Little Planked Table

Plank top tables.

What is it about them that capture our hearts so?

You see them all over blogland, in magazines, and in stores.

They're a hot item right now,

and are a beautiful addition to any style decor.

They bring back memories of old farmhouses,

prairie homes, and grandma's beach cottage.

I found myself staring at our kitchen table recently

wanting something different,

but not wanting to spend the money on a new table.

Being a gal who has a new found love of power tools,

a vision formed in my mind.

Although I like the base, the top is currently one large piece of wood.  

Kind of a 1970's farmhouse style.

 Nice. Solid. 

But not planked.

Photo taken late Spring 2012

 

I asked The Husband the other day how difficult it would be to remove the top and replace it with some pine planks.

 

No surprise that I got the "hairy eyeball" first, 

then a good roll of the eyes,

and finally a big groan.
"It would be more difficult than you think...." was the reply.

Rest assured, I'm not giving up on this idea. 

It will happen.

Though he may come home to find our kitchen table dismantled and laying all over the kitchen floor some day.

I've got ants in my pants about this project, girls.

So, while I was sweeping out the basement of the barn yesterday,

(casually and sneakily eyeballing the wood we have stored there),

I rediscovered this old planked table that I had purchased from a friend who decided not to use it in her home.

It was shoved into a dark corner just waiting for a makeover.

I had plans of repainting it and bringing it up to my booth in the spring to sell.

I hauled it up to the house and into the kitchen.

Yeah.

I painted it in the kitchen because it was sooooo hot and humid outside 

(again!)

and I wanted to be in the AC.

It was painted dirty glossy white, and in dire need of a coat of ASCP.

I had visions of a bare wood top, but after spending hours sanding and sanding and sanding,

(and vacuuming and vacuuming and vacuuming)

I gave up and decided just to repaint it.

A couple coats of 'Old White' to the rescue.

A bit more sanding before my arm fell off.

A light coat of Clear Wax.

Buff, buff, buff, buff, buff, buff....

(switch arms)

buff, buff, buff, buff, buff, buff, buff, buff.

 

Placing towels under the legs to scoot it across the floor and into the living room,

I manhandled this heavy little table into the corner,

replacing the square end table that was originally there.

BEFORE

AFTER

I think it makes the room feel a little more rustic and less formal.

And of course, I'm just loving those planks.

 

 

The lacy candle holder is actually an upside down vintage metal lampshade purchased at the antique market last month that I sloppily painted with Old White and then accented it by adding little touches of Gilding Wax. 

The old, worn shells are from a beach on Sanibel Island.

Alabaster lamp base: Allegan Antique Market; Florentine tray: eBay

Multiple layers of black, blue, and gold paint rest beneath the new creamy white.

I can imagine multiple decades of loving hands kneading bread and serving meals on this sweet little planked table.

There will be multiple future decades of it living here at Heaven's Walk.

 

~ Blessings ~

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