Chalk Painted, Stenciled and Distressed Dumpster Table
Dear Beautiful Table, your scandinavian antique beauty has us mesmerized. What’s your story? Did a family of four sit around you and talk about the day’s adventures on the farm? Or were you an antique table brought over from Europe and passed down for generations? Or were you simply an ugly table left by the dumpster of an apartment complex in Raleigh, NC? {insert record scratch sound bite here} Yup, would you believe that a few short weeks ago, this beauty was sprawled in pieces by a dumpster? All the pieces (including the leg bolts) were neatly in a plastic baggy and secured to the table. This is one of the best pieces of furniture I’ve ever found in the trash (well next to it to be exact.) I didn’t have to do any structural repairs, just reattached the legs. But, it looked like the below photo when I picked it up:
It wasn’t in horrible shape. A few gouges in the top. But, the green and honey top were dated in style. No doubt the previous owners were moving and didn’t want to haul the dated table to the new digs.
Luckily I didn’t have the boys with me, so I was able to wrestle the entire table into my CRV.
Materials:
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- Shellac Based Primer
- Sandpaper
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in: Old White, Duck Egg Blue, Versailles and Cream
- ScotchBlue painter’s tape
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Royal Studio Design Lisboa wall stencil
- Foam roller
- Small paint tray
- Stencil brush
- Small flat artist brush
- Palm sander
- Damp rag
- 2″ paint brush
- Antiquing Glaze (my formula)
- Minwax Polyacrylic Water Based Sealer
Instructions:
The table had lots of knots. To prevent them from bleeding through the paint, I used BIN primer (a shellac-based primer) to seal the knots. I also added a little wood putty in some of the deep gouges and grooves, but left some alone to keep the distressed look.
When the primer and wood putty had dried I lightly sanded the entire table.
Flip the table upside down and paint one coat of Annie Sloan Chalk paint in duck egg blue on the legs and skirt of the table. So now, notice that I didn’t have to prime the entire table?! That’s the beauty of chalk paint, no need to prime and only one coat covered the green.
After that flip the table over and paint the top with two coats of old white paint. (Two coats have better coverage and will stand up to distressing better.)
After the paint dries, tape off the edges of the table with ScotchBlue painter’s tape.
Paint duck egg’s blue chalk paint inside the tape lines.
You can lift up the tape as the paint is drying. Ooooo, clean sharp line:
Measure the table length and width and mark intersecting center lines in pencil.
Line up the center of the Lisboa stencil with the center crosshair. Check that all the stencil points are lined up on the center lines as well.
Tape the corners of the stencil down with painter’s tape.
Pour some Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint into the paint tray. Enlist an assistant (curious six year old boy) to roll paint over the entire stencil. Less paint and multiple passes is better than too much paint.
Lift off the stencil to admire the design. Then, wait a few minutes for the paint to dry.
Position the stencil up to the corners of the first print. (The corner circles will overlap and repeat with the first print.)
Your assistant will likely be eager to roll paint again.
After three tiled passes, the table looked like this. I was tempted to leave it as is because the stencils make a stunning decorative runner.
But, I had bigger plans. Next, line the stencil up with the edges of the pre-painted pattern. Gently support the stencil edge that isn’t on the table and roll paint over the stencil.
The table took nine placements of the stencil. But, it looks AH-maze-ing!
To add some added dimension, tape around the center leaf pattern and the corner design on the stencil.
Using the stencil brush, pounce cream chalk paint into the center and corner areas.
The cream is a very light yellow, but it immediately adds some dimension to the table top. Then continue moving the stencil around and painting the taped off areas with cream chalk paint.
Finally use a small flat artist brush and paint some small leaves and dots with versailles green chalk paint.
Finished painting. She’s beautiful isn’t she? But, she’s missing her story…
…I had to abuse her with the orbital palm sander. Sand down through some of the layers of paint. Sand along the table edges and a little bit on the table legs.
Wipe the table with a damp rag. Lightly brush some of my aging antique glaze over the table. Wipe off any excess.
Apply 2-3 coats of Minwax polycrylic sealer.
And let the fun begin. The kids have been using this table for drawing. And I’m not going to stress about any stray marks because the table is distressed and busy enough to hide them. AND, we’re making stories of our own on the table.
I know the distressed look isn’t for everyone, but I love how the table looks old and weathered. But, you knew that about me anyway.
She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I painted four unfinished wood stools from Wayfair with the different chalk paint colors to match the table.
Do you think I’m crazy for distressing the table? Heck, you probably think I’m crazy for hauling a table from the trash.
Have a great rest of your week y’all. And safe travels.
Disclosure: Royal Studio Design sent me the Lisboa stencil per my request. I was not compensated for this post, nor was I told what to write. All ideas, words and photos are my own.
Oh, I love this too! Just as much as closet-turned-reading-nook! Have an old table I might just try it on.
I did “lightly” sand my table top – not overly, though (hate sanding and had read I didn’t need to do too much). I used blue painters tape… It seems to look ok this morning although I can sort of see where the paint is thinner on the edges. I think I’ll touch that up again so the paint is thicker. I am nervous about distressing it. No guarantees, right! Oh well, we will see!!
How long did you let your paint dry before you distressed it? I taped off my edges to paint the center portion of the table and when I pulled the tape off, a lot of my paint came with it. Yikes!!! Now I’m a little afraid to sand it for fear my paint is going to roll off. 🙁 I fixed all the edges and will stencil tomorrow… What do you think?
Pam, did you lightly sand your furniture before adding the chalkpaint? I probably waited a day, but not sure. Also, it could be the tape you are using. Try ScotchBlue delicate surface paint. Otherwise, you did the right thing by touching up the boo boos. Sometimes that will happen in DIY, just roll with it 😉
Oh my goodness! You are the DIY Diva! I love this table and all of your step by step instructions! Thank you for always sharing so much helpful information! I love coming to your site!! You are truly an inspiration to so many of us!
Liz D.
Thanks Liz 😉
I love this project and your entire site which I stumbled on about midnight and fell asleep still exploring after 3am sometime! lol My question is why did you use chalk paint? Does it stencil easier or was it just an affect you wanted? I’ve never seen it before and am curious about it. Thanks!!! Keep on creating!!
Deenie, I chalk painted it because I liked the chalk paint colors I had used on the stools. And I had chalk painted the stools because I wanted to skip the priming step ;-).
Thank you Brittany! I have a table exactly like this. I put a very pretty white lace tablecloth on it and I love the look, but we have to take it off every time we eat….messy husband. I had just come to the conclusion last week that I would paint the whole thing with chalk paint, and make the top look more like lace with a stencil! I could not quite picture it finished, and then I saw your post on MMS. Thanks for giving my idea a concrete look that I can relate to. I love the distressing, it is a must with actual live people using furniture, and that stencil is fab! Great job, will be doing my table soon now!
Kathy, sorry for the delay in replying. So, did you paint your table? I’d love to see!
That is amazing and totally gorgeous. I just love it!
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Brittany you really are very clever and artistic and so good at handywork. I would love to be able to do the restoration and renovation like you did to your boys’ room with that great cupboard space that you built. I am pretty handy too as I lived in New Zealand for many years, but you sure are amazing.
Jenny, thank you for your sweet comment. I bet you could do it too. I have to say most of it is believing you can do it. And if you are already handy, I know you can do it. Allow yourself to take a leap of faith and recognize that there may be a bump or two in the road, but you’re smart and can figure it out ;-).
That. Is. Gorgeous! I love it!
Brilliant Brittany – I love all the hand painted detail with the stencil!
I follow you on Facebook!
I would use the flowall system to organize my painting studio. I would really love to win this!!!
I posted on facebook that I entered this giveaway.