I've had many requests to "put up pictures of the [$6] table already!" so on my day off I've finally gotten a hand dragging it outside to photograph. Unfortunately it was a bit overcast and I couldn't get help carrying it past the driveway, but the pictures should give you a decent idea of what it currently looks like.
The last pictures you saw had it in an awkward state--the top was sanded and stained but not sealed and the apron and legs had been painted Antibes green, which looked really tacky in my opinion.
My next step was to lay on 3 coats of polyurethane over the course of a few days, having to sand between each layer (will I never be done sanding this table??)
In between layers of polyurethane and bouts of frustrated sanding, I worked on dark waxing the chalk paint. It went on really nicely, but I got a bit carried away and it began to look generally dingy. To remedy this, I strategically wiped off dark wax using a rag with clear wax.
I spent quite a while trying to get the apron/legs just how I liked them (and more importantly, even), but after way too much wipe on/wipe off action I had to just accept that the legs would never be exactly the same (or even nearly so at my hand). I'm also still not perfectly satisfied with the smoothness of the top, it isn't as flawless as I had hoped, but after being told by many admirers that it is quite smooth and having impressed my toughest furniture critic, the bf, I think I'm going to call this table done. At least for now.
So here is how it looks all finished up...
Overall I'm pretty pleased with the piece, I think Duck Egg (greenish blue) would have looked really nice with the warm, dark wood but I like the green a lot, too. Also, the response to the new-and-improved $6 table has been really positive, which is always a great feeling. All I can say is that I never, ever, EVER want to sand this thing again.
Hope you like it! I always appreciate feedback, so whether you think it's awesome or hideous I'd love to hear what you think. I have enjoyed the comments, emails, and people dropping by/bringing people by to see it! Keep it coming :)
I really hope you are proud of this table. It looks awesome and grows on me more every time I see the pictures. You alluring little mason...
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm so so happy you like it, I didn't want you to have to eat cereal every morning off a table you hate! Also, I'll let you know when I start stonework ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a SCORE!! Love that ASCP Antibes and how you use it on your table with the stained top. I have a can of Antibes, have used it once (1 part Antibes with two parts Old White) to make a pale lime green tone for a vintage 1930's table and chair set (lime and yellow). BUT I am always looking for new inspirations on how to use the brightly colored Antibes. Your table combo is a great idea-thank you!
ReplyDeleteSmall House / Big Sky Donna
White Oak Studio Designs/Hand-Painted Vintage Furniture Transformations
BLOG: http://smallhouseunderabigsky.wordpress.com
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That toned down mixture of Antibes sounds wonderful! I loooove the bright green color, but a little really goes a long way in a room/house, so I'm always looking for new ways to make use of that can of paint! And lime and yellow sounds divine.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I just found this table on Pinterest & love it! I have a similar table that I'm getting ready to re-finish and was looking for ideas. So to get that effect on the legs you just distressed, painted and then put dark and clear wax on? Any other steps in there? I'm going to be going for this effect on my table but am thinking blue for the legs. So glad I stumbled on this table & your blog. Thank you!
ReplyDeletePS - Congrats on your new "furbaby" absolutely adorable! I'm a huge advocate of adopting animals and love to hear a story such as yours. He will be forever grateful!
Thank you for your sweet comment! I did distress it before I painted, but you would generally do that afterwards only. I did it before because someone had painted the wood white and I wanted the wood to show through when I distressed the green, not just the white.
DeleteTYPICALLY you would paint the furniture first (however many coats you feel necessary), distress after it dries, apply a full layer of clear wax, and then apply a layer of dark wax if you want. Some people prefer to apply the wax before distressing (I think it's less messy), but I personally get better results and feel like I waste less wax if I do it before. However, it turns out well either way :)
Can't wait to see how your table turns out, be sure to post a picture on your blog so we can all admire it when you're done!
LOVE it! I just painted 4 of 6 chairs a Kelly Green and been debating what to do to the table. think I will match the base to the chairs and stain the top as you have done! THANK YOU for sharing the process! My kids are heading to Chicago for a week and then camp so I am hoping to be immersed in projects while they are away!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fantastic! I am about to redo my kitchen table and I would love to achieve similar effects. So you used chalk paint (new to this, what is chalk paint?) to paint the legs, then distressed them, then clear wax, and then dark wax? What about the top? Did you just stain it then the 3 layers of polyurethane? This will be my first major furniture project so any tips would be appreciated. I am also doing the chairs. Would you use chalk paint and wax on them as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi Erin,
DeleteIf you do a quick google search, you can quickly find a wealth of detailed info on "chalk paint." Simply put, it is an environmentally friendly type of paint that requires little to no prepwork and that is easy to distress and to make appear aged (though not the same as chalkboard paint). On my table I used a few coats of chalk paint, a coat of clear wax (if you don't use clear wax first, the dark wax will stain the paint and make it very dark), a coat of dark wax, and then I used clear wax to purposefully remove some of the dark wax to my liking. The top I sanded until it was raw wood and I half crazy, applied a stain, and then sealed with poly. I think that chairs would look amazing done in chalk paint! I would however choose to seal them with polyurethane. Wax does a great job enhancing the color of chalk paint and does a decent job protecting it, but for high-use pieces (like a kitchen table-top and chairs) I think a more durable and scratch/water-resistant choice would be polyurethane. I am no expert on this though and spent a lot of time at Home Depot asking about this and that and getting advice! Don't expect them to know too much about chalk paint though :)
Good luck!
I love it, and plan to paint something this green because of how great yours looks.... Thanks for trying green....
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