Beautiful oak table

BG
by BG
When my husband and I got married 13 years ago, we purchased a beautiful round (oval with the leaf) pedestal dining table. Nothing is wrong with it, but I'm getting "tired" of the oak. Any suggestions on how to change it? All suggestions will be considered.
  24 answers
  • Dolores DeLuise Dolores DeLuise on Feb 21, 2014
    Depending on the rest of your décor, you could shine up the wood top--maybe refinish a different shade--and paint the sides and bottom. Check this out for the look that is popular now: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/my-painted-buffet-3151597?se=fol_new&tk=p6o88z&position_type=posts_follow&position_num=6 You could use an off white color; check out chalk paint, which requires little prep. Good luck!
  • BG BG on Feb 21, 2014
    I like the idea. My decor leans toward craftsman and lodge look. When we bought the oak table, we were both into the oak look. Now my passion is the darker cherry wood.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Feb 22, 2014
    Then Strip and stain it Cherry. I would use a stripper, and when I sanded it I would use the finest sand paper or a finishing sand paper to sand it. I would take my time when sanding it. It is a beautiful table, and making it Cherry it will be beautiful.
  • Katie Katie on Feb 22, 2014
    @Sherrie has the right idea!
  • Karen Rossman Clark Karen Rossman Clark on Feb 22, 2014
    I have the same table and had it for about the same time as you. I just painted out the bottom along with the chairs. I might paint the top but will live with it for awhile before making that choice. Kitchen area is a mess right now putting in bay window with a seat so perfection will need to wait. Sideboard is painted out in same paint combo of darker and lighter. The rings on the base of table now has lighter trim. Now to paint out the cabinets! I am on a role to lighten up my life. I even painted the wooden knife holder!
    • See 2 previous
    • Sherrie Sherrie on Feb 23, 2014
      Beautiful!
  • Megan Hantz Megan Hantz on Feb 22, 2014
    When I was just a baby, my mom and dad bought an antique oak table from an antique store...and now I have inherited that table. Before my husband and I moved out of town, my mom helped me re-finish it. (The heat from the sun and/or from pots/pans damaged the previous finish and made it blotchy. We used acetone to strip the finish, then I think we sanded it smooth, then used a mahogany wood finish. I sealed it with a brush on polyurethane. (Now I know to be extra careful about heat exposure to protect my seal. :) Ooh! Don't forget about chalk and milk paints if you want to give it a vintage look instead of a wood look!! Great fun. I would look up youtube videos for whichever you choose!
  • Pat Dollar Pat Dollar on Feb 22, 2014
    If the table currently is finished using polyurethane you can use Minwax PolyShades which is a Polyurethane with stain. It is easy to go darker with only minimum prep. Take the Cotton Ball Test to find out. Touch the finish in an inconspicuous place with a cotton ball dampened with acetone nail polish remover. If the cotton ball sticks or the finish softens, it's varnish, lacquer or shellac. If there is no effect, it is paint or polyurethane. If other than poly you will need to strip and sand down to the wood.
    • Z Z on Feb 22, 2014
      If you do use Polyshades as @Pat recommends, remember to use very light coats otherwise you'll have streaks.
  • Diana Diana on Feb 23, 2014
    BG I would stain the top dark and use chalk paint on the pedestal and use it on the chairs. You could stain the seat of the chairs the same as the top of the table and paint the rest.
  • Diane C Diane C on Feb 23, 2014
    It is a beautiful table as is! Maybe new cushions & lighter brighter walls & decorations would give u a new outlook. I would do this, don't want to later regret!
  • Wanda.ll Wanda.ll on Feb 23, 2014
    You can use Restore a Finish too. Go to www.happyhandyman.com Look up refinish without sanding.All antiques dealers use it to change color or restore without stripping. I woul dleave the top and just change the bottom .
  • Pam Pam on Feb 23, 2014
    If it were mine I would paint it white
  • Marge Marge on Feb 23, 2014
    I would stain it the cherry that you desire, but heed the advice already given. I would begin with a light touch of stain. Definitely change the cushions. Buy new filling of your choice first. Maybe use fabric that you have in the room already, such curtains.
  • Neocrowe Neocrowe on Feb 23, 2014
    Just a note, these tables tend to have a VERY thick coating of Poly on them, sandpaper will GUM up if you try to sand it first. Unfortunately you will need to use a stripper prior to sanding.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Feb 23, 2014
    One more thing, there are several pro's on here they are highlighted under Pro's. The table is the easiest part to refinish. I always practice if it's a expensive or important piece on wood, trim anything about the same color. Your chairs are what's going to be harder. It will mean stripping and hand sanding those area's, but if you take your time it will be a stunning piece of furniture. Don't become discouraged or overwhelmed. Start with one and I would start with the chairs. I love the table base and the table and chairs are stunning.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Feb 23, 2014
    We have a similar table and be very careful. The top is actually a thin veneer. We have a couple of dings scratches and water marks. You can tell how thick the veneer is when you open the table to add/remove a leaf. Look closely at the unfinished edge where the pieces meet. I too want to paint/refinish but hubby doesn't like painted wood. One of the toes on one of the feet also has puppy teething marks with a section totally eaten. I don't have the heart yet to fix that part. It's like painting over a growth chart on a doorway.
    • BG BG on Feb 24, 2014
      @Kelly S LOL when our dog was a puppy he used one of the feet for teething. That is hilarious.
  • Lucy Lucy on Feb 23, 2014
    Paint it with Annie slone paint the table and chairs will look absolutely gorgeous that style always does with Annie slone lovely x
  • Lucy Lucy on Feb 23, 2014
    Oh by the at Annie Sloan paint does cover veneer lovely
  • Lucy Lucy on Feb 23, 2014
    If it's veneer which it doesn't look x happy revamping
  • That's So Creative! That's So Creative! on Feb 23, 2014
    No question about it, we would paint it the base. Since oak has a grain that's difficult to cover, consider a new finish for the top, we've tried minwax poly shades and love the finish. Paint the base with a chalk paint and follow up with a light and dark wax which will fill in the nooks and crannies showing detail you never thought your table had!
  • BG BG on Feb 23, 2014
    good tip. Thank you
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Feb 23, 2014
    If you want a temporary face lift, throw a decorative table cloth on the table and make or buy complimentary cushions for the chairs. I would not paint it. It is beautiful as it is. The tablecloth and cushions can be changed any time you want to; but paint....well that's another story. Good luck.
  • Barbara Barbara on Feb 23, 2014
    I had one similar. I had finished an unfinished oak table in 1980. I'd refinished the top years later and used marine polyurethane. About 9 years ago, I sought the help of Sherwin Williams and painted the pedestal and chairs black. I recovered the old cushions to match the new window treatments and have loved it for 9 years. Still get compliments on it.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Feb 24, 2014
    Both of our now deceased dogs teethed on our table legs, the coffee table too, when they were puppies. That's why I haven't fixed it yet.
  • Sally Fuhr Sally Fuhr on Nov 10, 2014
    Puppies over the year cut their teeth on the rungs, Tonka toys rammed into base of the china cabinet, vacuum sweeper dings........I love all of them.