What better table for my kid’s new apartment than a drop-leaf?
These tables are great to conserve space but expand when you need more seating. I was thrilled when this one became available on my local BuyNothing group. (I’ve mentioned before how great these groups are for getting and giving FREE stuff — check them out on Facebook!)
I got to work transforming it into something fresh and fun. My kid chose a wonderful color palette: espresso and mint. Mint is having a moment now, and my kid is always ahead of the design curve.
The Table
I sanded the top down to bare wood. Now that was quite a chore; when the leaves are extended, it’s a sizable table. For the stain, I used Minwax® in Espresso. Dining tables get a lot of use, so I added three coats of Minwax® Polycrylic to protect the top.
For the base and legs, I first applied Zinsser BIN® shellac-based primer. Since the paint was going to be such a light color, I didn’t want bleed-through of the original wood stain. To achieve the minty green we wanted, I added two coats of Farmhouse Paint® in their “Sea Mist” color.
I think sometimes things are just meant to be. While I was under the table, I discovered the mark from the last time it was refinished. (It’s common for refinishers to indicate somewhere on a piece when it’s been refurbished.)
Portsmouth is a small river town in southern Ohio which, by complete coincidence, is where a large portion of my husband’s extended family lives! Serendipity that this table should make it’s way into our hands in Minnesota!
The Chairs
So, now I had a table all ready to cart to New York. Then I received a last minute request for chairs to go with it. It was a mad scramble to find any I could refinish in a matter of days, much less ones that matched the table. But serendipity stepped in again, and three of these became available right in the nick of time!
In keeping with the style of the table, I primed and painted the legs “Sea Mist” green and sanded and re-stained the seats with the espresso tint. But I had only purchased enough paint for the table and had no time to place another order. Fingers crossed, I just kept adding water to the paint I had leftover and hoped it would stretch for two coats. It worked — but I was scraping the bottom of the jar!
And here’s the whole set in its new home!
I feel very fortunate that I got to deliver this furniture in person and enjoy the first meal at this table with my kid. I can confirm that it works for Scrabble®, too! One leaf is currently in use while the other is waiting for company to join them.
Now I’m back from our furniture delivery trip and ready to pick a new project in my garage. Check back next week to see what I decide to tackle. In the meantime, if you have any questions, drop me a line via my contact page or my Instagram shop (@serendipitysequelsmn).