Do you ever find a piece of furniture that draws you in and you are not fully sure why, and especially in its current state?
Recently we had this same feeling with this unique table. When we ran into it, it needed a much-needed redo. The finish was chipping, the shade was missing, and the legs dented. However, even as it sat, we knew it had the potential to be something great. So, we brought it home and got to work on its amazing transformation. Follow along below to see our process and how you can do the same.
Items We Used for This Project:
- Howard's Neutral Restor-A-Finish
- Chalk Paint of Your Choice (We used BEHR PREMIUM Chalk Decorative Paint in Farmhouse White)
- Wide Paint Brush (We used a 3 in. Angle Paint Brush from Harbor Freight)
- Wall Decal of Your Choice (We used this Chinese Style Bird Wall Decal from Amazon)
- Your favorite clear sealer (We used Dixie Bell Gator Hide)
- Howard's Feed-N-Wax Furniture Conditioner
- White Terry Towels (We use ProLine Terry Towels from Lowe's)
- Water and Spray Bottle
- The finial used came from Lowe's but we cannot find it online to share
After giving it a quick wash with water and a cotton rag we used our trusty Howard's Neutral Restor-A-Finish. We just apply a tiny amount of the Neutral Restor-A-Finish on a cotton rag and gently wipe it across the areas with discoloration or chipping finish. For this piece we wanted to use the chipping finish to our advantage to add an aged final look and opted not to sand the finish off of the table. After letting it sit overnight, we taped off the lighter trim with painters' tape and raised the center pole so we could easily paint under it.
Once it was prepped, with a dry paint brush we applied a tiny amount of leftover Bahr Premium Chalk Paint from a different project. The color we used here is Farmhouse White in their BEHR Designer Collection. Working with small amounts of the paint on the tips of the bristles, we gently dry brushed the surface in a sweeping motion working across the whole top and keeping in the same direction. For this size table a 3-inch angled brush worked well.
An amazing part of working with chalk paint is that it is very forgiving. If you don't like the way something looks, or you applied too much or even if you applied the wrong color, it can easily be removed using a clean rag with water. This can be a real lifesaver at times.
For this particular project we did decide to 'smudge" some of the brush marks by using a damp foam brush and with a light hand gently going over some of the areas where I wanted more of a worn look in the final result.
After it sat overnight, I pieced together a transparent sticker which I had used on a prior table with a similar look. The stickers used were these Chinese Style Bird Wall Decals from Amazon. A disclaimer is that these are very translucent even in the areas of the print which are darker and can fade into the background.
Once the design was spread out, we peeled the backing, stuck them to the table and let the cure for several hours before applying a clear coat over the entire surface. We had heard good things regarding Dixie Bell Gator Hide and purchased it for a transfer project. Since we wanted a good seal, we decided to give it a try for this table. Working in thin layers we applied small amounts to the entire surface and the table edges letting them dry well in-between coats. While we didn't keep track of the number of coats we just kept applying until we were unable to feel the edges of the stickers ensuring that they would not lift up in the future. Dixie Belle Gator Hide also repels water which we liked for this table so that it would not encounter water rings if a glass were to sweat on its surface.
A quick side note we want to share is that when working with a surface which has a cracking finish such as this table there is the potential for the underlying stain to seep through the paint and discolor the new application. We were okay with this happening and felt for this piece it would add a unique aged look. You can see where this happened on the surface where there are yellowed areas. If this is not the look you want a quick clear coat before applying the chalk paint will prevent any of this bleed through.
Once the top was finished, we reassembled the center pole, attached this sassy modern shade and used this crystal shape finial from Lowe's. We felt like these contrasting styles paired well and created an updated lift to an aged and slightly dated style choice in table design. Lastly, we gave the legs and center pole a final clean using Howard's Feed-N-Wax Furniture Conditioner .
What do you think?
We would love to hear from you, please be sure to let us know below in the comments! We are also available to answer any questions you may have regarding the process and see your take on the results.
The Mojo Gals
--
*Disclosure: Some of the links used in this post are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. These are products we used in the and are not paid partnerships through the specific companies to enhance or promote their brand. All opinions and thoughts regarding the products are those of Mojo Gals Boutique.