We’re thrilled to introduce you to one of our talented creator partners, Kate Buffington, the furniture artist behind Kate Reclaimed — a business built on breathing new life into well-loved furniture pieces. With a knack for classic tones and timeless transformations, Kate has a gift for turning tired, dated furniture into pieces full of character and style.
Her recent transformation using Country Chic Paint’s Liquorice — our bold, deep black — completely captured our attention. And once you see the before & after, we’re pretty sure you’ll feel the same!
🖤 Before & After: A Bold Liquorice Makeover
For this project, Kate took an outdated cabinet and gave it a rich, moody refresh using our color Liquorice. The piece had beautiful bones — charming trim and sturdy lines — but was hidden beneath a worn, orange-toned finish. The steps she took to get it looking real WOW-worthy are the following 👇🏻
Step 1: Kate took out all drawers and took off hardware, number drawers and cleaned
Step 2: Repairs - She used wood glue and clamped and filled holes with wood filler and sanded it down.
Step 3: Sanding! She used a scuff sand with 120 grit
Step 4: Cleaned again
Step 5: Primed with Country Chic Paint's Clear Primer with Painting Sponge
Step 6: Painted with one coat of Liquorice with Country Chic Paint's Painting Sponge
Step 7: Sanded lightly with a 320 grit wipe with tack cloth
Step 8: Final second and third coat using Liquorice with our 2” Oval Brush
For the final steps, she then sealed the whole piece with our Clear Coat, added two coats using our Painting Sponge and the third coat with our 2” Oval Brush
Kate chose Liquorice for a classic, matte black look that completely transformed the cabinet into a showstopper. Paired with brass hardware and styled with warm, natural accents, the final result is timeless, cozy, and modern all at once.
"Liquorice is such a gorgeous true black — it adds so much drama and class to a piece. I love how it turned out!" – Kate
🎨 Creator Q&A with Kate Buffington
We asked Kate a few questions about her creative process, favorite tools, and what inspires her work. Her answers give a glimpse into the heart behind Kate Reclaimed and why we love having her as part of the Country Chic Paint community.
What is your favorite Country Chic Paint color?
“I love Rocky Mountain and Dark Roast. They are so unique and rich!”
What is your favorite tool in your refinishing kit?
“The Painting Sponge! It’s so easy to use for Primer, Clear Coat, and I usually use it for my first coat of paint!”
Where do you find your design ideas or color palettes?
“Most of the time, the color on a piece hits me right away or when I start working on it. I just let the piece ‘tell me’ what to do. I’m also inspired by many other wonderful furniture artists!”
What’s a fun fact about you most people don’t know?
“I am fluent in American Sign Language and am a teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.” 🧡
How has being part of the DIY or refinishing community impacted you?
“I’ve made so many connections and friendships from this community. In the furniture refinishing world, we really are there to encourage and support each other. I know mostly women refinishers, and having ladies support one another is lovely — we help each other when there are issues and share our experiences.”
“There have also been so many fun FB Marketplace stories over the years — friends I’ve met picking up or restoring furniture and friends I’ve reconnected with to do a project for. It’s such a full-circle experience.”
💬 Why We Love Kate’s Work
Kate’s projects are a perfect mix of craftsmanship and creative intuition. She allows each piece to guide the process, choosing colors and finishes that highlight the natural beauty and story behind the furniture. Her ability to combine function, beauty, and personality makes her a standout in the DIY community.
🖤 Try It Yourself!
Inspired by Kate’s makeover? Here’s what she used:
- 🎨 Country Chic Paint in Liquorice
- 🧽 Painting Sponge (Kate's fave!)
- 🖌️ Clear Bonding Primer for extra durability
- 🛋️ A good old-fashioned piece ready for a second life
Browse our full collection of colors here or pick up a Liquorice 4oz sample size to start your own dramatic transformation.
Follow Kate Reclaimed
Don’t miss out on Kate’s next makeover — follow her on Instagram @kate_reclaimed for behind-the-scenes looks, before-and-afters, and tons of furniture flipping inspo.
Thank you, Kate, for sharing your passion, creativity, and heart with our community!
