A New Vintage Color for an Ugly Table

I’ve had this ugly table that I found at an estate sale for a couple of years. I don’t know how it’s lasted so long in my possession without a new paint job. I’m usually itching to paint something. Anyhow, this boring old table is now sporting a “new” vintage color.

Here she is in her before state:

 

I’m pretty sure it was used as a sewing table and I think that it was upholstered at some point because I had to pick off spots of glue and little tufts of batting.

You may wonder why in the world I ever bought this table in the first place. Well, I actually searched for this table for a long time. You see, I needed one with very specific measurements to fit in a spot in my dining room in order to cover the plumbing access box for our outdoor shower.

This one fit the bill. And it was only $20:)

To get the “new” vintage color (is that an oxymoron?), the first step was to paint the piece. I chose a milk paint called Amy Howard Toscana. The color is Cote D’Azur. To me, it looks like a powdery, baby blue.

Now I know I’m supposed to use a wax next. But……….I really hate using wax.

It’s so hard for me to get the color to turn out the way I want it to and I find that I have so much more control with glaze.

So, the next step was to seal the table with a clear coat, which makes it MUCH easier to glaze. I’m sure that most water-based clear sealers would work, but I used Varnish Plus Satin by Faux Effects.

Then, I brushed on a thin glaze in a walnut color and wiped and patted with cheesecloth until I was happy with the color and coverage.

After it dried, the top felt a little bumpy, so I sanded it lightly with a sanding block. As a happy accident, some of the original color peeked through in some spots.

table top

With some tlc and a vintage color, this ugly, little batting-covered table has become a real beauty.

And in case you wondered, here is what the table is hiding under her skirt…..

the plumbing access and a basket full of oversized platters.

It looks so much better.

Why did I wait so long?

Thanks for visiting and be sure to let me know if you have a question about this finish.

…Up next: how I aged the drawer pulls and one more antiquing technique.