Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Coffee Table makeover



About three or four years ago, Jeff and I bought new living room furniture and came across a coffee table in the "scratch and dent" section and because we were buying a whole new living room set, the store threw it in for $25.00.  It had one scratch on the top about three inches long but was barely noticeable because it was also distressed by the manufacturer.  Distressed and/or distressable furniture is a must in our house.  Here's what it looked like as of a couple of days ago.


I have an in-house staff of distressors.

I've been wanting to refinish it for a while and now that we're having some warmer weather, I jumped right into it, without much of a plan.  That's how I roll.

I started by sanding off the table tops old finish with an orbital sander.  At least I think that's what it is.


I left a smidge of the old stain color hear and there and tried not to sand out too much of my children's distressing. 


 I like musing over their artwork, permanently etched into the wood and it's my prefered method of keeping track of their handwriting skills.  Madison's handwriting has made tremendous improvements over the last couple of years.

Then, with the help of one of my chickens, I primed and painted white over the old finish on the base of the table. 

 

I had to fire her when she went to take her 10 minute break and roosted on the wet paint.

Then I mixed a little bit of black acrylic craft paint in with some white to make a medium grey and watered it down by about 50%.  I wanted to go for a slightly weathered look and I wanted to keep the paint thin enough that I could still see through it.  I'm sure there are better methods but I'm just working with what I already had.
I brushed the mixture onto one board at a time then, with a damp towel, I rubbed most of it back off.
On the right side of the picture below, you can see the effect it had.


Next, I mixed some clear, glossy varnish with some medium brown acrylic craft paint and painted it on one board at a time followed by rubbing it down with a damp towel again.


I was both surprised and happy with the results I got considering the materials I used.


My children's handiwork is still visible.






Please visit the following:
Frugal Home Designs
and
 Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

49 comments:

  1. You crack me up! I have an in-house staff of distressors too, although I never thought of it like that. Gotta have dents and dings- could never live in a house with shiny, perfect finish furniture. I love the character of our wear and tear- it shows a family lives here. The coffee table looks awesome. Great job!

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  2. It's wonderful! The details just popped out when you painted the base white. I love it. Hey! You won my giveaway. :) Email me with your address so I can send it to you. Lisa~

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  3. Looks awesome! I am now inspired to do my "child distressed" coffee table. I am loving your house by the way! That stove is to die for!
    Amy

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  4. I am in love with your coffee table!!!! What a difference! Isn't it amazing how the white brings out the gorgeous curves of the base and the kids' distressing really completes the look.
    Well done to the whole family, chooks and all:o)
    Angex

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  5. Every hour I know a Dixon I am a better man. You guys are AMAZING! The table is striking and the stove is the coolest I've ever seen! Right on!

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  6. Your coffee table looks fantastic! What a great result. My in-house distressor's favourite tools of trade were his matchbox cars! xx

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  7. Wow! I am impressed!!! IT looks amazing!! I am even more impressed that you knew the correct name of that sander thingy!:-)

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  8. It looks great! I love that you didn't paint the top. Pretty and functional-perfect!

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  9. absolutely FABULOUS! and how neat that the distress is personal instead of a factory. :)

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  10. How gorgeous is that!!!! I LOVE it...what a transformation, and with such simple supplies. And, something you will always treasure with your childrens etchings :)

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  11. A very pretty after table! You should be very pleased with it!

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  12. Very nice after! Nice work.

    Be sure to stop by AtticMag this week for a Giveaway!

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  13. Great change. I like the colors you chose to paint and the legs on the table are so pretty. I also like that you can still see your children's work, how precious. :)

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  14. This looks fantastic! You did a great job on this table. I didn't realize how pretty it was until you spiffed it!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  15. I loved the finished product of your table. Hubby and I love to do this kind of thing together. It's funny that you just posted this-I just did a post on how to refinish furniture as well. Mine was an old sewing cabinet that I found at Habitat for Humanity for $10. It's absolutely beautiful now!
    Here's the link:
    http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/A/Arts_%26_Crap.html

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  16. Celeste,

    You did a wonderful job! It looks so much prettier with a white base and lighter table top. The family distressing makes it that more special. I used this method (pickling) on all the big old chunky trim, banister and spindles in an old cottage I once lived in. (After striping off years of paint using a heat gun!) It took a few months.

    Deborah

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  17. well your table turned out beautiful, I love how you chose white for the botton and natural for the top, it looks very chic....

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  18. That turned out REALLY pretty. Very soft colors now.

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  19. so beautiful and charming! I really love the white and lighter wood. I hopped over from The Girl Creative and am so happy that I did. Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one this week when you get a moment.I became a follower and hopefully you will do the same. until later...

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  20. Wow, I would never have thought about doing it like that, but I like it! Very cool that you kept the distressing on it ;)

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  21. Love the white & wood combination! Looks like it should have always been this way! Great job!

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  22. Looks awesome! Using what you had obviously worked. We have lots of distressing of our own going on around here too.
    I became a follower and I'm off to check out more of your blog.

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  23. This is beautiful! Great job. And how lucky of you to have your very own distressing department! ; )

    I'm your newest follower!

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  24. I L-O-V-E this table! I would so put this in my living room...totally in love with the style and what you did to it! FABULOUS! ~mary~

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  25. What a great find! I like the sanded top and painted bottom. Looks wonderful! Can I have it now? (smile) cheers, -s

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  26. That table's nicer than it ever was. I like the little grooves on my table too.

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  27. That turned out great!

    lol..house full of distressors..

    I found you through someone else's blog, now following! =)

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  28. WOW!!!! i LOVE it! and i love that you kept your children's handy work- makes it all the more charming!

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  29. Thanks for stopping by kimmykats! The coffee table is wonderful! Inspires me to change mine--you want to do it for me??!!

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  30. Perfect! I just love the lines of the table! I looks great!

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  31. LOL.....I HAVE AN INHOUSE DISTRESSER TOO.....SPELLED H...U...S...B...A...N...D!!!!!
    LOVE THE TABLE!

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  32. This turned out great and I like you have to have distressed furniture in the house with my kiddos! Love the coffee table and that you used what you had on hand!

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  33. How clever. I love the finish. It turned out just wonderful. Hugs, Marty

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  34. Love how it turned out! Isn't it handy to have your own distressors?

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  35. Love that table! What fabulous lines it has. Great job on your handy work!

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  36. LOL - My coffee table top looks just like yours and I was thinking of leaving all the distresses there too when I refinish mine. I love yours - it's beautiful!

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  37. Turned out great! I love your description of your in house distressers!

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours day!

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  38. Great job! I love how you used craft paint and varnish, it turned out so cool! :)

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  39. What a beautiful old table! I love the contrast of light grey bottom/distressed wood top, absolutely beautiful!

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  40. I just found you through Funky Junk Interiors. Love the table! Great blog!

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  41. Really nice table. My table has teething marks on the side where my son would scrape his new incisors up and down on the table. I love seeing them and the memories of watching him do it. I am glad you left your distressed marks in your table.

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  42. "Use what you have" projects are the most meaningful and rewarding. Love the table!

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  43. That piece is gorgeous! I love the "faded" looking finish on it. So pretty.

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  44. I love it... your distressers did a great job! : )

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  45. I love how it turned out! I have a table that I need to redo. I'm saving this so I can use your table as my inspiration.

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  46. Your tabel is soooo lovely.
    Very nice.

    greatings send you Conny

    I will folow you

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