I'd Rather Be In Paris...Side Table
5 Materials
After finding this side table at a Habitat Restore a year ago I finally had an "inspiration" moment to do something with it...... I just winged my way through, as I often do. After a trip to Paris, oh so many years ago, I tend to put my own "Parisian" flair on a lot of projects... Just can't get enough, OK, I'm possessed with anything French. I'm convinced that in a previous life I was French and lived in Paris....
Before photo: this tired little side table had good bones, solid wood and was made by Davis Furniture Co. in Nashville, TN. The company goes back to 1929 and they are still in business...this little piece is heavy and made to last, no idea how old it is, but the label inside the top drawer indicates it is the latest label they use, there is even a message written on the bottom: Terry & Roger = Love. Maybe it was a wedding gift..... I sanded the top to bare wood so I could stain it, the rest just needed a little cleaning up. The finish was sort of a yellowish finish that I still wanted to "show through" once I was done...I figured that out as I went along.
After sanding I used a dry and slightly damp cloth to remove any dust. I painted one coat of Paris Grey chalk paint ( Annie Sloan chalk paint color)I make my own chalk paint so I'm not limited on colors, I can use any brand it is a real money saver. As I painted, I used a wet cloth to wipe off areas where I wanted the "yellowish" finish and bare wood to show through. Once this dried I dry brushed French Linen(another Annie Sloan color) over the grey using a spray bottle of water, spraying a little mist as I went along to blend the paint, I sort of brushed every which way to give it an old layered look while still letting the grey show through and allowing the "yellowish" finish and bare wood to still show through in a subtle way. While this dried I worked on the drawer fronts.
The drawer fronts had a flower pot carved motif with flowers vining out, so I knew I wanted to highlight that in some way.. I first did the drawer fronts like I did the table, then I dry brushed using white chalk paint over the top here and there mistying to blend as I went along to yet add another layered look. White the drawer fronts dried I worked on the table top.
I simply just stained the top after sanding using a coarse grit first then a fine grit to get a smooth finish. I DO NOT like using stain, but General Finishes Gel Stain is a dream to use! I used the color Java, it's fairly dark, doesn't take much, just brush on and wipe off. After letting it dry overnight, I used three coats of Polyvine Protective Decorative Varnish in a dead flat finish. This stuff is amazing... truly a miracle worker.. If you have chalk painted and wore out your arm doing the wax you will love this. The finish leaves the dead flat look, just like the wax does. I only used it on the top for extra protection since it would get the most wear and tear.
This is the finished table. Although it doesn't show, I dry brushed the edges of the table and legs just to show more depth with white chalk paint. I tend to forget to take photos as I work, once I get started I just keep going and don't stop. To highlight the flower pot motif I used a small brush and dry brushed the white chalk paint over the raised part to highlight. After I got the look I wanted I used Annie Sloan clear wax on the front, back and sides, using a rag rather than the round wax brushes. One drawer pull was missing so I found new pulls at Hobbly Lobby(half price is always good) these little knobs actually were a dark antiqued gold, I wanted white but these were the perfect size, so I just dry brushed white chalk paint over them until I got the distressed look I wanted, The knobs have a small rhinetone in the center, just enough bling to finish it off.
Love these little knobs.....
I wanted to add a little surprise of color inside the drawers.... so I painted the sides of the drawer "Provence", another Annie Sloan color, and decoupaged the bottom of the drawers with scrapbook paper from Michaels...Just makes me smile!!
Finished, and back to it's place in the guest bedroom. Once I get an idea in my head I never know how it will really turn out, it's a keeper.. oh and that HUGE lamp, it is from the 1920's, I painted it, and added new trim to the shade which is original to the lamp.... Yes, it's tall but because the headboard is made out of two vintage wood doors the height works...
Thanks for looking..... I'll be doing a small chest soon to match.
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Thank you! Great piece to work on, wish I could find more like it!!!
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Im inspired! Beautiful project. I want to try this.
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Thank you!
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utI bought a dining table a few years ago and whatever type of varnish/finish they used to put on the top turned milky white the first time I placed a warm dish on it. It has stayed that way since I cannot decide what to refinish the top with but I wanted to ask you if the varnish you used on the top of your table will turn milky if something warm is placed on it. I'm trying to find something that will not turn on me when I refinish my table top then varnish it for protection. Any help on this? Thanks so much. Your table turned out so beautiful and you were so lucky to find such a gorgeous design on it.
Beautiful! Your project is so inspiring. How do you make your chalk paint?
Hoe do you make your own chalk paint?