Farmhouse Table Redo and Tutorial

Now that our bathroom is finished, I was able to tackle a cute little farmhouse table I purchased at an estate sale in June for $12. We sold our old table set at our garage sale in early July, so we've been without a table since then. I wanted it to look old, worn, and rustic. It turned out exactly how I pictured it!!! I'll explain everything I did along the way.

Here's the before picture

I gave the top a really good sanding to remove all the old paint. She's pretty as a blonde, but just wait until you see her as a brunette! :)

Next I painted the legs and aprons with a coat of primer and a coat of Antique White. Then I heavily distressed it with my orbital sander.

Using a technique I read about over at Accessorize and Organize , I put steel wool, distilled vinegar, and some rusty bolts and nails in a glass jar. I let it sit for a few days, shook it up and then used it to "stain" the tabletop. Just brush it on and let it dry.

This picture does not show just how dark the wood really is. The technique gave the top a nice aged wood look while highlighting the imperfections and rustic qualities.

Then I applied about 4 coats of Minwax Wipe on Poly. It darkened the wood even more and gave it a nice, but subtle shine.

See my new vintage Ironstone platter!?!?! I have so many amazing finds to share with you!!

The last thing I did was give the legs and aprons an antique glaze finish. Using Minwax dark walnut stain, I brushed on the stain with a foam brush and wiped it off with an old t-shirt. I love how it darkened the distressed areas!

So there's our gorgeous new table!!! Next, I have to work on repainting the chairs I bought so we can actually start using it. You may have also noticed the lovely orange and yellow colors on the walls and cabinets. I'm in the process of a total kitchen overhaul.  I've been stripping and sanding cabinet doors the past couple of weekends. I'll share more about that later with a tutorial on stripping paint. 

I'm linking to the parties listed HERE and to:

Home Sweet Home Friday at the Charm of Home 

Savvy Southern Style
Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party
The House in the Roses