DIY: Refinishing a Farmhouse Table

I have been wanting a farmhouse dining room table for-like-evah!  A good one can cost you over $2k and let’s face it, that ain’t happenin… But I was determined to find a way, so for months I kept my eye on Craigslist for the perfect culprit, and well, I found it!

This project has truly been a labor of love… It started with the Craigslist find (vintage solid wood farmhouse table for $100) followed by a trip 45 minutes away to a small town on the North Shore of Mass.  I’ll spare you the details, but long story short the woman selling the table was not in the best of spirits, something having to do with her daughter and a mental institute (eeek) and the sale definitely ended with her crying and me hugging a complete stranger.  But 20 minutes later the table was MINE!  Craigslist lady… As promised, this table has gone to a good home!

Now comes the fun (er hard) part!  So the table needed some work (scratches, watermarks, and just all over worn look), and Tony had found this miracle product when he was doing our floors that I had read would also do wonders for a scuffed up table.  The mircale product (miracle because it requires little effort and works incredibly) is called restor-a-finish and you can get it at most hardware stores.  You can read more about it here, but basically it restores solid wood to it’s original color and luster.  Seriously, this stuff is crazy good.

Before I go too far, let’s check out what else is needed for the project:

Sandpaper (various grit)//Orbital Sander//Sander Pads//Wiping Rags//White Paint//Steel Wool in 0000 grade//Restor-a-finish//Feed-n-Wax

First, here is a picture of the table before any work was done.  See the scratches and water stains?  Tony was a little doubtful but I knew there was potential…

To apply the restor-a-finish simply rub it on the table with the grain using a rag (for not so damaged pieces) or super fine steel wool (level 0000) which is what I used, to give it a little extra umph.  Also, make sure you are in a well ventilated area, as this stuff smells toxic!  Oh, and don’t eat it or get it on you. hehe.

Once dry, top it off with some wood polish and conditioner.  I used the complementary product, feed-n-wax.

Look at the difference!

Here are the table legs before doing any work…

Here they are after a quick sand job…

And he’s a great look at the impact of the restor-a-finish!  Right side is after sanding, and left is after applying the product.

Then it came time to priming and painting the table’s apron a bright white.  I have seen a lot of farmhouse tables with this, and love how it lightens up the piece a bit.

WARNING: This took forever!!!  I seriously needed to do 3 coats of primer, and 3 coats of paint to cover the dark wood.

But eventually I was satisfied

After screwing the legs in it was time to bring it upstairs!

Oooooh how I love you!!!  I probably won’t let anyone eat at this table for a good month…

Now it’s onto the seating.  I am currently working on finishing a matching bench, and have grand plans for the chairs… But for now I need a nap, so stay tuned!

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