Buffalo Check Your Decor

The Buffalo Check pattern, or Buffalo Plaid, is known for its timeless, crisp and fresh look. The check pattern has bands in two or more colors in a woven display. Traditionally only found on cloth or upholstery, by using Porch Nook chalky finish paint you can applying the very same classic look onto your existing decor!

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Glass, metal, wood. Signs, tables, windows, crates. Allow your creative mind to wander and you will discover this iconic pattern can look great on anything! I covered this glass growler jug with Porch Nook's "Charcoal" and then applied the Buffalo Check pattern with "Heirloom Tomato". I fell in love! Then, after my MinWax Polycrylic Satin^{#CommissionEarned} sealant I fell in love with it even MORE! I'm always amazed how a sealant can bring your design to the next level, bringing out detail and richness you didn't even realize was there.

While jogging, my husband came across this sad vintage leaf table. Curbed and COVERED in linoleum. I have to admit, I couldn't get past the linoleum...and a storm was coming...so I left it. When I returned home empty handed, hubby looked at me and said, "You've been looking for a piece to apply a Buffalo Check pattern! Are you sure you want to pass on this one?" I swear...my mind began to play "Dream Weaver" and I fell in love with him all over again. What a man!! What he just said was DANG sexy...and he was right! So I turned around, fought the rain, picked it up and started working on it right away.  

After cleaning it with a 4:1 mixture of water and Mineral Spirits^{#CommissionEarned}, I first covered the table with Porch Nook's "Heirloom Tomato" chalky finish paint. After drying I stenciled a dark check using "Charcoal".

I realized I could take this pattern one step further by topping it with lines along the top by using Porch Nook "Ol' Faithful" white. After distressing with a fine sandpaper, 220-Grit by 3M^{#CommissionEarned}, I decided to seal with MinWax Polycrylic Satin^{#CommissionEarned} again. Yummy! What do you think?

Now I found myself in a state of mind where I wanted to Buffalo Check EVERYTHING I could get my hands on! I dug in my garage and rediscovered a credenza I've been meaning to work. After sitting with it for a moment I began to think about those classic Burberry plaid scarfs I've always admired, loving how the black and red check pattern laid on top of a creamy beige. I've learned to listen to my intuition...once it speaks, I just go!

After cleaning this little beauty with Mineral Spirits^{#CommissionEarned}, I first covered the cabinet with Porch Nook's "Cashew"...a beautiful and versatile greige neutral.

I wanted to test out what a pattern would look like if I only applied thinner lines traditionally found in a Buffalo Check pattern. Now that I think back, I believe I made that decision because I didn't want to overwhelm the piece's pre-existing features. In the video below you will find me applying Porch Nook's "Heirloom Tomato" and "Charcoal".

I didn't touch the cabinet for a few days after painting because I wasn't sure how far I wanted to shab it up. When in doubt, take pause...you'll always be thankful you did! Finally I landed on, for some unknown reason, to step outside my comfort zone (again) and used a super coarse sand paper, 60 Grit by 3M^{#CommissionEarned}, to create a scratchy super rustic appearance. Once completed I sealed it up with dark wax...and I'm so glad I did! I couldn't take my eyes off of it :D