Old Brown Buffet Gets Painted Basilisk Black, but the Finished Color Doesn’t Look Quite Black
Dark brown wood covered a vintage buffet with carved trim, paneled cabinet doors, and curved legs. Scratches marked the old finish, while oval metal handles and a row of shallow drawers gave the piece a traditional appearance. The cabinet had retained its original construction, though the brown surface showed signs of wear.
Furniture restorer @piecebypiecefinds chose Mélange Paints Basilisk Black for the cabinet body while keeping the wooden top exposed. The paint produced a deep charcoal finish rather than pure black, with decorative drawer liners and the existing metal hardware completing the makeover.
The Original Buffet Had a Dark Brown Wood Finish
Measuring 50 inches long, 19 inches deep, and 34.75 inches tall, the buffet had two wide upper drawers flanking two narrow center drawers. Three paneled doors occupied the lower section, with carved molding running between the drawers and cabinets.
The raised trim around the doors, curved legs, and oval pulls remained intact, giving the restorer details worth preserving.
Interior Repairs Addressed Damaged Wood
Inside the cabinet, narrow wood strips were fitted against the interior panels. The photograph also shows the drawer area during preparation, with filler applied to damaged sections of the wood.
The restorer used a sanding tool to smooth the repaired surfaces before continuing with the exterior work.
The Cabinet Body Received Basilisk Black Paint
Blue painter’s tape protected the top edge while the restorer worked on the cabinet sides.
Mélange Paints Basilisk Black covered the original brown finish, producing a charcoal tone that appeared darker in some lighting. The raised molding and carved details remained visible beneath the new color.
Palm-Leaf Liner Covered the Drawer Bottoms
The drawer interiors received a white liner printed with overlapping green palm leaves. The wooden dividers remained exposed, separating the lined compartments.
The pattern added a different finish inside the drawers without changing their original construction.
The Finished Buffet Kept Its Wood Top Exposed
The completed buffet pairs a charcoal-painted body with a brown wooden top. Silver-colored oval pulls remain on the outer drawers and cabinet doors, while small round knobs sit on the two center drawers.
A wooden whale-tail ornament, glass vase, and sailboat painting decorate the top.
The Exposed Wood Grain Contrasts With the Dark Paint
Viewed from above, the top shows a reddish-brown grain running across its surface. The front edge remains wood-toned, forming a contrast with the charcoal frame beneath it.
The close view also shows the original carved band below the drawers and the oval metal handles.
Basilisk Black Looks More Charcoal Than Pure Black
The full front view reveals a dark gray tone across the doors, drawers, and curved legs. Light catches the raised molding, allowing the original cabinet details to stand out.
The top forms a narrow brown line across the width of the buffet, separating it from the painted surfaces.
Before and After: The Brown Buffet Takes on a Charcoal Finish
The side-by-side comparison shows the original buffet with brown wood covering the entire exterior. After the makeover, the cabinet has a near-black body with the wood grain retained across the top.
The original doors, drawers, hardware, and curved legs remain, while the new finish changes the appearance of the piece.
Would you have painted the entire buffet Basilisk Black or kept the wooden top exposed?
Images and project details courtesy of @piecebypiecefinds.