I have found a new passion for redoing furniture. I think mainly because I have this sudden urge to redo my entire house, and to be quite honest I just can't afford to run to Pottery Barn and pick out my favorites! Next best thing: Find things on the side of the road and craigslist and make it look like Pottery barn : )
This is my "new" coffee table I purchased for $15.
[update: after several years, I still love my coffee table. Here is a new picture of it in my living room]
Here is how I did it. Read through the pictures for tips on what I did.
Steps
-find ugly/old coffee table with good lines
-if you're staining it, sand it down, if your painting it, I highly suggest Annie Sloan Paint (I used it on the legs)
-stain/paint where necessary
-rub on some polyurethane
-stare at it in awe : )
Here is what it originally looked like. I did get a little excited and started sanding before I took my "original" picture so it is partially sanded.
Now, here is a finished view from the top, and I'll tell you how my sanding got it to look the way it does.
How I did it was, I SUCK at sanding! Basically I pushed and pushed but my cheap little sander wouldn't get all the old finish off. I was close, but it left a few "patches" and well since I am the world's most impatient person, I decided I would just go ahead and sand it! Well this is my favorite piece I have ever made and its because I'm not good at refinishing furniture...haha! But I wanted an old "barn door" look and I got it! I just didn't think I could. Sometimes not knowing what you're doing is a good thing ; )
Ok, after I sanded it and stained it I rubbed on some polyeruathane. Now, if you finish furniture regularly you are probably laughing at me, because I'm pretty sure you are supposed to use a brush. But I'm also stubborn, and I didn't want it to be all glossy, so I rubbed it on the same way I stained it and it gave it a nice protective coating without being all shiny.
Then I busted out my Annie Sloan "Old White" Paint (which I totally am in LOVE with) I didn't have to sand those legs... I just painted that stuff right on, added some Annie Sloan Wax, and distressed it a little and I.was.done!
What do you think?
Have you refinished any furniture finds lately? I'd love to see them!
Maury
Yeah I just realized that you commented on mine before. You're right they are the same!
Peggy Jean
This turned out fabulous! I love it!
eleven-o-one
You did a great job! Isn't it amazing how the fact that it was cheap makes it that much better? Love it!
Katie
It looks fantastic! I love how your staining made the top look like a barn door to me, which makes me love it even more! I love a good furniture redo!
Gwen@theboldabode
Crazy transformation! That was one UGLY table and you made it look awesome! It's so incredible what a little stain, a little paint and some elbow grease can do.
Lish
This looks fantastic!!! Great job...I'm adding this to my 'to do' list!
Lauren Anslee
This turned out amazing! Thank you for sharing and I think you are more talented than you give yourself credit for!
Ginger
Love! I haven't had the time or patience to redo in furniture lately. 🙁 I would love to try that brand of paint. Looks amazing. 🙂
Katie
I LOVE how the top turned out!! It looks so old! It looks awesome with the white! Great job!!
Lindsay
This is gorgeous! I am so impressed by how well you transformed it. I bet you LOVE having it in your home!
Maury
This looks awesome! This looks so much like the one I just did! We have matching coffee tables!
Kelli @ The Turquoise Piano
Katie I love this table! LOVE it. You did a fantastic job. Was it chalk paint that you used? I know Annie Sloan makes a chalk paint. I am going to make some and do a chair. Did I mention I love the table?
Nicole@Thrifty Decorating
Putting this on FB tonight! 🙂
Pamela
Beautiful!
Kelli
I love the look! Good thing you have a cheap sander. 🙂 The color combo kinda reminds me of my kitchen table but I like the bones of your table better! You know, if tables had bones.
Jessica
WOW! That turned out so lovely. Such a rustic but finished look. Great job!
Jessica
WOW! That turned out so lovely. Such a rustic but finished look. Great job!
ladywiththeredrocker
This turned out so nice. Love the color you picked for it. You did such a good job!
Stephanie @ Ladywiththeredrocker.wordpress.com
Rachael @ Fresh Squeezed Home
It looks so pretty! It has the same shape as our kitchen table I am in the process of refinishing!
Johanson Family
you always impress me!! Way to go girl!! I would have never been able to do something like that!
Deborah March
Absolutely positively GORGEOUS!! SWOON!!!! White...always my favourite "go-to" colour...Deborah ♥♥
Emmy
Love!! Great job! I have painted one table and want to redo everything now too
Andrea Brand . Charcoal and Crayons
I love that old barn door look too... fabulous job!
Debbie
I'm all about the refinishing too. I just did a dresser for my daughter a few weeks ago and painted a few things after that.
I really LOVE the bones of that piece and would have snapped it up if I had seen it too. You did a great job. I like the white legs with the finished top.
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
Lovely Katie!! 🙂
craftedniche
Too funny! I'm working on a VERY similar table right now. I grabbed it right out of someone's trash and made a new plank top for it!
Dana @ CraftedNiche.wordpress.com
Casa De Luna
Your coffee table looks great! Thanks for the inspiration. My modern coffee table from Ikea is no longer cutting it. I need to find one like yours.
Wray Sist3rs
Gorgeous! I need s table like this in my home. Thanks for the inspiration!
Angela
wraysist3rs.blogspot.com
colorchic
Love the table Katie! I have plenty of stuff I want to get to "someday"! Perhaps I should just send it to you!
Cindy @ Creating at Home
This is gorgeous! And, to think that I gave away (on the side of the road!!) my coffee table that looked just like this. I should've re-done it like you did. 🙂
[email protected]
love this! It looks so great!
Tracy
You did a great job, Katie. I haven't tried refinishing any furniture but I'll be moving soon and will be doing lots of diy projects. Refinishing is definitely in my future - lol!Cheers,Tracy
Toaster4JC
Looks lovely!
Liz @ thequickjourney.blogspot.com
I LOVE it! I have to do this to my coffee table. It has the same structure as your table. Love it!! 🙂
Francine
Great transformation !
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees
I LOVE LOVE how your coffee table turned out!! =) My coffee table needs redone and I can't wait to get started on it since looking at yours...thanks for the inspiration! =)
Briana
Lorie
Love it! Wish it were in my living room right now! Lorie @ Reading Confetti
Maggie
aww this is gorgeous.Have a great week,Maggie
Carissa
This turned out awesome. It totally looks like a high end piece from pottery barn. In fact...i bet you could make a bit of a side business out of flipping furniture. I bought a coffee table on CL for $15, used it in my home for 4 years, cleaned it up, staged a picture that was well lit and made it look high end and re-sold it on CL for $80. Blog fodder and extra income? Heck yeah!
Ashley
o this is AWESOME!!! i love it:)
Ladybird Ln
This is fabulous... my mom has gone crazy buying used furniture and refinishing, I will have to show her this. I love the colors you chose and featured it on my blog!Carlee
Allie
This is absolutely gorgeous!! I love it!!
Chris
Hi Katie, I just love what you have done with this table. Great job and thanks for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com
WOW! This turned out FABULOUS! I love it lots!!! XO, Aimee
Aimee
I'm excited to be your newest follower!!! XO, Aimee
Jaye @ Just Tryin' to Make Cents of it All
I know this post of your's is a little old but I just discovered it! Do you know how many times I see coffee tables like that at my fav thrift store? That looks so amazing! You did a great job. And BTW, I'm with you on brushing on poly! They make a one now that you can rub on with a cloth. LOVE IT!
Katie
Thanks for stopping by! : ) I still love my coffee table, totally worth the $15 dollars I paid for it! Yes, rubbing the poly on is just so much better to me!
Christina Woodcock
Love it! It is absolutely beautiful <3
Katie
Thanks so much Christina!
Thomas
Wow, your table turned out wonderful! What an awesome transformation!