Hello sweet friends!!
Can I tell you how relieved I am that I finally finished that dang drop-leaf table?
So I had planned to share this pretty piece on Thursday:
Unfortunately I ran into major issues with the paint job on top. I had painted the entire piece with one coat of DIY chalk paint using a flat black paint my Hubby had picked up for another project. I decided it wasn’t quite black enough, so I followed up with a coat of leftover Country Chic Paint I had on hand. The only reason I didn’t start with the Country Chic is that the can of paint is super old.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Everything seemed fine until I added letters I had cut with my Silhouette:
In that picture above I was spacing everything out how I wanted, and then I went back and added the negative parts to create a “stencil”:
Everything still looked good at this point. Then I painted in the “stencil” with two coats of DIY chalk paint, but when I went to remove the contact paper I had used, the black paint beneath was peeling away with just about every piece I removed…
I’ve never had this happen before. The top surface must have had some sort of cleaner or oil applied to it that was not allowing the paint to adhere properly because the legs and underside were just fine.
With all the rain we had last week, I knew I would never be able to get it sanded and repainted in time to share it Thursday. Luckily the weather dried out long enough this weekend to give it a good sanding with my orbital sander:
I painted it using only the Country Chic paint the second go round, two coats, and it did just fine. This color is Liquorice.
I decided to go in a different direction with the graphic and cut this one out with my Silhouette instead:
I filled it in with two coats of DIY chalk paint (Recipe HERE.) and removed the “stencil” right away.
A light sanding here and there with 220 grit sandpaper and a good coat of Annie Sloan’s clear wax (I was sticking to tried and true products for this!) and this table was finally complete!
Ooh la la…so much better! You can purchase this stencil HERE.
I’m not sure how the original graphic I created for this piece would have turned out, but it seemed a bit bold in the end anyway. This pretty French graphic was just the right size.
This table was a beauty and at only $35, I snapped it right up, but it was a bit beaten up in places in its before state:
I decided a simple, elegant black makeover was just what it needed. The black paint camouflaged all those boo boo areas perfectly.
I love a good white makeover any day of the week, but it is ALWAYS more work, especially with these antique pieces.
Painting this piece black meant that I didn’t have to contend with potential bleed-through which surely would have been an issue with this table.
The gate legs swing out to support the leaves on either side…
This is such a pretty piece that I am almost sad I didn’t paint it in a color that would work with my own decor!
I surely would be trying to keep this one!
I am so grateful I can cross this one off the list!!
If you missed the other three makeovers from this bunch, you can catch up here:
How to Recover a Tufted Footstool (The Cheater’s Way!)
Drop Leaf Repurposed (Corbels)
I have a special treat for y’all this week… I will be posting THREE times! In addition to my regular Tuesday and Thursday, I will be back tomorrow as well woohoo!
I’ll be sharing the final pieces of my last thrifty haul. Rembember I was saving these drawers for a Spring project I had in mind?
Well it’s about time for a little Spring don’t ya think??
UPDATE: No need to wait! Get your Spring fix HERE now!
See y’all tomorrow!
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow, even with the troubles this table created for you it turned out so beautiful!! Can’t wait to see tomorrows post, I live in Michigan and need a lot of spring around here right now!! Not to mention that I have an old drawer that I picked up at a thrift store that is just dying for a makeover!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! It was probably a blessing since I much prefer the second version anyway. Oh yes I bet you could use a little bit of Spring right about now! Stay warm! XOXO
ColleenB.~ Tx. says
Marvelous! That really turned out Beautiful.
Sometimes mistakes do turn out great in the end. Great job.
Christy says
Thank you, Colleen! Yes, some of my favorite pieces are the result of mistakes! XOXO
Jody says
Love the table in black. Not all has to be white. It looks fresh and rightly proud of itself again.
Christy says
Thank you, Jody! That’s a great way to describe it…it looks rightly proud of itself again indeed! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
Oh my goodness! How disheartening! I do love the final product! But how awful to have I redo it all!
Christy says
Thanks, Sheila…it was such a bummer, but glad it turned out in the end! XOXO
Janice Holt says
I have to admit I was surprised to see black but it is beautiful. Love the graphics. Excited we will have a makeover tomorrow.
Christy says
Thanks, Janice! I don’t use black very often at all, but every once in a while, it just seems to fit a particular piece. See ya tomorrow! XOXO
Petra says
I actually prefer this stencil you have used – it’s shapes go well with the curved bits on the table “edges”. Very pretty and lovely in black and white 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Petra! I think this stencil fits this piece much better as well…it was meant to be! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Well that was a workout! SO glad it gave you fits and not someone who would buy it. You did a great job turning this piece around. It will stand out in all its glory in your booth!
Christy says
Ha ha yes! I too am so glad I discovered the issue instead of a poor buyer! Thanks, Christina!! XOXO
Andrea says
How much did you sell the table for ?
Christy says
Hi Andrea! I have yet to take it to the shop. It will probably be priced somewhere around $169. 🙂
Gin says
I love it. Absolutely stunning. You always knock it out of the park Christy.
I bet it won’t last long at your booth. Great job. ????
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Gin! XOXO
Lilly says
Great transformation. Can you tell me what grit you used when you removed the black paint? I will need to do this with furniture and I’m new at it and have no idea. Thank you!!
BTW, I love your blog!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Lilly! I used 220 grit because that was all I had. I would normally sand away old paint using 100 or 150 grit. XO
Michelle says
Everything happens for a reason, as they say. I really love the finished product.after all of your frustration and hard work. Even though your decor is lighter, I can’t believe that you don’t have a spot for this beautiful piece. Maybe a hallway or foyer?? Great job!! Thx for sharing!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Michelle! Yes…I believe this table was meant to go in a different direction. Trust me…I’m trying hard to keep it ha ha! XOXO
Ann says
YAy!! Three posts!! Love this table!!
Christy says
Ha ha thanks, Ann! XO
Becky says
Beautiful! So striking and yet graceful at the same time. Someone’s going to be happy to find that treasure!
Ooo, a spring project?! It’s 15 degrees and snowing, the power was out all yesterday with a wind storm, I slipped on the ice and sprained my ankle bringing in firewood… yeah, I DO want to see a spring project! Bring it on!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Becky! Oh wow…I feel for you guys with all the snow. I hope your ankle heals quickly! Stay warm!! XOXO
Mary Lewis says
Beautiful Christy!!! I love it ????????
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! XOXO
Sandy says
I’ve always loved these folding tables
Your final reveal is just beautiful Christy
I always enjoy your post!!
Your # 1 fan,
Sandy
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Sandy! I appreciate that! I too love these tables! XOXO
Wendy says
I like the direction you took for this table. Good job Christy. The other lettering you would only be able to read if the drop leaf was full out all the time. This lettering gives a much more pleasant view. 😉
Christy says
Thank you, Wendy! I agree! XOXO
Donna says
Love the table! Maybe you can find another one to paint for your home.
Christy says
Thanks, Donna! I will be keeping my eyes open for sure! XOXO
sharon austin says
Turned out nice! I love it. All your creations just makes me want to redecorate my house. And I must admit-don’t hate me-I was a little relieved to hear that things don’t always go perfectly for you, given my own experience, LOL. Can’t wait to see the drawer makeover(s) tomorrow!
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! I’m glad you are feeling inspired! And girl, no things do not always go smoothly for me at all. Usually the problem I complain about most is bleed-through, but I don’t dwell on it…fix it and keep moving. This one took me by surprise! See ya tomorrow! XOXO
Cecilia says
Well! In spite of the mishap, it turned out beautifully! I LOVE it! So elegant looking. There’s just something about a pretty little table, isn’t there? Looking forward to the next project!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I think this direction suits the table so much more, so a happy mistake maybe? And yes, I love a pretty little table too! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
And in the end, it turned out beautiful…. that’s what I try to remember when I’m contending with a difficult piece. I’m trying to finish my own little uncooperative table right now, so I feel for you!
This one really did turn out beautiful, Christy. The color combo is striking with that flirty shape, even better than a coastal makeover (if I dare say that ????)
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! Sometimes these things happen for a reason I guess…I think the second version suits the pretty lines of this little table so much more. Hopefully yours will work out better too! XOXO
Candy says
Beautiful job! I love it!
Blessings,
Candy
Christy says
Thank you Candy! XOXO
Denise says
Ooh la la…so much better for sure! It looks amazing with the contrasting stencil. It would fit right in with my decor! 😉 hehe. Have a great day my friend. x
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! I am trying hard to find a place for it lol! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
I love when that happens!! Well not really, lol, but it almost always turns out better…just like this! 🙂 xo
Christy says
Ha ha I know what you mean! Some of my favorites have come from mistakes! XOXO
Marie says
It’s beautiful, Christy! I think the contact paper fiasco was a blessing in disguise.
Christy says
Thank you, Marie! I believe you’re right! XOXO
Susan Williams says
Oh my gosh! I have the exact same table! It was my Grandmother’s passed to my Mother then to me. My table has a very faded floral design in the middle and a gold swirl (comma’s?)design around the edges. I had a thought to try to replicate the design but it is too faded. My other thought was to sand the top and stain shade a sunflower on it. Still mulling it over (its been years). I love what you have done with the table. Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Oh wow…funny! I loved this table the minute I saw it…you are lucky to have one that belonged to your Grandmother…what a treasure! Thank you, Susan! XOXO
Julie Briones says
A black piece?! Wow! But it still screams “CofSDIYer”. Love it, Christy, and I’m finding that a bit of black definitely helps ‘ground’ a room (though this may be a bit too much grounding for your home. 😉 Thanks for sharing! Link to HG if you have time! Would love to have you!
Christy says
I know, right? I don’t do black very often at all, but this curvy piece was a great candidate for it. Might be a bit dark for my house, but I am tempted to make it work! Thanks, Julie! XOXO
Carole Larsen says
I love this make-over even though I would never have a place for something black in my home. It is so rich looking. Another good job Christy.
Christy says
Thank you, Carole! I love how elegant the black is, but I too have a hard time working a black piece into my decor! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
Love this table and it is so great for pulling out hen having guests for a party!
Christy says
Thanks, Rose! Yes! It’s a great size because it is almost flat against the wall, then offers a ton of table top space if needed! XOXO
Mary says
Absolutely gorgeous! Glad you stuck with it!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Me too! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
I HATE when that happens! But how interesting that you went in a different direction. The furniture makeover universe (is that a thing?) must’ve known you needed to rethink this. LOL!
Christy says
It took me a minute to decide if I really liked the direction I was headed, and in the end, decided to go a but more dainty. I’m glad I did now so it must have been meant to be! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Love it! I think it is great that you shared your “oops” story and what to do if something doesn’t work the way we planned. Your stencils always look great! How do you price something that has taken more time to makeover than you predicted? I have bought something for $7 and spent hours painting and repainting then dry brushing and then sealing. Now, I like the finished cabinet but have no idea how to price it. I read your blog about selling in a booth and since I am new in the booth business, I am not confident in pricing. You are an amazing gal and I really enjoy your blog. XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cecilia! I appreciate your kind words!! To answer your question about pricing…I take into consideration how much I spent, whether it is an antique or unique piece, and also my time. Since this was an unexpected event, I probably wouldn’t add to the cost for it. I learned that when my pieces were selling too quickly, I needed to raise my prices a bit. Plus you can always come down, which I do also if something has been sitting too long. You will get better at pricing as time goes on. Keep tabs on your inventory as well so you can refer back to see what things sold for previously. XOXO
Kim says
Another Awesome project make over Christy! ????????????
I also have a question, when you redo a previous waxed chalkedpainted piece, do you sand down the wax before hand? Secondly can you use plain latex paint over chalk paint or do you need to stick with chalk paint? Thanks, Kim
Christy says
Aww thank you, Kim!! If you want to paint over a waxed piece with chalk paint, you can just paint right over without sanding. You can also use latex over chalk paint, however, if you want to use latex over a waxed finish, you will need to remove the wax first, which you can do with mineral spirits. XOXO
Pat says
I love that table! You’re such an inspiration!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Pat! XOXO
Shelley says
Love it! Looks great.
Christy says
Thank you, Shelley! XO
Linda says
BEAUTIFUL! Paint can be so tricky. Love the way you transform things!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Linda! Yes, paint can be very tricky sometimes indeed! XOXO
Robin says
That table is Tres Elegante. Your previous idea with big bold lettering would definitely NOT have been suitable for this particular petite curved table. For your staging all you need is a few patterned plates (black/white) to really have the table pop. Really, really love it!!!! Regards,
Christy says
Thank you, Robin! I have to agree on the bold lettering. I’m so glad I was given a second chance to go in a different direction! XOXO
Marilyn says
I remember one of my design instructors saying black grounds an area and is often the color needed to elevate it to another level. I’ve found her words have rung true. In many of my designs adding black to a room was just what was needed. The table looks chic in black. Painted white it would have been ordinary. Good choice, now the stencil becomes the icing on the cake.
Christy says
I remember Vern Yip from Trading Spaces also used to say every room needed a touch of black as well. Smart…it adds an elegant element to any space! Thank you, Marilyn! XOXO
Shirley says
Oh my word that is just stunning! I want it!! Lol love the color so much! I sure am glad you changed the stencil but I was kind of looking forward to seeing that stencil on there. Maybe another time. Very very nice, I just can’t say enough about this piece.
Christy says
Thanks again, Shirley! I too am curious what the other would have looked like…either too bold or a cool juxtaposition to the dainty curvy lines of the table! XOXO