Ugly Duckling=Gorgeous Table

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I was aimlessly wandering through Goodwill a while back looking for a desk that I could redo for myself.  No such luck, BUT, this table kept calling my name over and over.  It was SOLID.  It was definately not a cheapy dinette table, but a real heavy piece of oak.  It just had that plain, orangey tinge brown color.  I don't know why, but I just don't like that color stain.  It just seems dated.  I kept walking away but found I couldn't leave the store without it.

I had a small disagreement with the guy who loaded it for me.  I knew, knew, knew, the top could be easily taken off the base if we just opened it up where the leaf was and exposed the screws.  But, nooooooooo, he wouldn't believe me and wouldn't dare attempt it.  So, I drove home with this monster table right side up in my pick up.  Really, I felt like an idiot.  I had to pull up to daycare like that.  Maybe by now people are used to seeing me like that?  As my husband starts to unload and we realize it isn't going to fit through the door, I suggest taking the top off again, then prepare for him to belittle me like the Goodwill man did.  But, he did it and sure enough I was right!  Here it is right inside the door:

And, look at this top, not the best color, but look at the grain:

So, I stripped the top and sanded to reveal a beautiful raw wood surface.  I then used Rustoleum Dark Walnut Stain, applied it with a brush, but then used a rag to wipe in and wipe off excess.  This stain is dark and really only requires one coat.  It also dries pretty fast.  I wanted to do something a tad different but you really can't tell from the pictures because not only does my camera suck...so do I at taking pictures!  First, I took a hammer and a huge chain and beat up on the table a bit so the dark stain could settle into the knicks and grooves. After the stain fully dried, I sanded with a 220 grit paper by hand, not too  much but made the stained top a bit distressed also.  I then topped with Annie Sloan dark wax.  I love it!  I'll definately do this again on my next wood top, just makes it so rustic.

Then, I painted two coats of Annie Sloan in Pure White, distressed, then topped with clear wax. 

It really is amazing how furniture can be transformed.  This only reinforces to me that I will never again buy any piece of wood furniture brand new.  That's just crazy talk.  I'll keep my money for myself, K?

Here is how it turned out:

This is with the leaf in.  You could comfortably seat 8 around this table, it's that big!

This is without the leaf.  Please excuse the crazy glare.  Grrrrrrr.......

And, the pretty pedestal.  The distressing really brings out the beautiful detail. 

And, that beautiful wood top.  I love this color.  Is it wrong to be this happy about a color of stain?

Now, it's a solid, updated, and useful piece of furniture.  :)

Sharing at:

Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed