Sunday, August 29, 2010

Lighten Up!

I love dark, espresso colored wood.  BUT, I am sick of dusting it and then it looking dusty 2 hours later (children eating on it does not help!).   I decided I needed to lighten things up.  The nesting tables I have had for 17 years, bought them at KMart--they have been natural, black and brown.  First I painted them cream and antiqued them, but they looked too country for my taste (I forgot pictures of that stage).  I decided to sell the cream nesting tables, the details on the legs are not the look I want anymore and I figured I had gotten my 17 years of use out of them and was able to sell them for more than I had originally paid.
I kept the coffee table--purchased from a thrift store a few years back for $7.50.  I also bought this little upholstered bench for $4 at the thrift store.  This was the original tapestry on it and there was about an inch of dirt under the horsehair padding.  This piece is quite old, straight screws and upholstery a hint.
The coffee table got a coat of a tan, coffee with cream colored paint.  As I started to sand a little bit of the tan off , it came off in big sheets (I had not sanded first and the stain from the antiquing caused the tan to not stick well--sorry no pictures of this either but it looked like a bunch of college guys had been using it for years).
So I sanded and primed again and painted the beachy stripes like I had on the previous table I showed you.  It looked like a surfboard and a little too modern or something for my taste.
Finally I painted the table and then bench (now a table with the upholstered seat gone and just the wooden bottom) a sea blue with cream on top.  I left the top of the now end table more blue than the rest of it.
I did some sanding, added some oak stain and new knobs and finally achieved a finish and look that I think I can live with that won't show as much dust.


I also purchased a new brown shag rug and love the lighter furniture on it.
Find more fabulous ideas at Funky Junk Interiors and at Between Naps on the Porch!

14 comments:

  1. they turned out great and will definitely be so much more manageable in a house with kids. i got into painting and distressing furniture bbased much upon the fact that it suited out household so much more! love that little side table- the colors and finish are gorgeous!

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  2. Wow, they look great!! I love the light color and the distressing! Looks like you'll get many additional years out of these pieces :)

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  3. I love that little rectangle table the best! It is adorable!
    You did a really nice job!
    gail

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  4. Beautiful! I love cheap furniture that's made over. It's so beautiful and unique that I never want to buy the over priced brand new stuff again!

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  5. Crazy cool! I am so impressed and perplexed at how you did that. This is not a skill I have but I'm learning lots, so maybe one day I'll have a post about some piece of furniture I have transformed because of all the amazing encouragement from blogs like yours. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  6. Wow! I love these! What a great job! I know what you mean, LOVE dark furniture but...
    THE DUST!!!

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  7. Hi Becky! Thanks for the comment.

    I really like the way your table turned out too. I've bookmarked your blog to keep coming back and checking on your new and ongoing projects.

    Have a great week.

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  8. Oh gosh, love the finish!! I am yet to re-finish any of my furniture, call me chicken!! Haha but I love how you just add paint and voila, new piece!! Def going to follow you and your future projects!! What inspiration!

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  9. Great color combination!

    I have a question, does everyone coat their furniture with poly after painting?

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  10. It's very subtle combo with the brown shag rug but the blue undertones on the table really make it pop. So smart.

    @melissa - no poly after painting. doesn't need it unless it's for kids IMO.

    We've started a new ink party each Friday at Atticmag called Giveaway Friday!, a convenient place for bloggers to come post about their giveaway(s) each week.
    We're kicking it off with a kitchen back splash giveaway -- just drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win.

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  11. Bec you are no joke... lovely piece... I like alot!!!

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  12. My gosh, I am in awe of your bench-turned-table. I never would have thought of doing that but you have given me an amazing idea! I have a similar bench waiting to be redone and I need a little side table. Thanks a million for the inspiration.

    Jane T.

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  13. I just love the way this turned out! It's really beautiful, and something I think I can do too - which makes it even more inspiring! Thanks for sharing, and as always inspiring!
    Artie
    P.S., stop by and let me know what you think of my little video I did of my house. I hope you like it - would love to know what you think!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!