Hello all, it’s almost Friday but I wanted to share one more DIY project I wrapped up this week with all of you. A few weeks ago I scored some solid wood side tables at (where else?) a thrift shop and they were four dollars each. Four dollars? Sold! The wood tops needed some work but I also loved the idea of redoing the bases a crisp white gloss paint. Here they are:
Can you believe this price tag? Hello, you’re definitely coming home with me!
The tops were in bad shape, but that’s nothing a little sanding and new stain won’t fix.
Here’s the cast of characters: spray primer, gloss white spray paint, wood conditioner and Minwax stain and polyurethane combo, also fine steel wool (not shown)
Here’s the quick play by play, first I smoothed down the tops to remove any leftover varnish and get rid of the scratches with my orbital sander and medium grit pads.
Next I wiped down the tops and then covered them up with good ol’ fashioned plastic Saran Wrap and painter’s tape, then gave the legs a coat of spray primer and then two light coats of gloss white spray paint – I love RustOleum’s version.
Once the bases were fully dry I removed the plastic wrap, conditioned the tops with wood conditioner, then applied two coats of this Polyshades in Antique Walnut – allowing to dry between coats and using steel wool in between coats to smooth out the surface.
As great as it is to combine stain and polyurethane together, the tables needed another coat of polyurethane, so for that I used Minwax Wipe On Poly by itself (not shown).
For an even more detailed how to on staining, be sure to see this post on restaining a wood table top.
Four dollars each, not bad!
These tables have a crisp modern look to them, I love the clean lines, they would work well in so many different style rooms. And they remind me of these frame side tables at Crate + Barrel for $349.
Pretty nice savings right?
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Ohhh, yours are so much better than Crate & Barrel! Beautiful!
Wow, impressed with your great find! Love the final product.
I hope to be taking on some projects like this in the coming months. You did a great job. :)
Huge fan of your blog. I gotta say, I ventured into a Thrift Store this past weekend…b/c I was inspired by your blog and I saw nothing that I felt could be transformed. I guess I don’t have the eye yet for the refurbished furniture. Am hoping after a few more months of reading your posts I too will be able to tackle my first furniture overhaul.
I am actually thinking of trying to paint my husband’s dark bedroom furniture white to better match our shabby cottage style home….but I am more than a little afraid of tackling that job. Every time I read your blog and look at your project gallery, I am sure it could be done but I’m not sure I can do it! Will you be in San Diego any time soon? Would love to meet you and get some hands-on education as to painting furniture! The invite has been extended. = )
How kind Megan, thank you! Why I do have family in San Diego and might just make a trip there this summer!
Kate
These look fantastic!
Those are gorgeous, Kate! I’ve been thinking of doing my tv stand the same way, dark top with white bottom. Anyway, great score! Your friend must love them. You should share her place with us once it’s all decorated. : )
Have a great weekend!
~ Catie
Very cool….I just love those kind of deals!!
Great job!
Nancy
They look great! Very modern looking with the 2-toned colours. I imagine they would be really fun in a bright colour as well, like if they were used in a kids space. For $4 how can you go wrong??
Oh my! I’m simply swooning over here!
Lovely. I really like the mix of natural wood and glossy white. My son’s crib is the same combination and it is a fun modern take, bringing both into one piece of furniture.
I love the stain color with the white! Gorgeous!
What a great job you did on that! You certainly can’t beat the price, either!
Really gorgeous project Kate! The price was fantastic! Your friend is so lucky to have you! Have a wonderful weekend! Angie xo
Ok, now, what time of the day & week do you go to thrift stores? Why don’t I ever come across such great deals!!!!???
And yes, pretty darn good savings, I say!
That is absolutely stunning, Kate! I’d rather buy that than CB’s! Love the price tag too! :)
LOVE THEM, KATE!!!!!!!!!
Hello Kate this is a very centsational project. As you would in Italy…
Kiss Simona
Great save! Those tables had great bones…
Susan
Homeroad
What a steal! The tables turned out so AWESOME!
Kate You are really opening my eyes. I was in a thrift store yesterday and passed on a couple of pieces similar because the were so contemporary. Great job!! I love them!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Kate, those look amazing. One question for you, do you think the order in which you did the painting and staining was important? Was the order based on the colors, or the products, or completely random? I guess I had more than one ;-) Thanks a lot!
I never would have thought you could refinish the top so nicely. Beautiful job, and I love the white – much more contemporary.
Nice project, and nice price!! Love the stained tops. Very rich looking. :)
Ok you rock! Those tables have such great lines and now they have a new life. Fab.
Love love love this!!! Kate, how do you find such great deals… I mean, how do you know that you’ve found a great piece with potential. Are there certain things that you know to look for or to stay away from? Keep up all that you do! It’s all fabulous!
I love these tables! Old tables go fresh and modern, for $4! And I love the dark wood/fresh white combo, they remind me of your stairs. :)
those are fabulous. just perfect.
Kate, HAHAHA, so funny to open up my email and see this post! I literally *JUST* completed my first refinish-and-staining project last night on a $12.00 dining room table (I kid you not) that I found at the thrift store (see pics of the table on my blog, although the finished look isn’t posted yet).
What started out as a blotchy DIS-AS-TER because I hadn’t removed enough of the old varnish, soon turned into a beautiful table after I went over it again with the Polyshades in the same Antique Mahogony that you used. What once looked “blotchy” on the legs now looks distressed. Love it! Although, I have to say, your stained top and pure white legs is a combo I hadn’t considered for my table, but I see that if I ever want to “change it up,” I can always paint the legs white! LOVELY!
These are gorgeous! I would never imagine they were only a few dollars each!
The tables look so fresh & crisp now. I love the combination of painted base with stained top. Your friend is a lucky one! :)
I wanted to ask you, Kate, do you have a preference for one over the other–stain or paint? As I mentioned above, my table was my first staining project ever, and at first, I cursed it like a sailor and how I would “never stain again!!!” But after sort of figuring it out as I went along, I’m in LOVE with stain! The color and poly (I’m definitely partial to Antique Walnut) creates such a rich color, and it makes wood look expensive. And you can pair it with anything! So what are your thoughts on which you prefer, and any thoughts on when you would prefer to stain something versus paint it? Thanks! :)
They came really good. Don’t you just love Polyshades!
Here you go–the link to my $12.00 dining room table. Total score!!! I’ll be posting “AFTER” pictures in a Part 2 very soon!
http://www.thriftdiving.com/2012/02/part-1-wowa-1200-dining-room-table.html
Wow! Huge difference and you make me feel like I could actually do this…thanks for the inspiration.
What a score Kate!! Love it when I see a price tag like that!! Nice job…they look fantabulous!!
I love the look of mixing paint with natural wood. It creates such a crisp dynamic. Gorgeous!
Just wanted to thank you for publishing such an inspiring blog. I have gotten tons of ideas for furnishing our new home which will not only save us money but also keep some things from going into a landfill. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Dang you’re good….
Love it! So clean and modern!
That is just so lovely. I love everything about those!
They’re so pretty! I love how clean and crisp they look.
Wow, these tables turned out great! I so haven’t had good luck with the poly stains but yours are awesome!
WOW! I love the after-look! Very pretty!!!!! great job!
What a great update! I love the two-tone. Unfortunately, my Goodwill doesn’t often have those kinds of good deals. :(
Wow! You must have terrific thrift stores in Petaluma….down in So. Calif (Temecula) we don’t have such great ones. You seem to find so many great deals. Any tips on the best day/time to check these places out? Are they thrift shops such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.?
Whoa! These are the kinds of projects that make my heart beat faster. And get my feet moving in the direction of the nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army. Inspiring.
Glad that you talk about wood conditioner. It can make the difference between a beautiful staining job and a poor one. It seems to seal the pores of wood so the stain takes evenly. Great advice.
I love these! Big redos are great, but the simplicity of rescuing these little finds and dressing them up, I love that. Small projects like this seem attainable to me, even with four little ones at home. I think I want a sander for Mother’s Day to try out sanding and staining for the first time. Do you always use wood conditioner?
Oh great find ! They look amazing ! Makes me want to do a project when I get home.
Amazing! I love the duo-tone finish of white and stained wood – so pretty!
So glad you posted this. My husband is making me an endtable and he wasn’t convinced that a stained top with painted legs would look good. I knew it would look fabulous. Along with ending up with a couple of beautiful tables for your friend, you have proved me right and him wrong :-D! So it is a double win!
Amazing! One of the best before and afters, I’ve seen in a while. Well done Kate!
I am so glad that I found this blog – such great ideas, and so inspiring.
However, I have a practical question to ask. (I hope it hasn’t been answered elsewhere on your blog). I often see great furniture in thrift stores, etc. but I am always afraid of buying them, not because I don’t think I can fix up the pieces but, because I’ve heard so many warnings about bedbugs and second-hand furniture. I’m curious – have you ever encountered a store with that problem? How do you ensure that you aren’t inadvertantly bringing home these unwanted “pets”? I am so terrified of getting these things because I’ve heard horror stories about how difficult they are to get rid of. Any tips or suggestions?
HI Zobiana, that’s a common concern, I stick to most things that are wood or metal, not too many porous or uphostered items, but I have brought those home too, and they live in my garage until I’ve thoroughly cleaned and reupholstered them …. I think it’s a problem in more metropolitan areas, but suburban areas can have them too…. here are some helpful articles:
http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/10/29/how-to-avoid-bed-bugs-at-thrift-stores/
http://sammydvintage.com/thrifting/bed-bugs-in-thrift-store-clothes/
Kate
Great idea! and your version is waaaay better than the C&B ones… $349?! Ridic(ulous)
Wow! They look amazing and I agree with the previous commenter, your tables are soo much better than the Crate and barrel ones
Amazing! You are a wizard. These tables look so high end. Your friend is so fortunate to have you as a talented friend. Her home will be so unique and tastefull when the work is done.
OMG Kate..What a change..Definitely nicer than C & B..You are such a sweetheart to help your friend like this..I am going to request a Mouse sander for my birthday in May and give it a try on a few old pieces of furniture that I have..Looking at the old stuff that you have re-done makes my want to try..I will be looking back to your posts for advise!!
I am looking forward to redoing my kitchen table with a stained top and white bottom. The tables look great and what a great deal!
This is so inspiring. I have been looking for a coffee table but anytime I see one that is the size I feel the top has too many imperfections. I love the final results!
Kate… all of your projects are soooo inspiring. I really need to finish organizing my garage so I can get started on some projects that you have inspired. I just have no space….. thanks as always for such an awesome post!
Such a makeover & for so cheap! Awesome!
Love the finished product! I have a couple of end tables about that size that I’m thinking about using this idea on.
Have to tell you that my husband was able to get them for a quarter a piece over 25 years ago. He actually bought 4 (4 for a dollar!) and we’ve given one to his sister and one to our oldest son. Those little tables have been from Germany to New York to Indiana. They are by far the best bargain we’ve ever purchased.
That’s fantastic Roberta, way to keep it in the family!
Kate
can’t beat that!!!!! good job
What a great modern look for a great cheap price! So great to see these projects and remind us that there is potential out there without buying new.
Thank you so much for your helpful painting tips. I am venturing into furniture refinishing and these tutorials are very much appreciated!
You are such a good friend ;) They’re beautiful.
Fantastic. Love the before and after photos! Also, didn’t know about the plastic wrap trick, I’ll have to try that.
absolutely beautiful! I love the contrasting white paint with the stained top! I am sooo jealous that you found them for $4 too – amazing.
Absolutely love these tables! They would look so perfect in my apartment, I’m now going to be searching all of the stores near me for a similar find!
I want to do something similar to my kitchen table and chairs. The legs are stained a green and I want them a white or black. Do you think they need to be sanded before being primed?
Holy smokes those are gorgeous! I can’t count how many times I visit your blog for painting directions. I am in the process of painting and old farmhouse table that I use in my sewing room. It has a dark wood top and dark green base. I never knew about Zinser until I read it here. Thanks so much!! I use it for everything now. :o) Personally, I like the clean up and flexibility of using the water based, since our weather is finicky, here. I am from Petaluma and now live in S. MS. :o)
Have a super week.
hugs, Trish
Kate. If in fact you do visit San Diego this summer, please let me know. I would love the opportunity to meet you….and show you the “ugly” dark furniture in question to see if painting it really is an option. We’re located relatively close to the airport — directly across the Bay.
Also, what kind of circular sander do you use? Is it Black & Decker? I’m shopping around for one and would love a recommendation. Thanks!
Megan
Beautiful job! I love it and plan on doing a project of my own using your example! I do have a question though, what is the attachment you have on the top of the spray can primer? What are the benfits of having that attachment and where do you buy it? Keep up the good work!
Julia
Hi Julia, that’s a spray paint “gun” and you can find them in the spray paint department, I find they help reduce finger cramping and increases even coating.