Junk Table Transformation

Would you believe this table was headed to the dump?!  We acquired it from a family friend because we were certain it could become something amazing.  Passing up free furniture is just not in our nature. It sat and sat for a few months until we decided exactly what to do with it. Check out this claw footed beauty before we got our brushes on it. : )

Crazy right?

I have to give credit to my husband for his vision for the top of the table.  It was his idea to run the wood diagonally, which really makes the table incredible!

Also, all the cutting and nailing is credited completely to him. : )

Step one:  We removed the original top.

It started looking better already!

Next, we laid the 1×4’s diagonally across the table.  We found these in the discount stash at Lowe’s!  Score!  We used a nail gun and wood glue to attach the 1×4’s to the table,  placing both the nails and glue along the outside and down the middle where the 2×4 is.  Don’t skip the wood glue on a project like this!  Nails can come out over time, but with the wood glue and nails this table will last forever!

 Then we cut the wood pieces to shape using a saw guide.

After a good sanding, we stained the top with this Minwax Wood Sheen.  This stuff is amazing!  It is water based, practically odorless, and dries in about an hour.

This is the Colonial Walnut color – GORGEOUS!

We applied 2 coats to get the stain as dark as I wanted.

Once the stain was dry, we got to painting the rest of the table.

We used our DIY chalk paint recipe:

1 cup water

1 cup Plaster of Paris

2 cups paint

The trick to the DIY chalk paint is to mix the water with the Plaster of Paris VERY well first.  Like with a whisk.  Then stir in the paint.  (We have a video tutorial for the chalk paint as well.  Check it out HERE.)

After 2 coats of paint, we started the distressing process.  The table has so much beautiful detail, we had to bring out all the character and dimension it had to offer.  Rather than using a glaze (which can get really messy,) we hand carved the paint out of all the detail in the wood.  Tools of choice?   A drill bit, screwdriver and small wood chisel.  This was the most time consuming part of the project, but toooootally worth it!!

The table will be in my family room, where it will most certainly be used and abused; so it needed to be sealed and protected. We used leftover protective top coat from my kitchen cabinet re-do.

(I can’t wait to show you how my cabinets turned out!  Coming soon!)

If I could whistle, I totally would.  This table is HOT!  We are in love with it.  I love when a project turns out even better than we pictured!

….And, it’s final location in my family room on the killer rug I found at Target.  On clearance. : )

So sometimes junk is really junk, and sometimes junk is just waiting for a second chance to be awesome!