I’ve really been looking forward to the DIY Furniture Girls March Challenge. If you recall, I’m a full-on traditional girl. Not so much because I WANT to be traditional, but it’s just the life God gave me. Traditional. 1990’s brick. Yellow-orange oak hardwoods. Huuuum. Yea. By today’s decor popularity standards…….it’s a real
snooze fest.
Well, it’s OK. And, for the long-term, I can work with that. But, for this month, however brief be the moment in time, I get to shake off that boring traditional girl image….and live a decor dream in the super-fabulous farmhouse world.
OK. OK….maybe it’s not THAT dramatic, but it should be. I mean, why not? Don’t you ever get tired of your surroundings and wish you could be magically transported to another place and time? Yea…….well since that really isn’t possible, I decided to do the next best thing…….to magically transport a piece of furniture from days gone by.
This coffee table is yet another rescue from inside my own house. For the past 20-plus years, it has been in the basement with the boys and the pizzas and the colas and the video games. When this challenge was announced, I knew it was just perfect for this little abused darlin. And so, the updo of a life-time began.
REFRESH (not Refinish) the Top:
Earlier this week, I wrote a post about using beeswax to refresh dry, thirsty wood. If you missed it and want to read about the product I used, you can catch the link here. But, here’s the super-easy skinny about how the top went from dry, scratched, scarred, and circled …..to brand spanking new.
To start, the top was thoroughly cleaned and dried. I just used a little soap and water and immediately wiped away the dampness with a clean cloth. After the table air-dried for a few hours, an all-natural furniture polish made from beeswax was applied. In the photo below (left), the before and after is pretty amazing.
I just applied it with my hands and rubbed it into the wood like I was giving it a deep muscle massage. Sounds crazy, but the heat from my hands and the friction from rubbing combined to thin out the wax so it could sink into the wood.
Now, I won’t lie. I rubbed for a while, y’all. I mean, like 15-20 minutes. The more I rubbed, the more the wax seemed to disappear into the wood. When I stopped, the top looked like the photo on the bottom (right).
After about a week, the top looked like this (photo below). And does, in fact, still look just this good. Yes, even with all of the use and abuse. The wax, which cured to a matte finish, is holding up great.
REFINISH (not Refresh) the Bottom:
Now, about the bottom. One coat of chalk paint that was made with latex paint and a chalk paint additive (link that reviews this product is here) was applied.
And then……..it was distressed with 80-grit sandpaper.
Yep, 80-grit sandpaper provided the deep distressing and was followed with a buff using 240-grit. This combo came together to make the finish look rough, but feel totally smooth.
Add Some Farmhouse Bling:
Galvanized containers were added to the lower shelf…..
……And some pretties on the top.
And this down-trodden little table was suddenly…..and magically transformed……from traditional drab to farmhouse fab.
Thanks so much for visiting the DIY Furniture Girls March Challenge.
If you appreciate this easy makeover, I do hope you’ll share it with your friends.
CHECK OUT MORE GREAT FARMHOUSE MAKEOVERS FROM THE GIRLS…..
ALSO SHARING AT THESE GREAT PARTIES…..
Moonlight & Mason Jars via Cherished Bliss
DIY Like A Boss via Designer Trapped in a Lawyer
DIY Collective via Average But Inspired
36th Link Party via The 36th Avenue
Inspiration2 via LiveLaughRowe
Create It Thursday via Lamberts Lately
Best of Weekend via Sweet Pea
Share It One More Time via The Everyday Home
Silver Pennies Sundays via Finding Silver Pennies
Before and After via Thrifty Decor Chick
67 Comments
Love it, Susie! I almost bought a table just like that to rework, but the lady was asking to much. I love what you did with it and also love your timeless style. 🙂
Thanks, Larissa. Yes, our dear table has a new look, but is back in business for the boys. LOL.
WOW! WOW! WOW! I love your project! You knocked it out of the park! Stunning!
Thanks so much. We are so happy to have the piece ready for the next 20-plus years.
Wow, that table doesn’t even look like the same piece anymore! You did an amazing job and it looks GORGEOUS!
Hugs,
Karin
Thanks so much, Karin. We love our old pieces and are enjoying them in their new finishes.
Holy cow, Susie, the table looks amazing! I LOVE the distressed finish on the bottom, and you know I am just a little addicted to galvanized metal. 😉 For a girl that doesn’t “do” farmhouse, you sure look like an expert to me!! 🙂
LOL…Kimm…you crack me up. Thanks so much for your visit and kind words. Appreciate so much.
What a beautiful transformation Susie! I had a coffee table very similar until a few years ago. I should have given it this treatment. I love the two tone look of part paint part stain. Great job girl, you rocked it!
Thanks, Toni. This table is solid as a tank…It just needed a little TLC. LOL.
Susie, this table turned out fantastically!!!!! The wood came back to life and is absolutely stunning. Nicely done, sweet friend!
Thanks so much, Sarah. Yes.. the abused and very thirsty wood came back to life. I wish I would have been running a video camera. It was amazing to see.
Such a great transformation Susie!!
Maxine
Thanks, Maxine! Appreciate so much!
Wow, now that’s using elbow grease! Quite the transformation Susie – well done.
Thanks, Marie. That’s right. Nothing fancy to see here, just old-fashioned elbow grease. LOL..
Great makeover-love the distressed and chippy finish!
Thanks, Darrielle. I love the sweet chippy, too. I am thrilled to finally have a chippy piece. 🙂
Holy cow! That top looks brand new! Fantastic, classicly timeless makeover
Thanks, Amy. Yep..no sanding…no priming…just a deep beeswax massage. LOL!!! Who knew?
Wax is amazing! I love the look of the coffee table now! Great destruction on the bottom too.
Thanks, Jeanette. You know that 80-grit sandpaper can surely put the hurt on a coat of chalk paint. LOL..:-)
Stunning! Wow what a fabulous job! Off to read about your beeswax!
Thanks, Wendi. I must admit, we’re loving this little table’s new look.
Wishing I had a table that I could do this technique on! And those galvanized bins… are you sure you’re not a country girl! I need to get me some beeswax furniture wax and hire you to write my blog posts! :0) xo
Thanks, Lucy!! LOL….you crack me up. Actually, I am a proud country girl, but my home decor just followed my mom…traditional.
This looks like a totally different piece! I definitely want to check out Daddy Van’s wax as it looks like an amazing product. Isn’t it great to take something you already own and give it a new look and life?
Thanks, Paula. Yes! I LOVE to redo my own pieces. I’ll be painting and sanding one of them every month until I get through the house. LOL..
I am drooling over the distressed sides on your table. Beautiful job!
Thanks so much, Audra. It’s really easy to duplicate. It’d be fun to have twin tables. LOL..
You are so far from boring, don’t believe that one little second. I am always amazed at your gifts. I can’t even believe the top wasn’t re-stained, it is gorgeous!!! And everything is styled so perfectly. Wish I could share coffee and put my feet up on your new table! Although I wouldn’t want to mess up such a great job!!!
Thanks, Kim. I truly wish you could come over, too. And, here…we kick off our shoes at the door, grab a sweet tea, plant our bottoms on the weathered bench (remember that redo??), and our feet up on this coffee table. The wax is holding up beautifully. It was the perfect fix.
Wow!! Amazing. I love it and I want it! ! You nailed it. Great job.
Thanks so much, Michelle. My mom asked why I wanted to make my table look like I had gotten it out of the trash. And, since she’s the 1960s pin-up girl for traditional decor, you just gotta give her a little slack. LOL… But, when I heard her say that…I knew I had struck farmhouse gold. LOL.
Gorgeous Makeover, Susie! Love the finish you got on the top.
Thanks, Amy. After I practiced on those bookends and saw the result….I just had a feeling that this furniture polish would be great on this beat-up table.
Gorgeous! So light and airy. I love everything about it! I wish I enjoyed redoing furniture. I get so inspired then remember I never finish those projects. 🙁
LOL….thanks, Wanda. I know just what you mean. If you need any proof that I, too, get inspired, but don’t always follow-through….look at my Pinterest account. #kindredspirits
Gorgeous Susie! I can almost feel the buttery smoothness of the top!
Thanks, Mary. It really is quite amazing. I’m so happy with the look and the durability. XOXO
Great project! Love that beautifully restored top with the rustic aged bottom! Win!
Thanks, Sue. Yep, this sweet little table is now ready for 20-plus more years of family service.
Suzie,
Your talent to create a warm home is simply amazing to me. We are both working on our homes rather than selling our pieces. I look forward to meeting you in person one day. After a huge hug will be a grateful thank you for being my friend.
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
Thanks so much, Karen. I look forward to meeting you one day, too. Word on the street is you are a GREAT hostess. LOL. #Imacomintovisit
Wow you really gave this forgotten table a whole new life!! It looks amazing! XO
Thanks, Christy. We love it, too!!
Such a great transformation Susie! Love your project! You did an amazing job and it looks Gorgeous!
Thanks, Merryjo. We are really enjoying the piece in its new life. Appreciate your stopping by and for you most kind words.
Looks great! I love it.
Thanks so much. Appreciate your kind words.
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Love your make-over! And your photos! You GO GIRL!
Thanks for inspiring me today!
karianne
Thanks Karianne. You’ve just made my day.
Thank you for linking your awesome farmhouse able makeover on our first (Waste Not Wednesday link party. (http://www.smallhomesoul.com/waste-not-wednesday-link-party-1/). I had a mission coffee table that I got tired of and sold. Now I wish I’d done this kind of makeover on that table instead of getting rid of it. True inspiration here!
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Love how the table turned out. I’ve never worked with beeswax before. I love that pot of figs on top!
Thanks so much, Barbara. It still looks great…huuum…6-8 months later and lots of abuse. Still perfect. I’m thrilled.
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