Sunday, September 26, 2010

Gathering table




I am still on my quest to get enough of my garage cleared out for my husband to park in the garage before the frost hits! And I may just make it! :-)

I finished one of my more ambitious projects to date. Although I have finished two tables (here and here), and even eight chairs for one of those tables (here and here), I didn't tackle them all at once. This time, however, I found a bargain I couldn't resist, in the shape of an oak pedestal table (with leaf!) and six pressed-back chairs. They've been sitting in my garage for about a month now.

Yes, I already had started sanding when I remembered to take a picture! But not too much.


I love love love these chairs!


And I am still in love with the walnut top/creamy bottom combination. Sorry. I promise my next project will be something different than that (coming soon!).

I used Minwax Dark Walnut stain again. It is gorgeous on oak!

I know I put at least two coats of stain on. It could have been three! Then I gave it three coats of polyurethane.

Next I tackled the base of the table. I used a brush and gave it a coat of Zinser 1-2-3 primer. I am liking this brand better than Kilz, I think. Then I chose NOT to use Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint for this project. It would have taken a LOT of spray paint. Instead, I invested in a gallon of Sherwin Williams Creamy and brushed and sprayed it on.

Here's what the leaf looked like with the apron painted. You can't see any of the pretty pressed pattern, and you know what that means....

Time to do some glazing!

I chose not to use stain as my glazing medium this time, but instead I used diluted burnt umber craft paint. The color is a great match, but more importantly, I had more control than I do with stain. (You can wipe stain off to a certain extent, but not as easily as paint.) I brushed the diluted paint on liberally, waited a few minutes, and then wiped with a damp rag to remove the excess. In the picture above, the left leg has been glazed, while the right leg has not.


The difference really shows in the chairs. Above, the left chair is un-glazed, compared to the right glazed chair. I had to use the brush to get all those little crevices saturated with color, and then wipe off the flat surfaces. Certainly glazing of any kind does darken the overall color of the chair, but not nearly as much as stain would have--in fact I don't think I would have been able to get the contrast I wanted with stain in this instance.

Doesn't the table apron look better now?

Lastly I distressed the chairs and the table base. I didn't really do anything to the pressed pattern; it stood out well with just the glazing. But all the spindles and corners and curves got worked over. It just seems more practical to me to distress a piece--and that's probably because I am the mother of six! Things are going to get distressed whether I like it or not...so it's just less traumatic if it looks like it's on purpose!

So here are some "after" shots...

Four chairs with no leaf...

A shot of some great legs....

And six chairs with the leaf inserted.

I was so tempted to bring it in my house to see how it would look. But my 13-year-old and 11-year-old house slaves groaned at the prospect, and I caved to unpopular demand!

I have been searching and searching and searching the classifieds for a table of my own to do this with. I have seen a couple that would be perfect (for example, a HUGE Pottery Barn table that was sold for seventy-five dollars), but I have been too late each time!

So...if anyone comes across a likely prospect in the Salt Lake area, let me know! I need something that can easily accomodate eight people (about 78"), with leaves that can handle up to twelve (96" or more). I dream of chunky turned legs and a plank-style top. Cross your fingers for me!



Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special



Furniture Feature Fridays

18 comments:

Suzanne@thriftstoredecorjunky said...

I don't care if you do it every time...the two tone is gorgeous.Love it. Where are you selling it?

COTTAG3 said...

I redid a very similar dining set I inherited just like this and love it. I think the white base and dark stained top look amazing together. Great job!

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

I have an old oak table that I'm thinking of doing this to. Yours turned out really pretty.

Holly @ BeachCoveJewelry said...

I just did that to my $15 broyhill table I found on craigslist. But I used the Bombay Mahogany stain!

{northern cottage} said...

lovely lovely - I'm sure A LOT OF WORK! I like the creamy white and the stained top still too. Do what you LIKE!

Chrissie said...

Wow! I love this table set, you did a wonderful job. I am a new follower!

oops! said...

Oh My! Beautiful!!!

Rachel said...

If anyone can find it, you can. Of that I've no doubt. And when you do, you'll make it look beautiful. Can't wait!

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Just stopping by from Nifty Thrifty! The table and chairs turned out just gorgeous! You did a great job painting! I really like the contrast.

Bekki said...

Beautiful! That is what I am looking for for my breakfast area. I love the pedestal base and the detail really shows with the glaze.

kathie said...

It sure was a lot of work but it was worth every minute- it is perfect. Love it!

Glenda @ Magnolia Bend Drive said...

My son and daughter-in-law have this same table, and I painted it just like you did, only I painted the top of the table too. Looking at yours makes me want to go back and stain the top - Yours looks much better!

LouLou said...

I love it.... Simply Divine!

Kim @ A Brush of Whimsy said...

This is gorgeous! YOu did an amazing job! Did you spray or brush on the poly?
Kim :)

Becca Bertotti said...

Gorgeous !! Down to every last detail. I'm getting ready to paint my dining room table and buffet in this same manner (leaving the tops a dark walnut). Did you poly AFTER you distressed them? And, do you use a liquid poly or the wax? Amazing job !! *Becca* (a new follower)

www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I have this exact table I want to refinish it cherry any suggestions for sanding the chairs and staining this is my first experience?

Anonymous said...

sorry i am new to this blogging thing--I sent the last question about the sanding and staining my email address for a reply is jewel7175@yahoo.com Thanks for your help and time:)

Unknown said...

My father passed away and I got this exact table. I loved yours so much that I copied exactly. I was wondering after the glazing did you do anything to seal/protect the paint? I'm new to this.. Thank you so much! Love your work! Nickolemcgraw@yahoo.com