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Monday, August 1, 2011

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:

80 comments:

  1. Love the table! Melissa, I would love for you to share this on my website! You just tell about your project and upload a few photos! Very easy! Once approved I will send you an "I've been featured" button! I love your furniture makeover! Here is the link: http://www.decorating-ideas-made-easy.com/your-decorating-ideas.html

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  2. Melissa,
    you did an amazing job with the table, I found it very hard to achieve the shabby look..
    I'm inviting you to join our linking party every Wednesday at
    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/07/hgtvs-cash-cari-with-linking-party.html
    Have a fabulous week,
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

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  3. That is an awesome table. I would love to find something like that. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

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  4. Beautiful! Love what did with the table.. so elegantly simple.. and I love the tablecloth too! Thanks so much for sharing withthe Pink Hippo party.. can't wait to see what you share next!

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  5. Love your table! It's so charming, with a fabulous farmhouse feel. (Neat technique, too). *Becca* (new follower)


    www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com

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  6. Love the table and thanks for the tutorial! Thanks for sharing at Met Monday!

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  7. Lovely little table! Visiting from DebbieDoos!

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  8. Great idea for the stain! Must try it.
    I am a new follower.

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  9. Now this is really a beautiful table top. You did a great job and it looks awesome with the stained top. Your little runner, platter and pitcher look wonderful sitting on top.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  10. thanks for sharing:) this is awesome:)
    http://jaysonandashley.blogspot.com/

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  11. I love this table!!! I cannot believe you got it for $12. And the stain technique rocks. Such a great job!

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  12. Love the results! Looks perfect with the ironstone and the runner! Never heard of that method before - amazing!
    Kathy

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  13. Wow!! It looks super great! I am so glad the vinegar technique worked for you. Thanks for the mention!!!

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  14. Beautiful! I am definitely going to have to try that process of aging the wood.
    I'm your newest follower! :)

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  15. Lovely table transformation! Great distressing!

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  16. The table turned out wonderful, I love it and the runner is stunning. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  17. I love your gorgeous new table!
    So happy I stopped by ~ Happy WW!

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  18. That turned out so cute! I love everything about it.

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  19. Fabulous results! Thanks for the steel wool mixture idea. One neve knows when that recipe might be needed!

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  20. Okay girl, the table looks wonderful and I have always been drawn to them, but the vignette also is so wonderful to look at. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. that is awesome! the top is so stunning and rustically chic!

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  22. Hi Melissa! I found your beautiful table on PRIMP's linky party. It looks awesome. I love your homemade stain ;) That was clever. I just signed on as a follower...my icon is the chicken. I am new to blogging and would love if you came over sometime! Thanks for the great tutorial, Andrea @ townandprairie.blogspot.com

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  23. I love the darker top with the lighter distressed legs. very well done.

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  24. my favorite kind of table: one that looks like lots of good stories have been told around it.
    beautiful. amazing. lovely.
    kathi

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  25. It looks great! I want one!!! LOL!

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  26. Melissa, The table turned out wonderful! I have never heard of the steel wool, nails and vinegar technique but I love how the stain looks. Your runner and ironstone are fabulous too. Thanks for linking to the Open House party.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  27. We must be traveling in a parallel universe, I'm working on a table too after a long time without one, I tried the look you have achieved so well but it didn't work for me so I'm on to something else but after seeing your finished piece I noticed the flour sack you used under the ironstone platter. I just got that same sack at the antique market this weekend.

    Anyway...back to your table, I've never heard of the process you used but I'll keep it in mind for future projects. Thanks so much for sharing your fabulous table.

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  28. It's terrific, Melissa! You did a great job, and I love the staining tip. I'll have to give that a try.

    Thanks for linking to the party again this week. I'm enjoying your transformations. ;)

    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  29. You found this for $12?!
    Wow, you did such a great job transforming this too...thanks for telling how you did it. I cannot tell you how long I've wanted a table like that..maybe one day I'll find one that's just right..I sure hope so..thanks for sharing your post :)
    Big hugs,
    Queenie

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  30. Thanks for teaching us how to distress a table. I love the tip about the steel wool and vinegar in a jar...that's a tip you don't run across every day!

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  31. really great job on the table, it looks like it is a finely aged, orginal farmhouse table now! love your feed sack runner as well!!

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  32. You did a great job with the table, it looks wonderful! Thanks for stopping by and joining Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays linky party

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  33. i LOVE this table!!! what a beautiful job! thanks for inspiring me... we are going to do this eventually to our dining room table, there's just too many other projects right now, but hopefully one day it will look as amazing as yours does!!!! great job!

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  34. Such a perfect table! Love the grainsack runner. Thanks for sharing....

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  35. What a sweet little table-love how the top gets it's color! very clever!

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  36. wow!!! its a beautiful color!!!!

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  37. Love how this turned out, I've never heard about this amazing stain mixture. Thanks so much for linking up with VIF, xo Debra

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  38. Love it! Thanks for the great idea for the stain.

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  39. What a neat technique! The table looks great!

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  40. You are awesome! I love it! I've tried that technique on a few things with just the vinegar and steel wool. I can't wait to try it again with rusty nails added. Thank you so much for linking up!

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  41. Looks great. I never heard of that technique but that is so neat. You sure did a fabulous EMT on that table.
    Have a great weekend.

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  42. You did an amazing job on that table I had not heard of that technique but from a scientific standpoint it totally makes sense. I will have to try that. I just loved all of your ironstone. Ironstone is so warm and inviting.

    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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  43. That looks fantastic! My kitchen table is similar. This is a perfect farmhouse table.
    Thanks for linking it up at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  44. What a great idea on the steel wool and bolts mixutre.. just what I needed for a project! Thanks so much for sharing.. your table is fabulous! xo marlis

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  45. It looks soooooo good. I love it!

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  46. Well....I adored that little table before you touched it....but love it after you did! :) Great job! I tried that vinegar technique once, but it really didn't do anything to the wood. Maybe I should'ave let it sit for more than 10 hours before using it...?

    xoxo laurie

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  47. This cam out so nice!! You styled it so well too! LOVE!!

    - Jenn @ Social Salutations

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  48. I'm your newest follower. Love this little table--you did her wonders.

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  49. what a cool table! I've been looking for something similar, but haven't found it yet! You have some great ideas! i'll be following along!

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  50. Your farmhouse table is just gorgeous!

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  51. It looks like it came right out of the 1800's!

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  52. Your table is perfect! A wonderful re-do.
    Have a great weekend!
    ~ Julie

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  53. I LOVE THIS! The photos are awesome, too!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

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  54. You did a great job. It is perfect. I love the warmth of the wood and your display!! Kathi

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  55. I've never heard of that staining technique! I'll have to try it out. I love the runner as well--did you make it? And finally--LOVE the table! You did a great job with the finish!
    I hope you can join my link party going on now with your project! www.alittleknickknack.com

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  56. Fabulous! I have never heard of your 'stain' technique. Pinning this!

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  57. Such a wonderful piece!! You did a great job!

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  58. absolutely gorgeous! I love the table runner as well. I'd love for you to link this up to my friday link up.
    www.blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com

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  59. I love your table! You did a great job refinishing. I'd love it if you'd come link this up at my Home and Family Friday linky party!

    Becca
    becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com

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  60. Great job! I love that table!
    I love the runner too! And your ironstone platter......can I have it?? :)

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  61. It looks amazing! I love that you made your own stain too...how cool is that! Stopping by from Serenity Now! Have a great weekend.

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  62. I just adore this little table! I hope you will come share this at my VIP party today. http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/08/vip-party-22.html

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  63. Love it, Love it!!! It is so cute and primitive! Love the top--I never heard of that technique before. Thanks for sharing! I am your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime.

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  64. GOR. GEOUS.

    I can't believe you made the stain! Did I read that right? I'm going to check out that link for sure.

    What a beautiful table. It looks SO expensive. Visiting from Serenity Now!

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  65. YOur table looks fabulous! I love it, what a great rusty concoction you came up with and what a beautiful finish it gave the wood!
    Hugs, Cindy
    Your blog is lovely, I will be sure to come back for a visit!

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  66. That looks great. I think it would look better at my house. ;)

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  67. Following your blog now. Awesome staining technique. I love how the table looks now. I would love for you to show this off at my Wickedly Crafty Saturdays! http://wiccanmakesometoo.blogspot.com/2011/08/wickedly-crafty-saturdays-8611.html

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  68. That looks absolutely gorgeous! You did such a great job on that and we are so glad you shared it with us at Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

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  69. This is so charming and sweet~ I love love love it! Thanks for linking up at FNF :)

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  70. Fantastic job on the table. Thanks for sharing the staining technique. Lots of rusty old nuts and bolts around here!
    I remember the era of orange walls. Wishing you energy, persistence and a lot of joy with your changeover.

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  71. You are awesome! That turned out so well! We would love for you to share this at our link party and come enter our free digital scrapbooking software giveaway!

    Love,
    The Sisters @ Six Sister's Stuff

    http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/search/label/Strut%20Your%20Stuff%20Saturday

    http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-memories-digital-scrapbooking.html

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  72. Melissa,

    Thanks for linking up at my Sundae Shake Up Link Party. I hope you will join me again on Sunday for another fun party! Can't wait to see you there, my friend!

    Jacque @ Jacque's Soda Parlor
    thesodaparlor.blogspot.com

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  73. getting ready to work on a table, a reader sent me over to look at yours. It's fabulous! I glaze with dark walnut too! :)

    thanks for some inspiration,
    gail

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  74. just a note to let you know that i featured your creative table makeover on fridays unfolded this week!

    alison

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  75. GORGEOUS table! I adore the dark finish. This is really lovely!
    Thank you for linking with air your laundry Friday!

    xo
    Jami

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  76. OH MY GOSH! This is absolutely gorgeous! YOu did such an amazing job on it! I found your blog through a link party and love it! I am your newest follower and would love it if you would check out my blog and follow me too! Thanks!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

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  77. The table is so beautiful. Love the new look.

    We have a link-up party going on - Tea Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. I would really appreciate if you'd link up some of your awesome posts there. Hope to see you at the party.

    http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-2-and-features.html

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  78. I just found your wonderful blog and am so happy I did!!! I love your style!!! happy weekend wishes from your newest follower!

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