She Built a New White Oak Base for This Old Buffet Because Paint Alone Couldn’t Change Its Heavy Look
Old brown buffet had four raised-panel doors, ornate brass hardware, and a thick wooden base with a curved front. Repainting could update the color, but the solid bottom would leave its bulky shape unchanged.
Instagram creator @wild_sparrow_designs from Glen Head, New York, took the makeover further. She painted the cabinet Fusion Mineral Paint Tapestry, replaced the original base with custom white oak, installed antique brass hardware, and added floral-patterned lining inside.
The Original Buffet Had a Heavy Wooden Base
Brown wood covered the entire buffet, including its molded doors, center drawer, and thick bottom skirt. Four cabinet doors featured arched raised panels with decorative ring pulls, while two ornate handles occupied the drawer.
The curved base extended across the bottom, leaving little open space beneath the cabinet.
Tapestry Greige Replaced the Brown Wood Finish
Fusion Mineral Paint Tapestry gave the exterior a muted greige finish. The existing arched doors, drawer, and molded edges remained, preserving the buffet’s traditional construction.
Antique brass knobs replaced the ring pulls on the cabinet doors, while two cup pulls took their place on the center drawer.
The top received the same paint finish, extending the greige color across the upper surface and front molding. Decorative details around the doors and drawer remain visible beneath the coating.
She Removed the Old Base and Built One From White Oak
The original curved bottom skirt was replaced with a custom white oak base. Four straight legs support the buffet, connected by a horizontal wooden rail beneath the front cabinets.
Rather than painting the new structure greige, she left the oak exposed. Its grain contrasts with the painted doors, while the open space underneath changes the buffet’s proportions.
The new base also creates visible floor space beneath the cabinet, a feature the old solid skirt lacked.
Floral Lining Added a Surprise Inside
Opening the two center doors reveals floral-patterned backing with pale blossoms, thin branches, and muted blue-gray details. The cabinet floor and interior side panels retain their natural wood finish.
The side compartment carries the same floral backing behind a wooden shelf. Instead of painting the storage interiors to match the exterior, the design preserves the wood and introduces the pattern at the back.
The creator also reports lining the drawer.
The Finished Buffet Became a Living Room Storage Piece
The completed buffet sits against white board-and-batten paneling beside a light upholstered sofa. A round woven mirror hangs above, with flowering branches, wooden candlesticks, a stone-look bowl, and a shallow wooden tray arranged across the top.
At 64 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 33 inches high, the buffet retains its broad storage cabinet while gaining a raised wooden base.
The makeover changed more than the finish. Paint updated the cabinet, antique brass replaced the ornate hardware, and the custom white oak base removed the solid bottom that defined its original shape.
Image credits go to @wild_sparrow_designs.