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Home ยป Cottage Farmhouse Table Redo

June 17, 2021 by Dee

Cottage Farmhouse Table Redo

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When we were first married, our kitchen table was a table for two on three legs. Nothing to look at, and free from someone’s discard pile. I never knock a free and “good enough” piece of furniture or wood. You know the saying, “one man’s trash…” Or is it “beggars can’t be choosy?” Well anyway, you look at it, it was good enough for us! We would eat our beans and cornbread on that little table, set with a tiny glass vase with fresh flowers, or should I say flower, often a daisy by the wayside, or another bit of nature, and we felt as if we were eating the most sumptuous buffet at a king’s table.

When we were able to buy our first home, it had a built-in hutch and a perfect spot for a new kitchen table. We chose a round oak table, with an extra leaf. It was solid and had a lovely apron edge with a scalloped pattern and scrollwork etched into it. I think that must have been the going thing in the ’80s because now you can often find these in thrift stores for next to nothing. Well, almost 34 years later that table is still as sturdy as ever. Albeit gouged and glittered from countless craft and school projects, that table has seen a lot of life!

Although we had thought about possibly replacing it over the years, we didn’t see any reason why. So at one point I had painted the top black and left the base as is. I polyurethaned the top, and it was impervious to any meal, spill, or craft project. I had replaced the ladder back chairs with beautiful black French country/cottage chairs I found at a yard sale. I’ll tell you more about them in another post. I thought they looked pretty good together, but I finally decided I wanted a new look for this old table and wanted to lighten the look. I love light, white and bright. The white and wood esthetic was something I knew I could accomplish so this ‘ol table was in for a facelift. I wanted to refinish this cottage farmhouse table, well that’s how envisioned it to be!

how to refinish a wood table

As you can see, this old table needed help, and what was I thinking leaving the base unpainted? Live and learn! The jute rug is all wrinkled because I thought I could move the table off it by myself, yes, that’s another “why did I leave the base unpainted” moments! In order to do a good job, I did my research, and since I was going to paint, and strip the table indoors…what? Yikes! I knew it would take me some time, and working indoors was something I hoped I could do if I found the right products. I needed them to be safe, especially since I have asthma and other issues. I felt confident in the products I chose and didn’t have any issues doing all this indoors. Now I have to say that I have an open space, with a door and multiple windows I opened, right next to where I was working, plus ceiling fans, I would not recommend anyone doing this indoors without proper ventilation, protection of work surfaces, and using products that have no/low VOC, odor.

Supplies Needed to Refinish A Cottage Farmhouse Table

  • Plastic drop cloths
  • chemical resistant gloves, safety glasses, mask
  • CitriStip paint stripper Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel, 1 Quart, Red
  • mineral spirits Klean Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits 1 Quart
  • rags
  • shop cloths/ also lint-free cloths
  • paper towels
  • plastic wrap
  • cheap paint or chip brushes
  • plastic putty knife
  • steel wool
  • metal container or bowl
  • sandpaper in various grits
  • Fusion Mineral Paint in Raw Silk
  • Eos Paints Interior Satin Clear Varnish (no odor/ zero VOC/non-toxic)
  • Briwax Liming Wax Briwax Liming Wax – 8 oz
  • high-quality bristle or foam brushes I use Purdy Purdy 144152725 Pro-Extra Glide Angular Paint Brush, 2-1/2 inch

Prepare Your Surface

The first step you need is to clear your area, put down your tarps, gather your materials, and get ready to work. You want to make sure that your table is free from grime, wax, and everyday life. There are many good cleaners out there, but a little soap and water, and a bit of elbow grease are all you need. Wipe down all surfaces, go over with a clean cloth and make sure your table is dry. If your table is damaged, you will need to use some wood filler or glue to fix your issues before you paint. Make sure you use paintable wood filler! Once that’s all taken care of, you are ready for your next step.

To Sand or Not to Sand

Stripping a table may seem like a lot of work, but sanding by hand is really a lot of work! Although I can’t get by without an orbital sander DEWALT Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch (DWE6421) is a great choice, they also have one that is cordless. Also, for me to be able to sand off layers of black paint and polyurethane, I would be sanding for days, and I’d be taking lovely patina and grain along with it. If your table only has a poly coat on it, it would be safe to sand it lightly. I’m not against sanding, because it is a necessary step, but it’s not the right treatment for this table.

Stripping the Surface

I was so happy to find the Citristrip paint stripper. It has a pleasant citric fragrance, no chemical smell, was easy to use. Make sure and wear nitrile gloves, goggles, and a mask. Safety first! 1. Apply the Citristrip liberally, it needs a thick coat to work effectively. You may want to work in sections, but to be honest, I am not the most patient when it comes to things like this, go big or go home, so I applied it all over the entire surface. 2.Let it sit. The amount of time depends definitely on the number of coats of paint or the type of coating you are trying to remove. Use the directions on the package as a guide. 3. After you have let it sit, test a small section, using your putty knife. Make sure you have lots of paper towels, and a garbage can nearby. If you can see bare wood, start scrapping, working in small sections. Clean your putty knife a lot! This is messy work, but satisfying to see the paint coming up. I had to do 3 coats to get all that black paint off. I was getting a bit disheartened, but I wasn’t going to give up.

black table top with paint stripper on it

Keep working in sections, and remove the paint stripper. Repeat the whole process if necessary. At the end of this post, I’ll share some tips I learned by observation and mistake. If I can save you some time or effort all the better. When all the stripper is removed, hopefully, you will have a paint-free surface, if not, repeat! It does work slower than traditional strippers, but the extra time and safety are worth it to me. As a side note, I would never do this if I had kiddos and pets around. If you are working on a project and they are present, you can wrap your project with plastic wrap, yes you heard me right. Citristrip needs to stay wet in order to work. So you can use plastic wrap and come back to it when there is no risk of pets or little ones getting into anything. Wouldn’t you know it, as I was working all three kitties wanted to know what I was so interested in. Yikes! I had to shoo them into another room where they could be safe, and I could work.

How to Clean Your Surface after Stripping

Once you have finished stripping your surface, you will probably have residue and need to get that off. You can use mineral spirits and an old rag, or lint free towel, working in small sections. Or, you can use what I found worked best is Klean-Strip Paint Stripper After Wash. It removed the stripping residue from the wood. It applies easily with a steel wool pad, not the kind with soap. It also dried easily, I found it best to work in smaller sections, and went with the grain of the wood. Once the table and apron were free of all paint/stripper and residue, I sanded the wood lightly with fine sandpaper. Wiped with a clean lint free towel.

Paint or Stain

Now that your surface is ready, you probably have decided on whether you are going to paint or stain your furniture, Well, I had thought that I would paint the entire table white with Fusion Mineral paint, and then stain the top with Driftwood. So I started at the bottom and worked my way up. You can use any paint you like, I have painted furniture with almost every store brand out there, and different chalk paints as well. I really like the way Fusion mineral paint goes on. That’s just my opinion, I am not paid to say that. Here’s the deal, when I had stripped the table top, I had really loved the way the oak grain showed, and it was light blond color, it was so pretty. But I went ahead and started painting the table the way I had originally envisioned. Once I got the entire table finished I started to put on the stain………and…….I ….DIDNT LIKE IT! Now, you know I’ve been working on this table for days, and I had this vision on how lovely it was going to be, all cottage farmhouse and super pretty, and I hated it! I burst into tears, I’ll admit I was a baby about it, maybe because I had burst my own bubble by not having it look as I thought it would. No reflection on the beautiful driftwood stain I was using, it was just it didn’t look , well it didn’t look like “me!”

oak table being refinished
Stripping and painting a farmhouse table

So, what was I supposed to do? As you can see I RESTRIPPED THE WHOLE TABLE TOP! What a mess! I was so frustrated with myself for creating so much extra work, but sometimes you have to go that extra mile, or do the extra work to get what you want. There’s a life lesson in here somewhere! Back to cleaning it all up after it was stripped. Back to sanding lightly, and making sure no residue remained. Cleaning the floors, ( that’s real hardwood) and sweeping, let’s just say I added more work to my week, but not necessarily more joy! I wasn’t whistling while I worked, it was more like I was singing the blues. Oh well, I knew I wasn’t going to quit, so I had to move forward.

How I finished My Cottage Farmhouse Table

Now that I had a clean surface again, I was ready to sand lightly, always going with the grain, wiping with a lint free tack cloth. It was time for the varnish. Now I knew I wanted something safe to use indoors, that would do a great job and be non-toxic, no VOC and no odor. After a lot of research I found Ecos Paints, and their Interior Satan Clear Varnish. What a great product! It was so easy to use, no smell, and was giving me a nice clear non yellowing finish. This is also my own opinion, I’m not compensated by them. I believe in this product and all the products mentioned. I applied it with a wide sponge brush, but it was leaving little bubbles, so then I went back to an old Purdy synthetic bristle brush and it went on smooth as glass. I followed the directions on the can, and let it dry between coats, giving it a light sanding by hand. I added 3 coats, waiting for each to dry, between coats. Since I wanted a whiteish finish, one of my besties suggested Briwax Liming Wax, and that’s what I used on the top to finish it off. I applied it with a cloth across the grain, it doesn’t need much at all. A few minutes later I buffed it with a clean cloth and repeated the process one more time. I must admit, I loved how it looked! All that work was definatly worth it.

Lessons Learned Through This Process

Like I’ve said, I’ve done lot’s of furniture painting but I also realized there are many things I had to learn along the way, if I am able to keep someone else from making my mistakes, then that’s just great!

  • Do your research. Know the type of wood you are working with, does it have a veneer, what are you wanting to accomplish with this piece.
  • If you have never stripped a painted surface before be prepared for the time and effort it will take.
  • When using Citristrip be generous with it, don’t put on a thin amount and expect it to take off years of paint.
  • Citristrip dries quickly. Don’t leave your project unattended, cover completely with plastic wrap, and in a dry climate in summer, come back to your project before the stripper dries out.
  • Make sure you have all your supplies on hand. Do an inventory of what you need, and order in advance, or make one trip to the store.
  • When something isn’t turning out the way you hoped, or you change your mind about something, that’s ok. It may create extra work, but you will have it be the way you wanted it.
  • If you have never stripped furniture before, or painted any piece of furniture, I would start with something small first, not a whole table or other large piece of furniture.
  • Test something in a small area, or on a piece of cardboard, especially when using new paint or stain. Remember the picture on your screen, or in a jar or can might not look the same once it’s on something. (Really wish I had done this!)
  • You can do this!
oak table with white painted base and table top with liming wax
oak table with white painted base and table top with liming wax

Well, what do you think of my cottage farmhouse table redo? I’m in love with it, and I wanted to let you know that it has really withstood this past year. All the home life and it looks as good as when I first finished it. If you enjoyed this blog post, you might like to read one of my other posts How to Make an Easy Two Minute Wreath Be sure and let me know in the comments if you have ever refinished a big piece of furniture before, or if you are perhaps thinking about it. Have a blessed day sweet friends, hugs, Dee PS Isn’t Ollie cute?

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Comments

  1. Gerri says

    June 17, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    I love the changes Dee! Itโ€™s gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 17, 2021 at 10:47 pm

      Aww, you are just the sweetest, Gerri! Thanks for the kind support, I’m so glad you like how it turned out!

      Reply
    • Jean says

      July 27, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      I love it …I love it …..jean!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 27, 2021 at 5:05 pm

        That’s so sweet of you Jean! Made my day, thanks so much!

        Reply
  2. Leslie+Watkins says

    June 18, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    Looks beautiful, Dee! I understand that amount of work! Just stripped, sanded and painted my front porch. I canโ€™t imagine doing it inside. Goodness! Turned out so amazing!

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 18, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      Oh my word, Leslie! Stripping a front porch I not for the faint of heart! It really wasn’t so bad doing it inside because of the products I used, with my breathing issues, I was super vigilant in making sure I only bought what was safe, I kept a large trash can with plastic trash bags at hand so everything was in reach. Still, the sweeping and floor cleaning was another thing, you know that story if you give a mouse a cookie? Well, it leads from one thing to another and isn’t it the truth about doing a project, it leads to another! I don’t think I’ll ever scrub my floors on my belly again though!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Wish I could insert the laughing tears emoji!

      Reply
  3. Lynn Vogeler says

    June 18, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    I love it! What a huge difference. Iโ€™ve never tried Fusion paint but I will now.

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 18, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      Hi Sweet Lynn, I think you will really love it! Since Annie Sloan chalk paint changed it’s colors and formula, I have to say Fusion is so amazing! Thanks for the kind words my friend, I appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Carol says

    June 18, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    Dee, I just love It! You are amazing. I cant imagine how much work this was from reading your post. That you kept at it and persevered and were rewarded, the result is so beautiful. It looks gorgeous and brand new!!
    Wow!!
    ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 18, 2021 at 5:41 pm

      Carol, seriously you are the best!!! Thank you my friend for those words of affirmation, gosh I appreciate you! It was quite the job, especially since I changed my mind, never thought I would be stripping the table twice! ๐Ÿ™‚ Glad you think it turned out so well, I wish you could come sit right here with me at this table!

      Reply
  5. Kathy Gross says

    June 18, 2021 at 10:12 pm

    Beautiful Dee! You did an amazing job ! Thank you very much for all the helpful hints !

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 22, 2021 at 5:23 pm

      Kathy, I sure appreciate your faithfulness in reading my posts, you are a superstar encourager, my friend! I’m so glad you found my hints helpful too. Blessings, and thanks again, xo Dee

      Reply
  6. Carol Wines says

    June 19, 2021 at 12:55 am

    Dee, I LOVE how it turned out! You are a machine doing all that work…it was all worth it, kind of like labor pains. You’ve probably forgotten already about that. Enjoy your lovely new meal, game and craft area!

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 22, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Sweet Carol, how nice of you to take the time to read my post, and comment with such thoughtful and sweet words! Definitely labor, not necessarily of love, but of resolve and grit. ๐Ÿ™‚ It means so much to know you like it, you are just the best! xo Dee

      Reply
  7. Eleni says

    June 19, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    Amazing turn out! Love your table it looks great. Dee, you are one talented lady! bug hugs sweet friend oxoxo

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 22, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      Eleni, that is so sweet of you! I’m glad you like how my table turned out, thanks so much for your kind comments, they are so appreciated! xo Dee

      Reply
  8. Libbie says

    June 19, 2021 at 8:48 pm

    Dee, this turned out so pretty! LOVE LOVE LOVE the wood with the white!!

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 22, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      Libbie, you dear! Thanks my friend for your sweet support. Yes, the wood with the white just looks so much better for sure! xo Dee

      Reply
  9. Cindy Rust says

    June 20, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    The table is gorgeous Dee! You did an amazing job on it! I can totally relate to the work it takes to refinish a piece of furniture. And yes, I have made some of the same decisions that I later have to change! Agh! It’s all part of the fun! Sorta ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 22, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      Aww Cindy, I knew if anyone understood it would be you my talented and hardworking furniture friend! Thanks so much for the lovely comments, coming from you and your expertise means a lot to me! Glad to know that I’m not the only one who has regretted a decision it’s good to know I’m not alone in this! A girl can have painting decor, right? Thanks my friend for stopping by, Luv ya!

      Reply
  10. liz says

    June 27, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    The table looks absolutely amazing- & the amount of work you put into it is also amazing. I am curious about the varnish & wax. I always thought varnish was supposed be the last coat for protection yet you varnished then applied wax afterwards. How will the wax hold up to heat and constant cleaning? I am planning on doing my own kitchen table & love your results so I will be doing exactly the same steps. Thanks

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 28, 2021 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Liz, thank you so much for the wonderful comments, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post! I think it’s
      great that you are going to do your kitchen table too, and that you will follow the steps I provided, that’s awesome! The reason
      I put the wax over the varnis his because once I finished the table top with the varnish I felt it needed something more, and the liming wax is
      exactly what I needed to achieve the look I wanted. Now, normally you could use the liming wax and not varnish at all,
      but I wanted a stronger coat of protection on the table, and I knew that varnish would give me that. I would not try the liming wax first,
      and then the varnish because I don’t think that would turn out well.I don’t think the wax would bond with the varnish. The wax has held up
      really well to heat and cleaning. I don’t pot a pot or hot dish directly on the table, I use a trivet or even a dish cloth. I’ve set plates
      directly on it with hot food with no problem at all. Now, you will have to rewax the table, depending on how hard the use is on it, probably about
      the six month mark. I’m actually going to be rewaxing mine about now! If you have any questions when you are working on your table please feel free to reach
      out to me here, or send me an email. I would be happy to help! I know you can do this!

      Reply
  11. Dorothy Darlinโ€™ says

    June 27, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    Dear Dee,
    You did an amazing and professional finish on the table. Did you also repaint the chairs or replace with new ones? The table looks very sturdy, and I am sure it will give you many more useful years. So lovely.
    โค๏ธ Dorothy

    Reply
    • Dee says

      June 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

      Hi, Dorothy Darlin’ aww I’m so blessed by your kind words about the table! So glad you like how it turned out! Yes, it’s extremely sturdy, it’s definitely going to be around for years to come. I actually just wrote a blog post on how I refinished the chairs, and the story behind them, I hope you get a chance to read it! Thanks again my dearest one for stopping by, I’m so glad you are here!

      Reply
  12. pat hayes says

    July 27, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    WHEW GIRL!! waaay less talk and more pictures! very nice look tho…๐Ÿ˜

    Reply
    • Dee says

      July 29, 2021 at 11:41 pm

      Hi Pat, thanks for taking the time to comment on my table redo. I felt that for any beginner refinisher, or one with specialized breathing issues,
      wt was really important to be thorough, so they too could obtain great results.
      Ican’t guarantee that there’ll be less talk on my next project, but
      I will definitely take lots more photos! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  13. James A. Malone III says

    July 29, 2021 at 3:42 am

    What a great job you did. It looks fantastic.

    Reply
    • Dee says

      July 29, 2021 at 11:07 pm

      Hi James,

      thanks for taking the time to read my blog post
      I really appreciate it, and your kind comments, thank you!

      Reply
  14. Shellie says

    August 6, 2021 at 1:29 pm

    The table is gorgeous, the chairs look great with it and Ollie is very cute.
    I have been in tears over a piece as well. It can be so frustrating; however, when your vision is realized it makes your heart sing.
    Thanks for sharing your story. Knowing all the life the table has witnessed inspires me.

    Reply
    • Dee says

      August 12, 2021 at 12:21 am

      Hi Shellie, I wanted to thank you for your lovely comments, they mean so much to me! Yes, you understand how challenging it can be to get
      a project done, it doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes, there are a few tears along the way. I’m glad you understand! Oh the joy though
      when we finish! Also, it really blessed me that you appreciated knowing the back story. Knowing that you took the time to read, and that
      it inspired you is better than gold to me, thank you! You made my day!

      Reply
  15. Bond Corp says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Such an informative article! All the information provided by you is really very helpful. By using tack cloth you can easily remove small dust particles from the surface and it also gives you smooth paint finishing. Thank you for sharing! Keep posting!

    Reply
    • Dee says

      August 20, 2021 at 2:01 am

      Hello Bond Corp,

      Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post on my Cottage Farmhouse Table Redo. Knowing that you found my post informative, and helpful
      really encouraged me in my DIY and blogging journey! I am an avid user of tack cloth, and I appreciate the comments on how it gives you a smooth
      paint finish. Definitely! Thanks again for stopping by, your kind words are greatly appreciated!

      Reply

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Dee Turk

Hi, I’m Dee. Welcome to my Cottage Comforts Home. My blog about all things home, and living a cozy, comfy, lifestyle no matter what your budget. I’ll be sharing creative ideas that you can easily implement into your own style of cozy living. So sit back, and pull up a cushion, let’s get comfy.

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