Buffet Upcycle with Saltwash™

It’s time for another Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest!  This month’s sponsor is Saltwash™. Saltwash™ is a powdered additive that can be added to any type of paint to obtain an authentic vintage look.  The result is a layered and textured effect that resembles a weathered beach worn look.  Saltwash™ is a low voc product and all of the ingredients in it are considered safe in a working environment.

Some or all of the hosts of The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest receive monetary and/or product compensation from the sponsoring brand, Saltwash, in order to complete their themed projects. Saltwash and their sister company, Saltwater Salvage Designs will also provide the prize package for the contest winner.  I received one can of saltwash as a participant in this contest.

We are beginning a bedroom renovation at home for my youngest son’s bedroom.  He will be 14 this July and has never had any input in decorating his room.  He has selected some colors and furniture to make his room more contemporary and appropriate for a high school student (my baby will be a freshman in August)!!!  He decided to part with an old buffet that was currently holding his TV and some game systems.  I always get excited about a buffet upcycle!

And here she is…

If you have visited my blog, you know I love to distress furniture!  It is simply my favorite finish.  So I was very excited to try Saltwash™.  The theme for this flip is Coastal Inspirations.  When I think of the beach, I think of the tans and greys in beach wood, vibrant aquas and blues in the ocean, and deep dark brown from algae and sand along the shore line.  These colors were my coastal inspiration.  I selected this piece for my project because of the dark brown color.  I thought this color would be incredible peeking out from beneath the blues and greys.

This buffet has certainly seen better days.  Because of some of the mars and chipped veneer, this piece was perfect for a Saltwash™ finish.  This finish would hide many of the buffet’s flaws an imperfections.

I selected some paint that I had on hand at my store The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment. Saltwash™ can be used with virtually any paint!

STEP ONE – Buffet Upcycle

Because I wanted the dark wood to appear beneath the paint layers, I started immediately by adding my Saltwash™ to a bright turquoise paint.  I applied this in a pouncing motion per instructions leaving some peaks of paint across the piece.

Here is a close up of the first coat:

After the first coat was completely dry, I added Saltwash™ to some medium grey paint for the second coat.  Once this was completely dry, I applied a final coat of an off white.

STEP TWO -Buffet Upcycle

This is always my favorite part…where the magic happens…sanding!  I sanded through the peaks across the entire piece.  In some spots I went heavy to expose the dark wood base.  I varied sanding across the piece to highlight the turquoise in some spots and the grey in other spots.  Even  with three liberal coats of paint, it was relatively easy sanding through the layers.  In areas where I wanted more turquoise exposed, I lingered a little longer with the sander.  I continued until the entire buffet was a collaboration of all 4 colors dispersed throughout the piece.

And here she is completed:

I am so grateful to the FFFC for enabling us to try these new products and challenging us with these wonderful themes!  If you are a blogger who is into DIY and is interesting in participating monthly, simply inquire toby email to: info@fabfurnitureflippincontest.com.

This month’s hosts are Colleen of 58 Water Street, and Carrie of Thirty Eighth Street.  Each of these wonderful hosts has completed a project of her own using the fabulous Saltwash™.  Check out their projects and thumb through the links at the end of each of their posts to see all of the projects submitted this month.