This is a sponsored post on behalf of Porch.com. All opinions are my own. You know I love a furniture makeover!
French Country thrift store end table makeover using Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paints and Minwax PolyShades gives this piece a new lease on life.
Porch.com invited me to participate in this month's Cheers for Change campaign. I was challenged to makeover a thrift store piece of furniture…….ummmm absolutely!
I guess you could call this assignment a favorite pastime.
I love the lines of this piece. It fits my favorite style, French Country. It's a piece from Lane furniture. It is very good quality, heavy and solid wood.
It is really in great shape. With the exception of nicks and scratches, it's in excellent condition.
The first thing I did was vacuum it all over. Then I went over it with a damp rag. Let it dry thoroughly.
For table surfaces in high use areas, I like a stained top. I plan to use this in our upstairs family room/media area. A few months ago I updated this table below by just painting the base.
I really felt like this new table would be a perfect fit.
I enjoy using PolyShades by Minwax to freshen up a table top. It is stain and polyurethane in one step. I ended up adding 3 coats. Let it thoroughly dry between coats. It will go on very shiny/wet looking. I used it in Antique Walnut Satin. I didn't want a shiny top so I went with satin. I used one of my Purdy brushes. You do have to clean your brush with mineral spirits. If you want, you can use a foam brush and toss.
I used Americana Decor Chalky Finish paints for the base. I used Everlasting which is a bright white. I wanted to tone down the white just a bit to go with the coffee table in the media room so I mixed in a bit of Timeless which is a soft neutral. If you haven't mixed paints before for a project, I highly recommend being precise. In other words, if you run out and need to mix more, you want to know the ratio. For a project like this, start out with a cup of the Everlasting and gradually keep adding the Timeless in increments of 1/2 a teaspoon. Then you may want to go down to a 1/4 teaspoon. Write down what you use.
In between coats for dry time, cover your brushes and paint cup very securely with Press and Seal and place in the refrigerator. I've been known to leave brushes like that for days when working on a project. Even works when painting rooms. I'll wrap a roller in the Press and Seal and then place in plastic grocery bag. Leave it in the fridge until ready to paint again.
I painted 3 coats of my white mixture drying in between coats. Chalky finish paints dry quickly. Distress your piece if desired.
Finish the painted base with 1 coat of creamy clear wax from American Decor Chalky Finish Paints.
Once the wax is dried. Buff to the desired sheen.
We've had such cold weather here in the south the past few days. I had really wanted to photograph this in the media room, but the clouds rolled in early. Just too dark in the house. Easier to shoot outside. We have rain coming in and is sticking around through Thursday!!!! Cold and rainy all week.
As soon as the weather cooperates, I'll be sure to share pics with you in the intended room.
I hope you are inspired to go on the hunt for a hidden furniture treasure or give a new piece you already own a fresh look.
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Christy says
Thanks so much! No, I didn’t sand the top down. I did lightly sand a couple of areas with scratches so there wouldn’t be too deep of a groove from the scratches. You want the top to be pretty consistent so the new stain color goes on evenly. XO, Christy
Simone says
Hi Christy,
I was wondering if you sanded this down to the barebones before you stained with the polyshades? I haven’t used it before, but seeing how it turned out on your project, I would really like to try it 🙂
Christy says
I lightly sanded the top just to give the stain a little tooth to stick to. I don’t generally sand unless a very shiny surface or in bad shape especially if using chalk paint.
Christy says
Be sure to read through the post. i state the exact products used. The top stain has a built in top coat. I waxed the painted area. Clean thoroughly before doing any paint/stain. Thanks bunches!
Corrie says
I LOVE this table!! Did you put a wax or topcoat of some sort on the top of the table, after priming it?
And do I need a special brush for the primer? Do I clean it with mineral spirits before I even begin? Or after?
Vera says
Hi, did you sand this piece before painting?
Christy says
Thanks so much! Hope to hear from you again!
Lyn says
I saw this table on porch.com and loved it. Had to come check out your blog and get a closer look at this table! Just noticed I have the same wicker basket. Will check out more of your blog after posting this comment!
Christy says
Thanks so much! If it has a sheen, I would. A little sanding to prep and smooth a surface never hurts. Just make sure you sand it evenly so it will look uniform when you apply the polyshades. Just a light sanding to ruff up the sheen a bit.
Christy says
Thanks so very much!!! What I’ve been using on spindles and small spots is a wide/flat artist brush. I really don’t notice brush strokes when I use it. Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Debra says
LOVE THE TABLE. I want to ask you when you are painting spindles how do you paint them so there are no brush marks. I always seem to have the brush marks and when I try to sand them off I just go down to the wood again. I just don’t like to see the brush marks, to me I feel like it looks like a sloppy paint job. Can you give any advice on how to avoid this? Much appreciated.
Liz U. says
Love the combo of the two tones. I have been wanting to try Polyshades for a couple of projects, one being a side table very similar to yours. Is it necessary to lightly sand the top to remove any sheen and/or previous finish first? Thanks!
Karen Marie Kedzuch says
Christy,
I love your finished table. You have a good eye for furniture that can be incorporated into your home with a little elbow grease and vision. I have done a similar twist to a side board made into a entertainment center that matches your design for your room. Great Minds! Thanks for sharing your talent.
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
Taylor says
Christy- it looks so great! Love how it’s two-toned.
So awesome collaborating with you as usual 🙂
-Taylor
Cyndee says
I love it! It’s beautiful!
Paula says
This looks beautiful, Christy! I like the combination of the stained top and painted bottom. It’s going to be rainy here this week, too. Uggh!