Updating an Antique Drop Leaf Table Into a Tea or Bar Cart.
3 Materials
I purchased a sad, neglected and abused antique drop leaf table. I knew with a little love, repair and paint it would make an awesome tea or bar cart. Here's how I transformed it.
I first sanded the top down to bare wood. I wasn't able to erase all of it's imperfections, but I'm okay with that. It's an old table after all. Then I addressed the missing shelf by cutting a piece of pressboard down to size.
I mixed up a custom color with Old Fashioned Milk Paint using equal parts of Federal Blue, Tavern Green, and Snow White. I was hoping for all the chipping that milk paint provides so I did NOT a bonding agent.
The milk paint did not disappoint and I got some amazing chipping. To preserve and protect the table's finish, I gave everything two coats of Hope's 100% Pure Tung Oil.
The new shelf was glued, clamped and nailed into place.
Drop leaf tables have so many purposes: dining, end table, nightstand, bar or tea cart. Don't pass them up if you get the opportunity to purchase an old one secondhand. :D
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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4 of 48 comments
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GORGEOUS!
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Thanks a bunch! Old Fashioned Milk Paint is so easy to work with. Hope you give it a try! ;)
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I am strange I guess. I cannot understand why people put so much time and love into something to purposely make the project look old, chipped and in need of desparate help. I know it's just me. I'd like something sanded, stained and shiny without a single scratch. However, you did accomplish the look you were going for. Good job
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Thanks for taking the time to comment today, Laurie. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. As for me, I can't think of anything sadder than living in a home with nothing but brown furniture that you have to tiptoe around so you don't leave a mark on it. Life's messy enough without having to worry about furniture! LOL :D Take care, Cynthia
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Love the outcome...I do have a question. Did you put tung oil over the painted parts? I've used tung oil many times, but never on anything painted....so curious about this.
It came out gorgeous ! Does the Tung oil on it make it possible to leave outside or do you still need to keep it covered ?