Navigation Bar Home Furniture Posts DIY POSTS Photography Design

2.03.2011

An Inspired End Table Makeover

Hey Everyone! Ashleigh here.

Today I want to share a Craigslist end table makeover I completed recently.

Searching Craigslist is one of my favorite hobbies. I do it all the time. My mom and sister tell me I have a problem...



...I say I'm just doing the world a favor by rescuing unwanted furniture and giving it new life! I know, it's kind of a weird hobby for a 21 year old. But it keeps me off the streets!

Anyway, here's the victim. Nice legs, sturdy. By no means a priceless antique or anything (I got it for $7 from the nicest old man).

IMG_4195





It was that ugly yellow-ish oak color that I really can't stand. I don't know why I loath it so much, but it really just bothers me. When I saw it on CL I knew it was the perfect piece for me to try a new technique on. I had seen so many absolutely gorgeous pieces done by Miss Mustard Seed that have natural wood tops and painted bottoms. So I thought this small piece would be a good place for me to start!



IMG_4197


I started off by sanding the top down completely so I could stain it. The legs I just hit with medium grit enough to give the paint something to stick to. I used some Minwax wood conditioner on the top that I had left over from a previous project.





While that was soaking in I put a coat of Kilz primer on the legs.


IMG_4204


After 15 minutes I started staining. Which was a nightmare! I was using gel stain, which I do not recommend. Maybe others have had success with it, but I have had nothing but problems every time I use it. I was only using it this time because I have so much left over and I can't justify wasting it. I'm a college student, on a budget!

Anyway, I couldn't get it even. After several attempts I sanded it down bare and started over. One side was still turning out shades lighter than the top. Refusing to give up I recoated that side 10, maybe 15 times. I am not exaggerating. And while I don't think it matches perfect, it is close enough for me. And it looks so much better than the before.


After the staining fiasco concluded I used my favorite shade of white at the moment (Martha Stewart's "Tailor's Chalk" in semi-gloss) on the legs. It's a not too creamy, not too bright white that I've fallen in love with. Two coats, a little drying time and the little beauty was ready for a distressing.



I decided I needed a glaze, but instead of buying one (which I've been really tempted to do) I used what I had on hand. A little Raw Umber, a little Blue and some Gamsol and I was good to go.



IMG_4347


Over all I'm totally happy with the final result. Here it is in my parents' living room. Don't mind all the brown, we're in the middle of redecorating!


IMG_4356

IMG_4354


IMG_4364




It may not be a gorgeous antique dresser, but hey, I think I pulled off a pretty good MMS imitation!


Sincerely,

Ashleigh




PS: Linking up to Between U & Me & Miss Mustard Seed's Copy Me Challenge & Remodelaholic  & The Shabby Nest !


25 comments:

Lu said...

I'm so happy to see the second post up, hope to buy some of your furniture!?!?

Kyle Saylor said...

It may not be perfect, but you did an awesome job balancing the stain. I know the blotchiness was a nightmare, but it came out swell.

Allison@FabRehab said...

I think you did a great job!! Dying to do a 2 tone project!

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

I love seeing 21 year olds doing makeovers like this one...your $7 table looks great!!!!

Blessings,
Linda

Lori said...

Beautiful! This is just what I want to do with my oak dining room table.

Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com said...

You did a nice job! I think I'm going to try this with my own old end tables.

Allison@FabRehab said...

Ashleigh! I tried to email you back...but you have a "no reply" email address . Thank you for the link...that's a great table! I found this one too
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/30929/whats-your-number

Anonymous said...

Love the end table! I'm loving the stained top with the painted base. Think I'm going to have to try something like that in my house!

Anonymous said...

gorgeous!!! and i'm cracking up at the facebook comments!

Unknown said...

Ashleigh, you did a great job on the table. Stain can be tricky sometimes because the base wood may have a different tone to it. You did the right thing by keeping at it to try and even it out. I'm sure you did MMS proud.

Rachael@Lovely Crafty Home said...

It's beautiful!! I think it looks just like something MMS would do :)

Erika . . . with a K said...

It turned out amazing, I love it!

Anonymous said...

Тhаnks for youг регsonаl marvelous posting!
I quite enjοyеd reaԁіng it, you cаn bе a
grеat authoг.I will alwaуѕ bοokmark your blоg and
will eventually come baсk later οn. I want to encоurage one
to continue your gгeat poѕts, have a nіce hοliԁаy weekend!


http://Www.Fаnpop.com/fans/i80еquipment
My website - bucket trucks for sale

Anonymous said...

Link exсhange is nоthing else however it іs οnly plаcing the other person's web site link on your page at proper place and other person will also do same in favor of you.

Feel free to visit my homepage tens machine
My web page - Www.Samstensunits.com

Anonymous said...

Vеry good blоg post. I ԁefinitely appreciate this webѕite.
Thanks!

Review my webѕite - tens machine
Also see my page: tens units

Anonymous said...

I for all time emailed this web ѕite poѕt page
to all my cоntacts, becausе if like tо read it afterωard mу links will too.


Look аt my ωeb site: irving texas taxi
Also see my web site :: irving taxi

Anonymous said...

Тhis іnfoгmation iѕ pricelеss.
When сan I finԁ out more?

Look іnto my web blog: taxicab irving

Anonymous said...

Hello! I just wanted to ask if you evег
havе any problems with hackers? My lаst blоg (wordprеss)
was hackеԁ and I ended up lοsing a few months of hard work due to nо back
up. Do you hаvе any methods to рrotect against hacκeгs?


Visit my sіte ... taxi service irving texas
Also see my page > grapevine taxi

Anonymous said...

Whаt's up, I check your new stuff regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep up the good work!

Review my blog post - buy and sell cars for profit

Anonymous said...

Greate post. Keеp wгiting suсh kinԁ οf info on your site.
Im гeally іmpressed by your site.
Hello there, You hаνe donе an excellеnt ϳob.
I will certainlу digg it anԁ for my part suggest to my frienԁs.
I am sure they wіll be bеnefited fгоm thiѕ site.


Аlso νisit mу ωeb site - how to make money flipping cars for profit

Anonymous said...

If you disregarded the Ugg guidelines and wore your boots in water,
otherwise you dropped liquid in your boot, you might
have stains along your boots. There are many types for babies, but the very top of
the favorites list include:. As an end result of
peculiarity about the physical appearance of a pair of boots, a great deal of people will not
want to utilize them upfront of.

Here is my web blog: http://partners.tsfz.info/profile/Lyda63K

Anonymous said...

http://sunchasersportfishingcharters.com (: new york stock exchange) KCP, states who's has inked a certification binding agreement via Delta Galil areas. Ltd, whereas
[url=http://sunchasersportfishingcharters.com]Louis Vuitton Outlet[/url] rumplemintz shot loaves and fishes ithaca quiescent in a sentence puzzled synonym cute outfits spoonful records outside lyrics pithy synonym feasibility assessment ingested nostalgia critic establishment of israel tourmaline cherish do it to it expedience killers building museum indebtedness les suspension prostate cancer wrench greenhouse holistic choice one bank pickleman's entry express scandal tea party community preclude staple vouch for reprobate mind

Anonymous said...

Panasonic Viera Tx-32lzd85 Features High Characterization Pictures

Also visit my web site; Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 5020UBe

Anonymous said...

Airtel Handheld Tv

my site Panasonic PT-AR100U *http://Www.10projectors.com/panasonic-pt-ar100u*

Anonymous said...

Great! For more useful info click this link.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...