Wednesday, April 4, 2012

French Table Love

I was so honored to guest post at Maria's lovely blog on Monday, 
and I shared my recent French table transformation there.
If you haven't visited her yet, run right over there a minute.
I'll wait for you to come back...  :)


I fell into Maria's Rusty Hinge world a while ago,
and found myself swooning over her gorgeous home,
drooling over her stunning vignettes,
and envying her amazing photography.
After discovering how many of the same addictions loves we shared,
we quickly became friends.

(I think we could start a store called "Grain Sacks R Us", 
but I'll save that idea for another time...)

  ~  ♥  ~


My first trip to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore in late February
was very successful to say the least.


Hubby and I spent hours digging, scrounging, peeking, lifting, moving,
gathering and tagging quite a few treasures there
and then stuffing them all in the back of my vehicle.

{and it was 1/2 off month, too!}

I was giddy.
He was feeling pretty proud of himself, too,
for tagging the find of the day.
(All of the time I've spent training him in seeking out potential French-Nordic decor is paying off!)

Unfortunately, this particular beauty wouldn't fit down the basement stairs
where I planned on working my magic on her.
So, she was relegated to the barn 
until the temps were warmer and I could start painting her.

There she sat, the poor dear,
next to my John Deere tractor
waiting patiently for me amidst the dust, hay, and cobwebs.

With our weather being so summery a few weeks ago,
we rescued her, lovingly placed her into the back of our golf cart carry-all,
and drove her down to Hubby's workroom.
He set me up with his big, honkin' handheld belt sander
saying that my little palm sander would "wear me out".

Really?
 Okay...if you say so...

He left me to blissfully sand to my heart's content.
And sand I did.
I was thrilled to see how quickly that man-eating sander bit through that nasty finish.
Shhhh!  I just may have to confiscate this baby...

Now, don't hate me ~ because in my happy dance anxiousness to begin working on her
I forgot to take "before" photos.

I know.  I know.
Go ahead and call me a bad blogger.
I deserve it.

But just close your eyes and imagine a dark, extremely shiny, scuffed up,
drop leaf table...with metal claw feet.

Dark.
Extremely shiny.
Scuffed up.
An ugly duckling with pretty feet,
but definitely having potential.

Got it?

Ok.

After an hour of sanding with that he-man of a sander,
(great workout for my biceps)
I had most of that ugly shiny-ness removed.

I spent a couple hours painting her with a coat of ASCP in "Paris Grey".
She was looking better,

BUT

the pinky redness of that dark stain beneath started showing through 
even after my second coat of paint.

Agh!




So, I decided to go for more of a rustic-elegance look for this little lady
and dry brushed on some

Kilz.



Yup.

I used Kilz.

I swished it on the areas that the pinky stain was showing through,
then continued dry brushing the rest of it
here and there ~
even between her rusty little toes.




Next, I brushed on a coat of clear wax and let it dry overnight.

The next day, after a good hour of rubbing and buffing,
more rubbing and buffing,
and even more rubbing and buffing,
(another great bicep workout)
she slowly transformed into a beautiful swan.
A wonderfully subtle sheen emerged on her wonderfully Frenchy bleu/grey color.


Would you like to see how she turned out?




*Sigh!*

I adore "Paris Grey".
It's the perfect French bleu-grey.













She's currently residing at Doster Emporium in my sweet, little, white room
where I'll be selling my Heaven's Walk treasures soon...

BUT

I find myself in a dilemma.


I want to keep her.

I want to give her a home at Heaven's Walk.

I haven't the slightest idea where I'd put her.

But I want to keep her.

Badly.

I guess I'll think on it awhile.

She'll be a beautiful place to display items in my booth for now...

(which, I'll have you know, is filled to the brim, floofed, and ready for customers ~
but you'll have to wait for my next post to see what it looks like!)


What?

Ok....Ok....

I'll give you a teeny, tiny, little, sneak peak ~

only because you're so special.
{*wink*}






[ Blessings ]







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58 comments:

  1. Laurie...it's a beautiful find and you turned it into such a fresh lovely table...I'd be torn as well! xo wendy

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  2. Hi Laurie...Lovely guest blog post. Enjoyed Maria's blog, too. The table is beautiful. Great job! Susan

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  3. Hi Laurie,another magical restoration, you so inspire me. I am going to paint my guest room furniture. With Annie, of course, thanks to you! The walls are sunny yellow with white trim, any paint color suggestions? :) xo

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  4. Looks great, Laurie. I often forget to take before shots. I can tell your space is beautiful. Show us more.

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  5. That table looks awesome. We can imagine the before!

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  6. beautiful job, laurie! i esp love the close up photos. i can almost smell the paint!

    michele

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  7. you did a great job on the table! love the colour and styling too :)
    x

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  8. I love seeing furniture getting a second life. This turned out great! It's such a pain when red pigment starts bleeding through but you came up with a good solution! ~ Maureen

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  9. Oh Laurie, It's beautiful. You did such a great job giving it a new, fresh look, it's definitely a "keeper"!
    xoxo

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  10. You did a beautiful job, Laurie! I have nearly the identical table sitting in my kitchen right now, but it doesn't really match my home style, so someday I'll get it painted and sell it. I have a more farmhouse style table that matches my home better, but it isn't as big as we really need our table to be, so the hunt for the perfect kitchen table continues! I can't wait to see your new booth!

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time

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  11. je vous félicite pour ce merveilleux travail. Je vous fais de gros bisous

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  12. Such a great job. I have a antique French oval gate leg table that I am just about to start painting on. I have been trying to decide on a gray from Annie Sloan's paints and I was so happy to see the Paris gray used on something in this post.
    I can't wait to get my paints....

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  13. It is just lovely,keep it I say. x jeanetteann

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  14. Beautiful gueat post it was !!.....nice that table !!!...have a nice easter weekend...love Ria,......xxx..

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  15. Wow Laurie ~ I can see why you want to keep the table! It's so pretty, you did an amazing transformation and the color is perfect. I'm excited to see the rest of your booth ~ I only wish I lived close enough to shop there! {I vote for you to keep the table!}

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  16. Great table, Laurie! I love tables where the sides drop like this. Think! There must be somewhere you can put it! : )

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  17. You have accomplished another Ugly Duckling transformation, dearie. That table is gorgeous!

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  18. Laurie,
    That is one of my new favorite blogs.I was thrilled to see you guest post.LOVE this table.I am so happy you are going to be keeping it for a while.I live a state away.Wish I could come for a visit.
    Anne

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  19. This is so beautiful! Can't wait to see the rest of your booth!

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  20. She's a beauty, that's for sure! My sister and I are coming out to Michigan in 2014. Hopefully, you'll still be at the Emporium and we can buy, buy, buy!!!

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  21. Love that color and the details in the feet. I think you need to do more! Can't wait to see what you come up with next now that the weather is getting warmer!

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  22. I love it, and I have a drop leaf table that needs just this treatment.

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  23. Oh your table turned out SO pretty! That table reminds me of the one my sister has in her family room except it isn't painted. There are so many great uses for that style table. It could be a sofa table, bedside table, island in a kitchen, entry way table etc. I'm sure if you don't keep it for yourself, it will find a good home. Can't wait to see your booth too. How exciting!

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  24. Laurie
    How beautiful your table is absolutely stunning. I love Kilz and the way you dry brush it {swoon}. Have a very blessed Easter

    much love Kate

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  25. Laurie~
    The table looks amazing! I have one that is very similar and have been wondering what to do with it. The problem is that it is veneer and it is chipped in places. What to do? It really needs help. Anyway, yours looks beautiful
    ~Jennifer

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  26. Wow that table got a new lease on life. It is fresh and elegant. Thank you for this wonderful post! I would love it if you would share this at our WIW blog party. Hope to see you there.

    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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  27. Love your table, I vote you keep her. I was so excited I just became follower number 1000 on your blog. Thanks for sharing, I found you through French Country Cottage.

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  28. It's so hard to part with such a pretty table. Beautiful job!

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  29. Laurie what a beautiful table!

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  30. Your table turned out so pretty, Laurie! I'd have a hard time parting with it too. Hope you have a nice Easter ♥

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  31. haha I like the teasing photos just a little at a time...looks great ! Happy Easter ! Gail x

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  32. What a beautiful ending to all that hard work. Love it! Thank you for sharing on Simple & Sweet Fridays.


    Jody

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  33. Glad Påsk ( Happy Easter )
    Hugs Karina

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  34. I think you are pretty special too!
    LOVE the little peek and can't wait to see more!

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  35. That is so sweet Laurie!~ Your table is so pretty. Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  36. Hi Laurie!
    Your table looks fantastic! I love the grey-blue Frenchie color.
    Happy Easter,
    ~Clara

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  37. The table will be perfect as a display piece in your room at Georgina's!
    Think of all the wonderful vignettes you can set up.
    Have fun with it!!!
    xxoo

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  38. This is gorgeous! I just found a similar table this week and fixed it up too... Found you through the Vintage linky at Knick of Time... Happy to be following along!

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  39. It looks beautiful and I love your little candelabra :) I'm jealous of your green grass - I hope spring comes where I live soon!
    Jennelise

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  40. Wom every thing is so pretty!Realy that's are heaven's walk.Happy Easter!

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  41. You did an amazing job on the table...it looks so beautiful outside.

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  42. Hi Laurie...I just wanted to let you know that the faded blue rose pillow is from R.A Shabby Chic Target's collection. I have four of them. I also have seat cushions that have faded into a grey rose. You can still purchase the pillows online. I am getting ready to buy my first batch of ASCP...pure white and a grey. I was not sure which grey, so seeing your Paris grey makes me think it may be the one! I also need to go visit our Habitat for Humanity. I used to help build for them a long time ago. Hubby and I would take the church youth group. So fun.

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  43. What a beautiful table, Laurie! I always enjoy your blog posts!

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  44. Hello Laurie, This table is fantastic! I love your transformation - perfect color - I'd have a hard time parting with her too! I just love the Habitat stores! Hope to go later this week!
    Hugs,
    Kathy

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  45. She is so beautiful, and I would have to keep her. I also love the "Paris Gray". Your hard work was so worth it. I love your blog and really look forward to seeing what you are up to, and of course your great music. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best.

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  46. I love it...she looks like my table's sister!

    ~Trisha

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  47. Yes it definitely would be hard to give that sweet table away .I sure there are lots of spots to use her .

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  48. So beautiful Laurie!! Love how it turned out- are you sure you scouted every nook and cranny to find a spot for it? :) Thanks for sharing at FNF :)

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  49. Beautiful! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  50. The table is so stunning!! I always enjoy reading your blog posts! Thanks for linking up to Romance on a Dime!!

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  51. Absolutely beautiful. Your right, that Paris Grey is the most perfect French Bleu color. Thanks for letting us see the fruits of your labor.

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  52. Oh Laurie, it's awesome! I have a can of Paris Grey in my garage and a couple pieces and can't wait to get started! Yours inspired me! Great job!
    Melody
    One Chatty Chic

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  53. Loved this tutorial!
    You really changed the table into something classy.
    Lily

    www.visuallycurious.com

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Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie