Last, but not least, it's time for Round 5 of my trashure curbside haul makeover fun. Yay!! I've worked through those other 4 projects with much fun. However, today is all about that little coffee table getting transformed into a farmhouse drop-leaf coffee table with whimsy.
To catch you up to speed you can see the other projects listed below:
- Antique Pie Crust Table
- Hunting Scene Shelf
- Farmhouse Chest of Drawers
- Grain Sack Antique Chairs
As you can see, this table is in sturdy shape. The leaves function as they should, for the most part, the legs and skirt are solid. However, it has that weird mermaid on it and other wear.
Being that it's solid wood, that means potential. I know I saw that all the time, but wood is such a resilient medium. If you can't restore it, you can at least fix it and paint it. Right?
DIY TIME
As you can imagine, the first thing I pulled out is my sander. That mermaid didn't stand a chance. mwahahaha...
Just to show you what a sort of before and after looks like... Here's the leaves sanded with the center panel left as-is.
It's lookin' good, don't you think?
Once I sanded off the top, it was time for choosing the finish. The table still had a bit of wear with dents and scratches, though very minimal. So to embrace those flaws, I decided to give it an aged appeal. Much like my farmhouse desk rescue
seen HERE.
TIME FOR STAIN
In order to do that, I chose this reactive stain I've used before.
You guys...this stuff is awesome. It works with the tannins naturally occurring in the wood to age the wood lightning fast. So instead of waiting for years for this table to age, it happens in minutes. Take a peek at
my upcycled treadle sewing machine to see what I mean too.
First, I use a micro foam roller and pan to soak the wood with the stain. No worries about toxic stinkyness because this stuff is 100% awesome. Just roll on in even coat following the grain lines, and let it do its thing.
There's no wiping it down once applied, so that's a bonus too. I love LOVE to sit and watch this stuff work.
TYPOGRAPHY FOR THE WIN
Next, I set about creating a typography graphic to use on the top. You know I love working with typography and this big ol' round top was begging me for some whimsy. That's where my $10 thrifted overhead projector comes into play again. No joke - this is one of the best ten bucks I ever spent. I love this thing! You can see how I've used it for other projects
in these past posts.
I am aiming for a farmhouse style drop-leaf coffee table, so that meant an old advertisement would fit the bill. Since I enjoy creating my own, I did the layout in my software, then printed on overhead projector sheets.
Here is my table ready with graphic projected. Do you see how that stain perfectly aged the wood?
All I needed to do was spend about 15 minutes transferring the graphic, and then paint it in.
Then once the paint was dry, I apply a gray wax to the table's outer edge to add depth. For the rest, I added two coats of a matte poly to seal it all in. To ensure a good bond, I let the first coat cure, then used super fine steel wool to create tooth, and then a tack cloth to clean off debris. That preps my surface for the second coat.
PAINTING THE BOTTOM
Now that the top is finished, it's time for the base to get a new look. Since I'm, again, aiming for that rustic farmhouse drop-leaf table, I went with a red milk paint. It's the same paint I used on
this antique desk and will add that pop of fun I'm after.
I apply only one coat of paint and then am ready for the finishing touches. Next, I use an older brush to apply the same gray wax I mentioned above to the base.
THE REVEAL
My curbside find is now ready to debut the farmhouse drop-leaf table I was after. Ta-da!
I'm so pleased with the outcome and can't say enough how glad I am that I found this little gem.
The red isn't RED, but rather a rustic, time-worn look.
Was the typography needed? No. However, it sure makes it a fun conversation piece, doesn't it?
Here it is so you can see in full view the work I did. However, there isn't a meaning behind it. I simply tried to pick up a vintage vibe.
If you'd like to own this table, you can find it and much more available in
my online storep. Sign up for my newsletter below for instant discount on your first purchase.
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Up next, I am super excited to share my next episode of Reduce, Reuse, REFASHION.
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Also, more projects like this farmhouse drop-leaf coffee table makeover:
