The grand fairies love to do art projects in front of the tv. (Actually, I won't let them watch tv without a project in their hands, Legos, play dough, coloring, anything other than simply staring at the screen).
So, we've used various folding tables over the years, while I've kept my eye peeled for the perfect solution in a table the right size that looked good and didn't have to be put away every time, because if left out was an eyesore.
This is a marble topped, walnut one, with wheels! I can roll it from in front of the couch to in front of the tv when they need it to work on. I'd painted it white with dark antiquing glaze and didn't like it that way, so put another coat of white over that glaze to tone it down.
This cabinet has been in the room since last summer when we remodeled. It has a broken drawer, and a crooked handle, so I got it cheap. I bought it mostly because I like having side tables with storage space in them, and it has a great, marble top. I even didn't mind the natural wood tones in my house, it was a nice change. But I got tired of that, and decided to paint it after all while I was on a roll.
I repositioned the handle, painted the wood gray, and white washed over that. Then, added a rusty, old bit of hardware.
I might change the handle out to a glass knob. But for now it is fine.
But that wasn't the end. I was in a painting mood.
I'd found this drop leaf recently, and fell in love with its lovely, turned legs. I'd searched for a year for just the right table. I wanted one that folded to a narrow size, so I could store it in the new hearth room, and pull it into the dining room to add some space when we had a big group for meals.
It was $145 and is very solid. Some gate leg or drop leaf tables that I looked at weren't as sturdy, but this one seems good. If you are seated at the corner, you could use bad manners and keep your elbows on the table without worrying about the top drooping.
With the dark floor, the table was a little too dark for the room. So, I painted it the same gray as the other piece, accented it with gold, and wiped a dark wax over it.
I wouldn't use wax on a dining table that got used daily, but I'm fine with it on something that only gets set up for special occasions. I'm afraid that heavy duty use and wiping down would be too much for wax. I have clear poly on my kitchen table.
The gold makes the pretty legs show up more too.
Oh, but that isn't all! I figured that while I had my mess and paraphernalia in the house, I should do this piece the same day too.
I've had this chair, ($30 from the Habitat for Humanity REstore) for a while and keep thinking I'm going to recover it. The colors match my house, but the fabric isn't quite me. But it is silk, neutral, and in good shape.
I decided whitewash the wood with cream wax, but then hated the look on the leg where I'd sampled it. The carvings on the chair just weren't pretty enough to accentuate. So, I painted it all white with chalk paint.
Still didn't like it.
I dry brushed cream over that. Better. But not quite.
Dry brushed some white over that to blend. Not bad.
Then, decided it needed distressing. But my sand paper was worn out, it was midnight and I was DONE. It got a tiny bit of distressing, a coat of clear wax, and kept its original fabric. NO reupholstering for now. Also, my camera battery died, so no picture of the finished chair. I'll post one later.
It was a busy day, I'd also painted the hive for my husband's new bee keeping hobby, and made this necklace too.
(This is the top of my kitchen/dining room table.) One thing I like about the room is that there are lots of different finishes and colors that all go together. I like to vary the tones and treatments on pieces around the room, so that they do not look like they were all painted in the same day (as many were), instead like they were gathered over time.
