Painted Sofa Table

 I am slowly redecorating many areas of my home after living at StoneGable for almost 17 years. During this process I find I have many perfectly good pieces of furniture.. save the fact they are dated and in need of a little TLC. I could possible sell them or even give them away...which I probably will do with some. BUT... I am using my paintbrush to give others a new life! And it is sooooo much fun!

This sofa table was one of those pieces. I regret that I did not take a "before" picture... what was I thinking?

So let me describe it to you... It was a solid oak piece, one color with the same round oak knobs. All one golden wood color with really no interest. Do you know the one I am talking about. Very boring and plain.  But this dated dandy had great legs and I had a place for it!

I have been slowly swept away by the PAINTED FURNITURE craze, at least to some degree. It pleases me to raise an old undesirable piece of furniture past it's decor prime to a level of swooning chicness!

Here's the plan...

~Take an old solid golden oak sofa table and stain the top and the shelf with ebony black

~Paint the rest of the table with layers of  cream, beige, caramel and dark taupe giving it an old look

~ Hand sand table blending the colors and giving it wear

~ Sand some area down to the bare wood to imitate hard wear and tear

~ Wax and buff the table

~ Antique with dark wax

~Buff, buff, buff,

~ Use behind the family room sofa

~ Accessorize 

Here is the transformation story... 

Bobby sanded the table down to the bare wood. He really did not have to be so thorough. He did not quite get the concept of painting it to make it look old again.

As needed, areas of the table were taped off so the paint and ebony stain would not bleed together.

The top of the table and bottom shelf were stained with an ebony stain by valspar.

The table was primed, except the top and the shelf, with a white primer by Valspar. 

A combination of Valspar sample pots in a cream, beige, caramel and dark taupe were used to paint the table. The paint was a latex satin finish. The colors were applied together in a wet application and some area were left with just the exposed primer. This was a very economical way to buy paint. I have so much paint left. I am going to paint the kitchen bar stools with it next.

The table was left to ALMOST dry then sanded, exposing the layers of paint.  Some areas were painted over for more depth and emphasis. The paint and sanding steps were very fun and artistic, no rules... just letting the piece speak to me. I used a paintbrush, soft rag and in some area my finger dipped in paint and smudged on to the table.

SG Tip: Keep a dustbuster handy. I vacuumed up lots of fine powder and it helped with cleanup!

The drawers, the table top and shelf were more heavily sanded to show wear.

Using Annie Sloan dark stain, two coats were applied to the table top and shelf of the table and buffed in between each coat. I was so surprised how effortlessly the stain application was. And the buffing was easy too!

This made the wood grain turn a gorgeous deep chestnut color that works so well with the ebony top and shelf. Some areas were rescuffed to bring up a little of the bare wood.

Two coats of Annie Sloan clear wax were applied to the table top, shelf and the drawers and buffed between each coat.

The drawers then got a light coat of AS Dark Stain here and there and buffed when dry.

Simple oil-rubbed bronze drawer pulls (Lowe's) were screwed into place.

A coat of Annie Sloan clear wax was applied to the rest of the piece and once it was dry, buffed with a soft cloth. 

Annie Sloan Dark Wax was applied in the nooks and crannies of the table and in areas of more use.

When it was dry  the whole table was buffed with a soft cloth.

That's it! This was a very easy project. I bet you have a piece similar to mine just crying for a new more updated look!

The little sofa table gets a whole new lease on life in the family room.

If you are asking... "Why didn't you use Annie Sloan Chalk Pain and bypass the sanding and priming?

Great question.

I am not very experienced with AS Paints as I am just now getting accustomed to them. But I have seen many pieces at a mini specialists (AS name for paint distributors). They have a very distinct look. I think they tend to look "heavy" (in a lovely sort of way). That is the best way to describe it. They tend to need lots of sanding and work best with pieces with some ornamentation on them.

I wanted a lighter hand in painting this table. I will certainly use these colors and technique again. 

This was an easy and fun beginner project.

If you look carefully you will see my next 2 family room projects...

1~ Getting rid of the brass...it will magically become oil-rubbed bronze!

2~ Painting the dark red cabinet against the right wall with AS Napoleonic Blue paint! I am brainstorming/daydreaming about an insert treatment for the front of the cabinet!

I am participating in :

~Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

~Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

~SIZZLE INTO SUMMER at  DYI By Design

~ TICKLED PINK at 504 Main