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    Home » DIY » Build It » DIY Outdoor Buffet

    DIY Outdoor Buffet

    Published by Gail | Published July 2, 2019 | Updated September 9, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Are you an outdoors person who loves to grill or garden? This cabinet is easy to build and because it uses all reclaimed lumber, the price is right! #MyRepurposedLife #reclaimed #outdoor #barbecue #grilling #gardening #potting via @repurposedlife

    What? I didn't know anyone needed a DIY outdoor buffet! But, oh you do if you love to grill out!

    Reclaimed lumber

    I thought I might use this free wood  to make another potting table or outdoor entertaining station. But now that I’ve completed my diy outdoor furniture project, I like to call it a DIY outdoor buffet!

    Now, let’s see how all of these bits and pieces came together to make this DIY outdoor buffet.

    Vintage Windows

    I sort of knew what I wanted in my head. So, I grabbed a couple of windows and 4x4’s from my stash and started measuring.

    Reclaimed  2x4’s and 4x4’s  were used to build the base of the diy outdoor buffet.

    Basic Construction of diy outdoor buffet

    This picture makes me giggle. It’s one of those aha moments! I made the front section and the rear section, then stood them up and instantly realized that I did NOT need those tall 4x4 supports in the front. I guess those of you who sketch out your projects would figure it out before it gets to this stage. Smile

    Nothing that my Ryobi reciprocating saw can’t handle.

    There's nothing wrong with plan B

    There we go! much better!

    I used 4x4’s for the legs, and 2x4’s for the horizontal braces. For a temporary hold, I have a fence board screwed from front to back to keep everything held up. I started the build on this porch to make sure that everything was level and squared.

    For continuity keep all weathered pieces visible in the front

    To keep everything looking uniform I tried to use original ends toward the front instead of fresh cut ends. Exterior wood screws were used for this project. And for those of you who don't own a Kreg Jig - no worries - all of these joints are simple butt joints. No jig needed.

    This is the bare bones of the base of my furniture project. The stained boards I showed you at the beginning of this post were only 36” long, so I had to get creative on adding them.

    Begin building out outdoor buffet

    I’ve cut the boards for the upper back, and the table top. But I wanted to get everything cut before I started attaching anything. Although I used reclaimed lumber, you could easily buy cedar fence boards for this project.

    While I was cutting more stained boards, it started pouring rain. I had to quickly gather all the boards, put the large saw away in the garage, and drag this monster to the carport. It rained a lot for a long time.

    After getting most of the boards cut, I started attaching the boards along the side of the outdoor buffet.

    Continue attaching fence boards

    Working through the rain I got all the boards attached. I used some new screws, but many of the screws I used were removed from the stained boards. I used my jigsaw to notch the bottom boards in the back, and the lower shelf (near the front).

    Using windows as doors for outdoor buffet

    The carport is very uneven. I had to use some boards to try to level it out while attaching the windows—that’s why there are boards scattered everywhere. Smile  I used sewing cabinet hinges for the windows/doors. For the inside shelves I used some reclaimed wood fencing that simply rests on the side braces.

    Now this is where it got ugly. I painted the windows to give them a fresh look. Someone had “sprayed” the panes before I got them. Scraping “my” paint off was very easy. However, scraping the sprayed paint took forever!

    I finally ended up laying the diy outdoor buffet on it’s back and spread some soapy water on the paint and let it soak before scraping it over and over again. It seriously took me hours to get all of that paint off of the glass.

    DIY outdoor buffet grilling station

    my-repurposed-life-diy-outdoor-buffet-grilling-stationI used a hook and eye closure on the windows, and a rusty rake for hanging utensils. Don't you love it?

    outdoor-buffet-grilling-station-my-repurposed-life


    Here is the diy outdoor buffet grilling station in use. My friend Leann said it’s so handy because she usually has food balanced on a step, the deck railing, and the small side table on the grill.

    Of course, if you’re an avid gardener I’m sure you’ve realized how handy this would be as a potting table!

    How would you use this great DIY outdoor piece?

    See more DIY Repurposed Window Ideas Here.

    See creative Potting Bench Ideas here

    gail

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    1. eyeloveknots

      July 10, 2019 at 9:44 am

      This is so awesome, Gail! Love the idea.

      Alexandra
      EyeLoveKnots.com

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        July 10, 2019 at 9:46 am

        Thank you! It's at my friends house. She and her husband love it.

        I would probably use it for potting. lol

        gail

    2. christinafayerepurposed

      July 02, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      Gail this is awesome! My Hubby would be in love he is the grill master haha!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        July 03, 2019 at 10:17 am

        Thanks Christina!!

        Yeah, this is awesome for grilling. Everything right where you need it. 🙂

    3. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

      July 24, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Oh Gail, this is seriously awesome! The glass doors are my favorite part. Sorry they gave you such grief!

      Reply
    4. Pam

      July 15, 2015 at 2:53 pm

      Cute....turned out fantastic.

      Reply
    5. Debbie @ Refresh Restyle

      July 15, 2015 at 8:16 am

      This is so awesome!

      Reply
    6. Leann

      July 14, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      We just love it!!! Thanks aunt Gail!!! I know for my husband Frank it was love at first sight! LoL

      Reply
    7. girlfromwva

      July 14, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      wonderful! great project! would use it for grilling buffet!

      Reply
    8. Mindi

      July 14, 2015 at 4:48 pm

      Love the outdoor buffet! It could totally be used a potting bench too like you said! I am laughing because my potting bench has become my husbands new "outdoor buffet" he has used it for every BBQ we have had this summer, lol! Also long as it gets used I am happy! Great job Gail, I love seeing how you build things!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 14, 2015 at 6:34 pm

        That's awesome Mindi that your husband loves your potting bench as an outdoor buffet! They really work either way.

        gail

    9. Catherine

      July 14, 2015 at 12:29 pm

      Great build Gail--like always!
      I really love how you ran the side boards horizontally, it looks like a rustic take on the modern WATERFALL designs!
      How patient are you cleaning the paint off the windows--are you for hire?!? ; D
      Catherine

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 14, 2015 at 6:35 pm

        NOPE! Not for hire... all that scraping killed my shoulder. Not going to be doing that anytime soon.

        gail

    10. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      July 14, 2015 at 11:35 am

      Looks great, and very very practical! Love the windows, now where can I get me some?

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 14, 2015 at 6:37 pm

        What? you don't have any windows in your stash ?

      • Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

        July 14, 2015 at 6:56 pm

        LOL Nope, not a one!

    11. Bliss

      July 14, 2015 at 10:10 am

      I have a post this month something with a potting bench in similar style to this buffet. I didn't think about adding windows as doors to the front, but I'm thinking about it now!

      Reply
    12. katie

      July 14, 2015 at 8:45 am

      This is amazing!!! I totally want to build one of these for our new home!!!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 14, 2015 at 10:44 am

        Thanks Katie! It really is soooo versatile.

    13. cassie @ primitive & proper

      July 14, 2015 at 5:06 am

      that is awesome, gail! i love the window doors! now you just need to stock it with a beer fridge. 😉

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        July 14, 2015 at 10:43 am

        hahaha why didn't I think of the beer fridge? 🙂

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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