Simple and Classic Distressed Black Vintage Buffet Makeover

A beautiful vintage Drexel server gets a fresh and classic update with black paint and a natural distressed finish.

On one of my many recent Goodwill trips, I came across a beautiful vintage Drexel buffet. The other week I shared what I look for when buying used furniture and this piece checked off all the boxes. It was a fair (not great) price, solid wood, made by a good furniture company and was smoke-free. I quickly headed to the register to snag it before anyone else could. Thankfully, I had my Hylander with me which for once wasn't full of furniture and decor, so I was able to bring it home and work on it right away.

This little buffet is a perfect vintage piece and deserved a classic makeover. I kept it simple and went with General Finishes Lamp Black and a naturally distressed look.

SUPPLIES USED TO UPDATE A VINTAGE DREXEL BUFFET

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- General Finishes Lamp Black milk paint

- General Finishes Finishing Wax

- Ryobi Corner Cat sander

- Lint free rag or wax brush

- Purdy paint brush

- Screwdriver

- Simple Green

- Paper towels

The nice thing about this piece is that besides prepping and painting, it didn't need any other work. The price was a bit higher than I would normally spend, but since I didn't need to make repairs and the original hardware could be reused, I decided it was worth the extra couple dollars over my normal furniture budget.

After removing the hardware, I gave the buffet a light sanding with my Corner Cat and 100 grit sandpaper. I then wiped it clean, applied two coats of General Finishes Lamp Black milk paint, lightly distressed around the edges then sealed the paint with finishing wax .

How gorgeous is the original hardware? There really isn't anything better than being able to reuse pretty original hardware, especially old brass hardware. Not only does it look great, but it keeps the classic vintage feel of a piece.

Bar decor on painted vintage Drexel buffet

I styled this little buffet as a bar, but it would also function well as a server in a small dining space or even an entry table in an entryway.

Original hardware on vintage Drexel buffet

This beautiful vintage Drexel buffet is a classic piece and the distressed black paint fits it beautifully. It will be headed to Sweet Clover for the July barn sale where I hope it will find a new home.