My neighbour was out walking with her dog one day when she noticed a pile of furniture at the end of a driveway with a “free” sign on it.
The next thing I know, she and her son have helped me fill my garage with a 7 drawer solid wood dresser with detachable mirror, two vintage telephone tables and a magazine rack. All solid wood. All gorgeous. All filled with so much potential.
I was compelled to work on these tables first since they were a decorating staple when I was young. I couldn’t resist thinking of every home I’d been in the late 70’s and 80’s (and maybe even into the 90’s). Everyone had these. Hello nostalgia!
It’s a shame you don’t see them much anymore because these tables are vintage cool. They just need a little bit of work to shake off the floral couch and dust skirt vibe.
The table tops were so gorgeous once I got the original finish off that I contemplated turning them into charcuterie boards for Christmas presents.
I painted the legs, leg joiners and spindles in antique white and distressed them for the the shabby chic look.
There’s something unnerving about taking perfectly painted furniture pieces and distressing them with sandpaper. After a glass of red wine though, I really get into it.
Before reassembling, I sealed the pieces with finishing wax and gave them all a good buffing.
I have mad love for how these turned out.
Although home telephone lines are out of vogue, these tables are the perfect spot for a vintage rotary phone and a pretty notepad. But please, let’s leave the floral couches in the 70’s.
Beautiful Jill! You’ve really got an eye…what great fun.
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Thanks, Joanne! I love it π
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I love how those look and I have questions! What paint brand do you use and is the colour name just ‘Antique White’? Is the stain Minwax Walnut? And I’ve never used finishing wax before – what brand do you use?
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Hi Gail.
It was antique white but I can’t recall which brand of paint. I mix my own chalk paint with regular paint.
The conditioner and stain are Minwax, as is the finishing wax.
I used a dark wax on the stain and a natural wax on the legs.
I’m working on another set of telephone tables now and using the same products.
It’s a lot of work getting the old finishing off but well worth the effort.
Cheers,
Jill
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Thanks Jill! I inherited my grandmother’s kitchen table and will love to give it this look. Can’t wait for summer to get working on it π
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You’re welcome. Happy refinishing π
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This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for wriintg!
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