A little makeover happened in our living room – this table got a fresh new look!!! I love love love the way it brightened up our whole space! It seriously is like my little spot of happy in this room now. That baby doesn’t hurt 🙂
Okay so back story on this piece….this baby I got for $25 at a yard sale in our neighborhood about four years ago. Jeremy couldn’t fit it in our car at the time so we loaded it on the back of the four-wheeler and drove it down the street looking like proper rednecks. There could been a wolf howl involved. You gotta do what you gotta do. Especially when pedestal tables are involved.
The crazy part about the story is….I didn’t really know what I had bought. I was in such a deal-making-mood that I didn’t closely look at it. I mean…when they said $25 I was completely blinded by the idea of getting it home that I didn’t really look for details. It happens. Don’t judge. So when we got it home, I was confused on how to make it over because it’s actually made of three different materials. THREE. The top is a laminate….
The apron (the lighter warm colored bits) are wood and the base is metal. Metal that is made to look like wood. So I froze. It’s been sitting there for years just begging for a makeover and I didn’t make the move. We were stuck in the friend zone 🙂 I think I have been frozen on the makeover for that long because three different materials usually means that you can’t just apply any paint.
Long story short, I was sick and tired of the mix-n-match look with the colors of it and the way that the top just looked cheap….so I went out to the garage and dug out some Rust-Oleum chalk paint in Linen White.
I haven’t been using chalk paint for that long….so it’s relatively new to me….but this was the PERFECT project for it. Okay…so here is the low-down on chalk paint….
- you don’t need to do prep but you do need to do a protective coat
- the paint is velvety smooth when you sand it…LIKE BUTTAH!
- it comes in a variety of colors but some Home Depots only carry like three (mine included….c’mon HD!)
- you can make your own but the consistency could be off and you could end up having BAD coverage and terrible texture so it’s like a crap shoot. Good luck.
- you can apply it to lots of different materials
- it has a matte finish that I think looks more expensive
- you shouldn’t expose it to wetness unless it’s well covered with a protective coat
I dusted the bunnies off this puppy and got to work. My super-helper did a great job screwdriving (?) 🙂
This kid. He is a ray of sunshine guys. Seriously. He is feisty and brave and RIDICULOUSLY sweet. Like if you google ‘cute things kids do’….LJ does all of them. And I know he is just regurgitating the things he hears but when I stub my toe, he is the first one to ask if I’m okay and give me kisses and tell me that “I made it all bedder! You gonna be ok? I give kisses!”
At first I considered leaving the table top dark for that cottage look but after a closer look at that laminate texture, I just could not. I literally could not even 🙂
After giving it a couple good coats, I let it dry and then sanded it down.
In retrospect, I probably should have done this part outside….it’s not really the easiest dust to clean up….but eh. live and learn.
I sanded it with 120 and 220 grit for a smooth texture. Also I did the top in both directions so that it looked worn and little dings and scratches would never be noticed.
The sides of it got a ton of texture too.
This I did with my little Ryobi cat corner sander (if you don’t have that tool….you really should consider it. It’s amazing.) and I LOVE the distressed look with kids in the house. It hides everything.
The base has that wood texture on the metal which is really brought out with the chalk paint too. Before you never even noticed it but now, it actually looks like wood.
The entire thing got a coat of Chalk Paint protective by Rust-Oleum too….so that it can get wiped down with a damp rag without totally messing up the chalk paint.
I love the way it looks now. It’s hard because our living room always just got the hand-me-downs and we haven’t really ever tried finishing this space. I blame the kids. They are little destructors. This is their fort-building-toy-playing-jumping-till-the-cows-come-home zone and I love that….but it’s also REALLY hard on furniture. I love having them so close….but I need to make smart decisions on the stuff in this area because the fact is….it’s gonna get abused for many many years to come. Jeremy suggested that we build a concrete coffee table…which is actually a good idea…so maybe that will be a 2017 project. I even had to move our new recliner out because they were starting to mess with it. I am gonna put it in our basement living space so our guests can enjoy it 🙂
I also thought about maybe painting these doors dark. Does that look weird? I love the way it makes the table pop. But I don’t know if it is odd because our windows have to say as is.
This is how it would look zoomed back.
And then maybe I could add curtains? I like the way it makes the molding feel more balanced but that’s a lot of fabric. My kids have a tendency to pull on drapes….so maybe I shouldn’t give my little Tarzans new vines to swing on. It’s definitely something to consider though. What do you think?
So there we have it….a Monday makeover for the masses. Hope you guys have a great day! Wish me luck – I’m finishing tiling today in our master bedroom (hopefully? maybe? ideally? let’s hope?)…and once it’s done, I am gonna celebrate with a shot of rum in my coffee. I know. I’m a wild party animal. But seriously…it is already looking great and I ordered new stuff for in there….so I may be listing some of our old stuff on Craigslist for locals 🙂 I’ll share the links on Facebook once they are up!
And thank you for sharing these little makeover projects on Facebook and Pinterest. You guys make this blog possible and I can’t thank you enough! Happy painting y’all!
Paint the doors!! It’s barely a quart of paint. If you don’t love it, then you can use some good ole’ oil based primer and new paint to cover it up. I would definitely paint the doors, but I would not cover up the sconces or the molding.
Cute table makeover! I agree about kid safe spaces. I’m dying to reno my kitchen, but the kids adore riding the Cozy Coupe around and they always bash the cupboards. I’d rather have a lived in kitchen and happy kids then a fab space where I’m constantly freaking out they will mess it up. One day they will start hiding out in their rooms, I can reno my spaces then to console myself!
And YES paint the doors!!! About 18 mths ago I painted the hallway side of all of my doors a deep charcoal, just a shade or two away from pure black. I left the molding and windows all white. And for décor reasons I left the room sides of doors (like bedroom doors) in their original white. It looks amazing! Everyone compliments me. I feel like a chic decorator, I really did it because I was going mental with the fingerprints and kid smudges. Best idea I ever had. My doors now don’t show little dirty handprints and I look stylish at the same time. Winner winner chicken dinner!
Love your table makeover but visually it’s way too tall to flank those chairs. Maybe find a nook with some dining chairs for it?
I love the painted doors idea! I think it would bring great contrast to the space. I personally would avoid curtains in that room (especially with the monkey boys), but you do you, KB =)
Actually those chairs are way short…they are miniature in this space. So yeah…hopefully soon they will go and there can be something non-hobbit sized in there 🙂
xo – kb
Would you share what protectant you used over the chalk paint? I just bought that same paint for a table too & am curious to what I should use. I hope it’s as cute as yours, our HD only has 3 color choices as well, I chose white for table and charcoal for the chairs.
Love the painted doors, no curtains needed!!!
This is what I used. That is the price for two cans….so they will sell it at HD for just one 🙂 It’s made for exactly this purpose and so far it is holding up great.
xo – kb
my husband would gasp – “No drop cloth! What was she thinking?”.
I personally love the doors and curtain combo! As soon as I saw that picture I gasped at the difference fabric makes! Love!!
Jeremy was like “um how are you gonna clean up that dust?” and I flung open the doors and pulled out the blower 🙂
xo – kb
I love the table! I would paint the doors, and I would also add curtains but with a printed design on them. We just put curtains on a window that has only had wooden blinds on them for years and Oh my goodness they look 1000% better now. Don’t know why I waited so long.
Another vote for painting the doors! I’m getting ready to paint my pantry door and the door to the garage….I just cannot handle the little kid fingerprints anymore. Maybe hold off on the curtains until kids are older? I have ugly curtains in my living room, but don’t want to replace yet because I will be so sad when my kids use them as a napkin or tissue. Or is that just my kids?!?
Same. Same same same. I feel like I get a new throw pillow and immediately my kids think that it’s a place for any candy-stained-slobber to live.
xo – kb
I love it! Paint the doors and add drapes- looks so cozy. 🙂
Hi,
Love this makeover! I have some Annie Sloan chalk paint, but it’s so expensive that it makes me hesitate to use it in case I don’t like the result!
I noticed that from the Gratitude Tree post from yesterday that there’s no link to the previous post?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi, Katie–
The previous post, the gratitude photo tree, doesn’t have any any links at the bottom to click (like “back,” “previous”, or “next”) so that a reader can view earlier blog posts. The comment link at the top of the gratitude photo tree doesn’t work either, so I was unable to give you a heads-up on that post.
Thanks!
Love the table makeover! The shape of that table is great….wish I could find one for $25! I didn’t know Rustoleum made a chalk paint. I used another brand and did it just like you without a drop cloth and the dust was like talcum powder. Learned my lesson! I’d keep the doors white but I love the curtains. IKEA has great panels in long lengths for a reasonable price.
I looove the dark doors!
I like the dark doors. It brings some interest to the wall of white, especially as you’re probably not ready to add drapes yet. Having a focal point on that wall gives your eye a place to rest instead of just roaming around the giant wall of white and windows. AND I vote to paint because they’re not mullioned…if they were mullioned I would vote no paint because painting mullioned doors or windows is the biggest pain ever made.
The table looks nice ! We just have one kid and waited until he was 7 before investing in any new furniture. It’s just not worth it when they’re any younger. Well, we did get a new coffee table when he was 4 as our $40 Walmart special was falling apart. But even then we went with a distressed wood top and metal base! Hard for him to destroy that…though mama did spill acetone and muck up a spot of the finish on the top. 🙁 Thankfully an artfully placed tray covers it nicely. LOL
I love the table now. I like the look of the painted doors, but I’d skip the curtains. I had no idea HD has chalk paint. Thanks for sharing and happy thanksgiving!
I love the table, I think it brightens up the space a lot!
I like the look of the curtains but I think for practical reasons, I would hold back on them until your boys are older. My 3 year old *girl* was trying to use mine as a flying carpet yesterday while her big brother was at school. A blessings from the Lord, that one. So it’s a constant “leave the curtains alone” at least once a day in our house. 🙂
Weird. I don’t even know how to change that.
xo – kb
Agree- I love the painted doors, but not the curtains! The doors would make things pop but leaving the curtains off still keeps it bright.
The table looks great! So funny I redid a coffee table this weekend with the same color!
Hahahaha! Love it! That is the perfect way to clean up a lot of messes. 😉
I agree with all the other comments; paint the doors! No curtains! More light!
This is amazing!!!! Where did you get the wooden tiered serving tray that you’ve decorated on top? I’m crazy about it!
Great table makeover!
The dark doors look fantastic; they add some nice contrast! Not a fan of the dark curtains though. The make it all look too heavy. and they break up the drama of the height of that wall. I could see some curtains in there if they were light, maybe with a tone on tone pattern, but the dark curtains just seem visually out of place.
Yes, paint the doors! But no to the drapes.
It’s from Pier 1 🙂
xo – kb
HAHAHA!!! You, Katie Bower, are a genius! 🙂
I like the contrast that the door adds, but I also like them the way they are. I don’t think I’d put up curtains! My little guy would pull them down. The table looks great!
Yes, to the dark doors, no to those curtains…I think curtains would look great but not a solid dark color…a modern floral / patterned curtain would look nice! I just painted all my interior doors Kendall Charcoal and LOVE them….I left the trim white. Wish I would have painted them a long time ago and I don’t have kids!! Your table looks fantastic!