Ugly Duckling Challenge: Antique Cocktail Table

Zibra® was holding an ugly duckling furniture flip challenge, and this cocktail table was perfect.

I found this antique on the side of the road marked free. It’s not my style, but I couldn’t bear to see all that carving end up in the trash. So I adopted it, waiting for inspiration. Then I read about the Zibra® furniture flip challenge on Instagram and decided it was time to turn this ugly duckling into a swan.

Step One: Prepping

This piece was filthy and the finish was flaking off. So I gave it a good wash with my soap/vinegar/water mix. Then I sanded it with 80-grit to remove that crackling varnish. I sanded the top a second time with 220-grit for a smooth finish. After a debate with myself (I call it a staff meeting), I decided to remove the scalloped trim suspended from each side to give the piece cleaner lines.

Step Two: Repairs

The legs were very wobbly. After flipping the table over, I discovered the problem. The legs screw into a panel (seen here) that then screws under the tabletop. This panel had split and rotted. So I cut a replacement piece with my jigsaw. (I labeled all the holes and legs so I’d be able to line them up during reassembly since old pieces are rarely uniform.)

Each of the legs was held to the center post by dowels that had come loose. So I inserted Elmer’s® wood glue into the space between each leg and the center. Normally, you’d clamp wood as glue dries, but my clamps weren’t deep enough to go around the configuration of the legs. So I got creative with bungee cords!

Step Three: Stain

Once I sanded the tabletop, I realized it was in pretty good shape. I like painted tables with stained tops, so that’s what I decided to do here. To compliment the richly-colored paint I’d be using, I applied Minwax® stain in “Espresso”. Then I add three layers of Minwax® Polycrylic topcoat to protect the stain.

Step Four: Primer

Since I sanded this table to raw wood in places and also used wood filler for some repairs, I decided to prime it. The dark paint I was planning to use doesn’t require primer, but I wanted to ensure an even finish. So I applied one coat of Zinsser BIN® shellac-based primer.

Step Five: Paint

Then it was time to give this swan some wings. I’d loved examples of furniture I’d seen painted in “Jacob’s Well” by Melange® and had a jar waiting for the right opportunity. The deep green added great dimension to the carving. I followed this with a coat of Annie Sloan® furniture wax for added protection.

Step Six: Reassembly

With all the pretty pieces ready to go, I attached the legs to the replacement panel I’d cut. Then I screwed that panel into place on the underside of the tabletop.