I am so happy you came back to visit today, dear friends! I’ve got that yard sale game table makeover that I promised on Tuesday!
The owner was originally asking $30 for it and I thought that was a steal:
I told her I was interested in it and then she showed me the inside. Yes, this piece is not as it seems!
Originally, I thought it was just a console table, but it converts to a game table!
You just turn the top like so:
And then fold it open…
Except what is that on the inside??
Here is a closer look:
She said it happened when she left a leaking plant on it. I decided I was still interested and offered her $20, and she accepted.
I honestly had considered nailing it shut and just keeping it as a console table, but I wanted to try and see if I could salvage it first.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Remove the loose veneer
The first thing I did was remove the loose veneer until all the remaining veneer was on there good:
Clean
Next, I cleaned everything really well with White Lightning:
Then, I made a form for the corner of the table using wood scraps:
This job was too grand for Dixie Mud, so I reached for the big guns, Bondo, and mixed it per the instructions:
This stuff is STINKY, y’all! Be sure to use it in a well ventilated area!
And, you have to work FAST. I started spreading it immediately into my form:
It dries really quickly! I let it sit for about thirty minutes or so before removing the form and sanding it smooth. I repeated it on the other side…
I started with 100 grit sandpaper and moved to 220 grit, and the Bondo areas sanded up beautifully! Be sure to wear a good mask like this one when sanding.
I did have some small areas that didn’t get completely filled though. Instead of mixing more Bondo, I used Dixie Mud to fill in those small areas:
Prime
The exposed mahogany was definitely going to need the stain blocking power of Bonding BOSS!
I gave it one coat to start:
I let that dry for 24 hours.
Paint
I painted a coat of Cotton the next day…
More Bonding BOSS
And…I could still see the mahogany stain through the paint quite a bit. I could have added another coat of paint to see how it would go, but it was at this point that I decided to add a second coat of Bonding BOSS (just to the top) before more paint…just to be safe!
And that is how this table took longer than I had expected it to since I had to wait an additional 24 hours for that coat of Bonding BOSS to dry.
I painted again and we were good to go!
Sand
I lightly sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper since I wanted to distress this piece a bit, especially the details on the legs to highlight them:
Seal
Everything was sealed with Gator Hide for maximum protection on this piece that may take some abuse.
I applied it with the blue sponge, one coat on the legs and two on the top:
It’s still bright white, but the setting sun was casting a warm glow.
The Big Reveal of this $20 Yard Sale Game Table
Here’s how it looks now!
Pay no mind to that lovely mahogany piece just above the pedestal base. I didn’t realize that was even visible until I went to edit my photos! I will be painting that part white also.
But how pretty is this just as an entry table??
And then…
You turn the top to reveal a secret cubby:
(I kept that just simple mahogany.)
And then it opens up to reveal a full table!
Perfect for game night or for dinner for two? It would be awesome in a small space! You could open it only when needed.
And how did the area I filled with Bondo turn out?
Not perfect but not bad! You can barely make out the edges where the Bondo started in this photo…
You can see it a bit better in person, and you can feel it, but at least this table is totally usable again!
And how pretty is that base?? Those details are just beautiful!
The feet were just painted white, but once I got it in the house to photograph it, I couldn’t leave them as is. I busted out my gold gilding wax…
And voila!
This table got the simplest of makeovers, but that is all it needed! (As soon as I paint that one piece lol.)
One more done!
The other two pieces were both shared on Tuesday.
I redid them to go with this $5 desk I shared last month, and I promised to take pictures when I dropped them off at my shop so…
Here they are all together!
Cute right? I priced the desk and bench together but priced the mirror separately. Hopefully, they will all sell together!
I’ll be back on Tuesday with this funky step table:
Enjoy your weekend!
UPDATE: You won’t believe how cute this table is now! See it HERE!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh that turned out so good! You can fix anything!! I love the set all together, it is so sweet. I can’t imagine anyone not buying the mirror with the desk and bench. You are amazing, and you have such a great vision for pieces!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend! I wasn’t sure how this one would do, but that Bondo is magic. And yes…I hope those three pieces of the lavender set sell together. For now, they look cute in my booth lol! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, the table is simple elegance! The beautiful base was worth the $20…… those legs….gorgeous!
Pieces that hold little secret compartments are fun.
I just picked up a tilt-top table – the owner never realized it flipped up! LOL
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! I agree…base alone was worth that for sure. And what a unique find you found. Funny that the owner never realized it did that lol! XOXO
Bev W says
Beautiful as always. Wow. My granny had one of these tables & I never knew it opened. Thanks for shoeing how you did the feet. I will do that
Christy says
Thank you, Bev! I may have never known either had the previous owner not shown me. Such a cool a piece! XOXO
Nana Diana says
WOW-That turned out great. I thought it was side table size when I saw it-but it’s a big piece! You did a fantastic job!!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Diana! It is a really nice size for sure…perfect for an entry! XOXO
Ellen Vogel says
You do beautiful work. Wish I lived close.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Ellen! I appreciate that! XOXO
Abbe Kemack says
It’s beautious and no one would know the difference where you bonded. How about a pretty tablecloth that is a tad bit bigger than the table top. I’m a sucker for pretty table clothes.
And the gilded gold feet, perfecto!
????Abbe
Christy says
Thank you, Abbe! Absolutely…a table cloth would be lovely on it! And I had to gild the feet…they are such a pretty detail! XOXO
Cecilia says
Wow, I would have passed on that but you fixed it! Love the purple desk set!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cecilia! I don’t think I’d mind if it took a bit for the purple set to sell…it is looking so cute in my booth lol! XOXO
Deb says
As usual you can turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.
I know I would have passed on that table because I am not sure I
Would have trusted myself to do all of the needed work. Please let us know how long the purple set lasts in your booth. I am guessing it will be gone before 30 days has passed if not sooner. Great work as always.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Deb! I honestly thought I would just nail the top of the table shut and sell it as a console table, but I’m glad I gave the repair a go! And I sure will keep y’all posted on the purple set. It looks so cute in there that I won’t mind if it sits a bit lol. XOXO
Fran says
I have always been attracted to these tables. This turned out beautiful and elegant. Next time I find one I’m getting it! Love the lavender desk, bench and mirror too. Your booth is looking great with those shutter backdrops. Another caterpillar to a butterfly!
Christy says
Me too…I just love this style as well! I was so happy to see the desk with its new mirror and bench…it looks so sweet together! And the shutters give me places to hang things…they are great! Thank you, Fran! XOXO
Cyndi says
Oh, wow! That table turned out so well! Sooo pretty. Boy, that was a lot of work, but it was sure worth it! And I love the purple set too. (I missed that post on Tuesday…busy, busy.) That is lovely, and that gingham fabric on the bench is one of my favorites!…so cute. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! I am so glad I gave the repair a go! And the purple set was such a fun one to work on! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Of course you gilded those feet, Christy ???? I was sure there would be stripes involved but after all that cosmetic work, a simple paint job was enough! I can’t believe how much work you put into it – from the original photo, I thought it was just a bad scrape. Maybe you can detect a slight difference in person, but I really can’t see the damaged area at all now. Looks good for a 100-year-old table, you gave it another 100 years.
I love the hidden storage (for cards and bridge tallies or poker chips ????) and I can’t figure out how someone wouldn’t realize a game table opened. The top shifts when you pick up the table (at least mine did) and there are hinges on the back! Maybe I’m just a furniture geek and people don’t notice those things. Speaking of notice – I thought the contrasting wood strip was a quirky design decision. I’m sure it’s better now that it’s painted, though.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! Yes, after all that repair work, I just kept it simple lol. I’m glad I decided to try the repair. Part of the reason was that there were hinges on the back and had I just nailed it shut, buyers would have surely wondered about those. Yes, the hidden storage is great for all the game things! And ha ha…no, I didn’t notice the unpainted piece until it was too late. I still need to fix that. Have a lovely weekend! XOXO
Carly says
Wow! I never thought it could be fixed as a game table, but you did it. As always you bring the best out in everything.
Can’t wait for a walk through of your new space. Wish I lived closer. I’m in Illinois.
Christy says
Thank you, Carly! I wasn’t sure I could fix it, but I am so glad I was wrong! I wish you were closer too. My sister is in Wisconsin and that is quite a drive! XOXO
Debbie in TX says
You saved this elegant little table, and now it’s a beauty. What an awesome repair job! I’m sure the original owner would hardly recognize it now. The small details and gilding add so much. Have a fun weekend!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Debbie! I am thrilled that I was able to fix it! I do wish I could show the previous owner as she seemed quite upset at herself for letting that happen. And yes, the gold gilding on the feet was the icing on the cake! Enjoy your weekend too, my friend! XOXO
Michele says
Gorgeous table!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele! XOXO
Debra E Hubbs says
What a great job fixing that table! It’s beautiful now and I love that whole desk set. So pretty!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! It’s such a neat piece…I had never encountered one that opened up this way! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh WOW – you sure know how to work some magic, girl. It is such a wonderful table. That’s exactly what my older sister needs – a tiny table that can open up to sit two for dinner or when she needs to work on taxes and such. Then when done, put it back and it fits in her little condo perfectly. I love that table.
And whoo hoo seeing that gorgeous purple set together. Breathtaking!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend! It is such a cool table for sure and just perfect for a small space! And that purple set is so fun, right? While I’m always hoping for a quick sale, I will enjoy this in my booth if takes a bit! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
p says
Wow ! What an incredible save.
That was a lot of work, but sooo worth it.
I just love its gold toes. 🙂
It’s now a beautiful classic table that could be used anywhere.
You definitely do amazing work.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, P! That means a lot! I am so glad I was able to make it usable again! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I love, love, love this piece! That touch of gold–tre jolie! Wonderful restore job1
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! I had originally thought I might just nail it shut and sell it as an entry table, but that Bondo did wonders! And I had to add that hold accent! XOXO
Patricia says
This table was rescued by the right person. It is stunning. I love that you show the products you use so that others can be successful. Love, love, love your work.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Patricia! That means so much! That Bondo worked miracles on this piece! XOXO
Robin says
NIIIIIICE!!!! You don’t use Bondo very often so this must’ve been a larger than your normal fix but making the ‘frame’ was great idea and the patch is good! When opened a vintage square tablecloth can be used. Maybe you can style the table that way in your booth? It would be different (& eye-catching) apart from your other furniture pieces. Just a thought.
Christy says
Thank you, Robin! I really don’t like to use Bondo because the smell is awful, but this was a tougher than usual job for sure! I just dropped it off in my booth today, but I love the idea of staging it open with a cute table cloth! XOXO