French credenza/buffet makeover

I found this beautiful French looking credenza about a year ago at a local estate sale. It sat brown for a while (see below.) Although I loved it in it's original condition, the balance of wood furniture to painted furniture ratio was off in my living room. I need a mixture of materials and colors or things seem boring to me. Here is the after photo!:

 

The before!

It's definitely very beautiful in it's original finish. That's why it took a year to do anything to it. I was really on the fence about altering it.  But when you pay $95 for something it's not a huge loss if you repaint it. 

I gave it a good cleaning and then used Annie Sloan's French gray paint. I then used the clear wax to seal it.  I decided to give the accent pieces a coat of gold acrylic paint to help them stand out and give it more of that french look.  I initially wanted to gold leaf paint them, but guess what? It's not even sold in stores anymore. Are people stealing it?  That's really the old thing I could think of! 

I also used an old piece of rose fabric to make a little runner for the top. It's reversable with a different but similar fabric.  It protects the table but also adds more interest.

I of course made the runner longer than it needed to be!  I could always trim it off and add some tassles or something to the edge. 

The roman/greek bust just seems so at home on this table!

My little stool with tassels also fits perfectly underneath.

Hope you enjoyed this little furniture makeover!

xo

Cathleen