The breakfast nook table and chairs makeover
When Matt decided to buy his first home (details here), I knew my love for "making old new again" would come in handy!
I love the dresser and chest I found and refinished!
He was able to use the farmhouse trestle table I featured here.
And of course this "cute as a bug's ear" vintage chair makeover!
But he didn't have a table that would fit in his breakfast nook...a relatively small space in his kitchen.
I knew it needed to be a round table since the space is only about 9x9.
I found this round oak table at a flea market...a tad dated in it's original condition but I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.
Normally these oak tables are around 48" in diameter but this one was only 32" so it is the perfect size...just not the perfect finish.
I honestly didn't want to strip and restain the top so I decided to go with gel stain...again, I ONLY use the General Finishes brand. It really is the best!
Rather than go with my usual Java color, I decided to go with the Brown Mahogany.
As I have said in other tutorials, the first coat is a bit stressful....
...you really question whether this stuff is going to work.
Patience...wipe on a coat with an old athletic sock...let it dry overnight...then wipe on a second coat, then a third....
I promise, by the third coat you will see the results you want. Then just seal it with the General Finishes wipe on top coat.
Sunlight streaming through the windows is awesome in the morning...not so much for photographing furniture...but hopefully you get the idea....
After staining the top, I chalk painted and distressed the table base. I picked up a couple of oak chairs at an auction and chalked painted and distressed them as well...then recovered the seats with some leftover fabric from my club chair makeover!
Perfect fit for this small space.
One tip...this little table came with a leaf...while this space really isn't big enough to expand the table, it is always smart to refinish table inserts just in case want to use them in the future!
Also, just a reminder that I do not seal my chalk paint with wax...I use polyacrylic. Someday this whole "distress" thing will go out of style and he will want to paint this furniture...wax would have to be stripped before he could repaint the piece!
Next week I hope to share Matt's first big project...painting the brick fireplace. If you are debating whether to tackle yours, you really want to see what a little bit of paint can do...impressive!
So tune in for the big reveal.
