Monday, May 5, 2014

French Provincial sideboard and an easy day for me

I hope you had a good weekend, I ended going downhill with a cough/cold so am taking it easy today - finishing off a sweet little pair of pine bedside tables and a nest of silver tables then I'm hopefully calling it done for the day.


I finished this beautiful large French Provincial sideboard on the weekend. I originally bought this sideboard for a girlfriend of mine and when she decided she didn't really have room in her house for it, despite adoring it, I bought it back from her. I shared the before photo on facebook and Jenny snapped it up. She requested that I paint it white and leave the top timber.

white French Provincial sideboard Lilyfield Life

My friend had always planned to paint the sideboard but never got around to it so it was in its original condition when it came back to me. It was quite chipped and marked so I stripped the top and sanded the base and gave it two coats of Zinsser primer ready for painting and refinishing.

white French Provincial sideboard Lilyfield Life

white French Provincial sideboard Lilyfield Life


There was no need to stain the timber as it is solid walnut and a lovely dark colour. With walnut you just need to seal the timber. I could have chosen to just wax it but I wanted something more durable and something that Jenny does not have to maintain. I chose to use three coats of a Marine Grade UV stable poly. I usually bring furniture inside to top coat but this piece was too big and heavy for me to move far so I made an enclosed workshop in my carport with drop sheets stapled to the roof.  It worked a treat and meant I could get a lovely dust and leaf free finish - quite important :)


The walnut grain is just beautiful.


One of the original handles was broken so I replaced them all with these similar ones. They are thr same handles I used on our bedroom wardrobes. Jenny wanted her sideboard very similar to the one in my dining room - bright white and undistressed. I painted the base in four coats of ASCP Pure White and gave it a couple of coats of ASCP Clear wax with lots of sanding for a very smooth finish.

white French Provincial sideboard Lilyfield Life

And here it is in jenny's house. I love her mirror and clock. They go so well with the majestic sideboard.

white French Provincial sideboard Lilyfield Life

I'm going to miss this sideboard actually - I loved seeing it in my friend's house. It has such a stateliness to it. Not too ornate - just grand. But I know that Jenny will treasure it also - and my husband is happy to have it gone from our carport.

Hope you all have a good day. I've got the heater on and am (hopefully) going to snuggle down with a book once I have my small projects painted.

Fiona xx



8 comments:

  1. That is one big beautiful buffet! The wood top is flawless!

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    1. Thanks Sharon, I love it when you find such gorgeous wood under the old varnish.

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  2. such a gorgeous piece! it's a knockout!

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    1. Thanks Cassie – such a huge piece – glad to have it finished!

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  3. You should be very proud of yourself Fiona this piece looks fabulous but it helps when you can find these things, Im afraid not much like this comes in my area.

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    1. thanks Patricia, I actually bought this two years ago and then my friend had it and i bought it back soi pieces like this don't come up too often for me either ;)

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  4. Great piece. I really like the white. It's perfect. I have my mom's buffet that I still need to do over. I just can't decide the color. White is my favorite and my family like nooooo! It was my inheritance. They got other stuff. No I'll do with it what I will. You have a great idea there.

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    1. I think unless you plan to sell it (and are worried about devaluing it possibly) then you can do what you want with your own furniture. Better to have it how you love it.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com