Monday, January 9, 2012

Ugly Duckling Table

The debrowning of my living room continues with another table redo. This ones a lot simpler than the last one and it's a table that's been sitting in our living room for awhile. And yes, its brown...how did you guess?
Here is the before picture...
 

Here is the conversation between me and my husband when he caught me starting to sand it..
Adam: "Still trying to save that table, eh?"
Me: "I just don't want to to be brown anymore"
Adam: "It doesn't matter what color it is, it'll still be an ugly table. Wait...you aren't going to put that on your blog are you?"
Me: "Of course, that's how it works. I do stuff and then I write about it."
Adam: "If post that you'll loose peoples respect and no one will read your blog anymore"

So to say the least, it's  not my husbands favorite table :)
It was free to us though and it's the right size, so it stays. Plus I don't think it's that bad. The wheat tile on the top is a little funky, but I can make it work.

Besides, Elijah loves it. He thinks it's great for climbing.
Don't worry, I set him straight.
When I took over sanding (I kinda wanted to finish this decade) I realized that A LOT of people have tried to save this table..
  I decided to sand the top down to the wood and stain it. Hmm, choices choices...Dark Walnut, English Chestnut or Red Chestnut? I went with English Chestnut (I didn't want it to be too dark or too red) and did three coats. 
I though about possibly maybe leaving it like this...  

but I really didn't like the red and decided that a crisp white would look better. 

Here is the finished product...and I don't know, I think I saved it. 

 Here it is in it's rightful place. I forgot to take a before pic of it here, but I'm sure you can imagine. 

So what say you? Is it the most horrific thing you've ever seen or do you think it's kinda cute?
(It's okay to say it's the superbly ugly, you'll earn brownie points from the hubs.)

Ashley

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34 comments:

  1. Honest opinion? I like the white legs, think they match the style of your chair fabric and look really good. But the top looks like a different style altogether. I think it would look really pretty white and maybe change out to a blue tile or something.

    Cheers!

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  2. I think the form of the table, shape that is...is genius. And I think you are genius for seeing it was worth saving. However, I still don't care much for the tile top. I would have liked to see the whole table painted a fresh yellow and the tile top replaced with something as interesting as the form of the legs...a tile with check/stripe/dot etc. graphic.

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  3. I love the white, but I agree that the tile isn't quite working with your decor. I'm thinking take the tile out and fill it with little objects like broken tile pieces, PENNIES!, bottle caps, or just a cute piece of paper and then fill it with a clear epoxy to make it level again...? If the tile doesn't come out, I say caulk the cracks and paint over it...although I think a hammer will do the job of getting it out. If nothing changes though, it's still super cute. :)

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  4. Thanks for the honest opinions y'all! Looks like the tile top has to go. I agree, but wasn't sure what to replace it with. However..Leanne, PENNIES, of course! I love it, and I could do it at the same time as my penny countertop.

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  5. I love the shape of the table legs.. it's really funky! The tile is too country for the legs though. You should repurpose the tile onto something else though - it's beautiful!

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  6. Well..... I hate to say it, but I love the tile. :)

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  7. I think it's an adorable little table and I totally ♥ the wheat tile. Only thing I'd have done different was to take it all back to bare wood and stain it instead of painting the legs white.

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  8. I love the shape of the table. The white works really well, but I too think the tile is somewhat distracting. I would probably do a quick fix and white wash it. Kudos for saving it.

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  9. Relax. It looks much better. I think the white is a major improvement over the brown and think you made an excellent decision.

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  10. It's definitely not an ugly table anymore. You did a great job!

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  11. I love free and since you got such a great deal, you can't go wrong! You've gotten some good recommendations, for sure. I'd be worried about using pennies for the top with babies in the house. But good for you for saving it and for giving it new life. I'm your newest follower and I hope you can pop over to Cottage and Creek and follow back.
    Lynn

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  12. I'm jealous of the great LITTLE table you reloved! I need a SMALL table like this, and I'm on the hunt (for about 5 months now). I'll keep looking and hope an "ugly" one shows up to relove!

    Thanks for sharing :)
    Visiting from Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrify Linky Party,
    Suzanne in NW Illinois

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  13. I have to agree with most other commenters, the wheat tile is holding this little table back from achieving it's optimum cuteness. But shame on the hubby, even if I don't love everything you do, it doesn't mean I'm going anywhere!

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  14. Love the table itself. Strongly dislike the tile. Sorry. If you paint it or pop it out and replace it- I bet it would look SO much better. Mod Podge some scrapbook paper over it. That would be super easy and SO nice.

    Glad you blogged it.

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  15. The “before” table really was a bit hideous, but you can’t possible go wrong with free. Changing a piece from the ugly ducking to a beautiful swan is half of the fun :) The stain you chose really goes well with the wheat and the overall design is lovely. Great job!

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  16. The white legs are gorgeous. The tile isn't working for me but if you like it then who cares? It's yours! I think it's great you found this and saved it!

    I host a party on Fridays. I'd love for you to link up!

    http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/latest-and-greatest-13.html

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  17. Can you cover the tile in the same fabric as the chair? Or anything else in your living room, I love the table, but not keen on tile!

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  18. I definitely agree that it looks better but the tile top has to go! I love the idea of doing a penny mosaic, but any tile or glass (recycled glass bottles?)mosaic could work.

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  19. I found this post at the Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy linkup... and after reading about your little table adventure, I became a follower... so there. Tell your husband that that little table GAINED you a reader. :)

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  20. Like many here already, I love the lines of the legs and think you did a great job !

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  21. I want that table!!! Wow! That looks SO GREAT I can hardly even believe it! I so need end tables, but ones with that much character are so hard to find! I LOVE the way you refinished it LOTS!!!

    XO, Aimee

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  22. Great update!! Turned out beautiful! Following you!!

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  23. Love the white, love the lines, don't love the wheat... I'll bet you could find an awesome decorative tile to replace it, or just fill and paint over that joker :) Good job saving it though. It deserves a chance.

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  24. So cute to see all the little "helpers"!!

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  25. I LOVE the table, and it's funky form...I'd probably toss the tile, but I think you were totally successful in reviving the table to it's original beauty. I'd be thrilled if you'd come and share your post at the Head to Head Showdown, going on right now at www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com ~Jen

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  26. Honestly? I. Like. It. I think you chose the perfect color stain to compliment that tile and the color of the rest is so clean looking. The character of the scrolly (is that a word?haha) look is so pretty. I, for one, say SuCCeSS. With a double dose! ;)

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  27. I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your husbands opinion, that table has incredibly awesome lines. I would fight for that if I saw it for sale in a shop! And your redo of it is just fabulous!

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  28. Wow, this looks great. That table has such great lines! It looks great next to that chair! I just did a tutorial on how to refinish a table. Mine is similar in scale to yours. Feel free to check it out if you'd like. http://theconsignerdesigner.blogspot.com/2012/01/pretty-in-pinkor-so-they-say.html

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  29. I think the stain makes the tile "fit" better; the white makes it look...fresh (I guess that's the word). I like it. :-)

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  30. Love the stain plus the white, it makes the tile more bearable. If the tile is inset a little, a little homemade mosaic would work great in its place. But it's miles above where it was before and very cute just the way it is now.

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