04 am

      Thank you Sarah Beth. The floors are kind of an accident. I was trying to remove old paint and it was way too frustrating without an industrial sander, so I left them as they were. They are growing on me!

      Reply
  2. Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says

    November 12, 2013 at 2:27 am

    Wow!!!, Maureen. Your buffet looks incredible. Your hubby did an amazing job ~ and it only took him 4 hours? Hmmm… I think I need to talk mine into making one for me. 🙂 I love the “natural” staining you did to yours. It all came together so beautifully. I’m super impressed.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      November 12, 2013 at 7:05 am

      Thank you Lori! It takes awhile to get him going on a project, but once he does he stays at it until its done.

      Reply
      • Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says

        November 16, 2013 at 11:44 pm

        Hi Maureen, I wanted to let you know that we’re featuring your Dessert Buffet table at our Making Monday link party, which goes live Sunday evening at 8pm eastern. Come take a look. 🙂 And we’d love to have you share more of your great projects and yummy recipes. http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/?p=8130

        Reply
  3. Erin says

    November 12, 2013 at 11:19 pm

    The buffet turned out so beautiful! We made Anna White’s barnyard desk and I’ve loved it! Adding this to the list for my husband 🙂 Thanks for sharing with Life Created Tuesdays!

    Erin
    http://www.theviewfromfiveten.com

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      November 13, 2013 at 6:47 am

      Thank you Erin. This was our first Anna White creation, but there will be plenty more. I have my eye on a bedframe!

      Reply
  4. Heather says

    November 12, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    LOVE!!! D and I are suitably impressed! Tim did an amazing job!

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      November 13, 2013 at 6:45 am

      Thank you Heather!

      Reply
  5. megan says

    November 13, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    Wow, what great work!

    Reply
  6. Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says

    November 13, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    Oh, I am soooo in love with this! GREAT job. So glad I hopped over to check out the details from the View From 510 link party!

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      November 14, 2013 at 6:29 am

      Thank you Tasha! So happy you stopped by.

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    November 17, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    This is perfect! It’s exactly what I want in my kitchen! I love the aged wood and everything! Great job!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Christmas Home Tour - redcottagechronicles.com says:
    December 16, 2013 at 6:36 am

    […] Our dining room is also traditional with lots of red, and my husbands Christmas village taking over my new buffet! […]

    Reply
  2. One Room Challenge Week 4 - redcottagechronicles.com says:
    July 22, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    […] are very happy with the way it looks with the buffet table that Tim built me (and the matching tv console not […]

    Reply
  3. 10 Amazing Kreg Jig Projects - My Own Home says:
    March 12, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    […] Dessert Buffet from Red Cottage Chronicles […]

    Reply
  4. DIY Outdoor Sofa - redcottagechronicles.com says:
    July 28, 2015 at 11:44 am

    […] can see other Ana White projects we have done here and […]

    Reply
  5. DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Storage Trunk - redcottagechronicles.com says:
    November 25, 2015 at 9:09 am

    […] did all the metal hardware we used to trim it out. We used the same corner hardware when we built this buffet for the dining […]

    Reply
  6. Outdoor Harvest Table - redcottagechronicles.com says:
    February 27, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    […] on board to give it a try.  Sometimes with enthusiasm and confidence in my idea, like this buffet I asked him to make!  And sometimes with apprehension and skepticism (although he only shares […]

    Reply
  7. 7 DIY Dining Room Projects - Red Cottage Chronicles says:
    August 26, 2016 at 9:37 am

    […] very first d0-it-yourself project was this buffet (or side board). We choose this open style not only for its rustic appeal, but also the additional […]

    Reply
  8. Easy Autumn Crafts - Pumpkin Painting Anyone Can Do says:
    October 4, 2016 at 7:48 am

    […] to shabby.  In fact, I didn’t throw it out.  In fact I have it displayed on my buffet table in the dining room for all to […]

    Reply
  9. One Room Challenge Week 1 Living Room Makeover says:
    January 2, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    […] that, just out of view, is the one and only bathroom!  My husband built the tv stand to match this one he made for the dining room.  I think it is time for some cord […]

    Reply
  10. One Room Challenge Week 4 - Red Cottage Chronicles says:
    January 2, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    […] are very happy with the way it looks with the buffet table that Tim built me (and the matching tv console not […]

    Reply
  11. $100 Room Challenge | Farmhouse Dining Room Reveal says:
    January 25, 2017 at 10:56 am

    […] buffet table was the very first thing Tim ever built for me and I finished using a combination of paint and […]

    Reply

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Red Cottage Chronicles

Oh, hi there!

Well, hello! I am Maureen, and welcome to our little Red Cottage. Married to my high school sweetheart, I am a passionate baker, accidental DIY'er and love all things home! Read More…

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