Big Project: The Reveal!

(It should be noted that I had originally entitled this post Pig Project: The Reveal! Ha! I find humor in that.)

Finally, finally, finally, after a month of work, near-catastrophes, and much patience on the part of my family, my big project is finished. I know I hadn't even told you what my project even was (although I alluded and probably gave out plenty of telling clues), so let me give you a shot of the "before":

That's right, folks. I tackled my table. My hated, hated table.

I shouldn't hate this table so much. It's served our family and several college roommates well. I bought it from my Aunt Connie during the summer in between freshman and sophomore year of college (what, like, 7 1/2 years ago? Geez.), and it has stayed with me since. You probably know someone who has this table; you can still get them in the big box stores. In time, I came to hate its country look in my less-than-country home, but I couldn't afford to replace it. Also, why replace a table that was perfectly sound and well-built?

Instead of doing anything about it, I sulked for a very long time. I would declare my hatred for this poor, unassuming table to anyone who would listen, all the while failing to actually do anything about my table situation. My sister-in-law suggested painting it or staining it or something quite a while ago, but I ignored her and continued to grouse. (Janie is very patient with me.) I even attempted to buy an inexpensive but very nice used table set over the summer, but the deal fell through.

At that point, I snapped out of it. Duh. I had a table. I had the resources. I had (some of) the know-how. I could tackle this table and make it something beautiful while retaining what I had and preventing something from crowding up a landfill or an overfilled consignment store. I could make my husband happy by spending very little money for a "new" table. I could do this.

Once I made the decision, I started to prepare. I knew I needed more seating than just the four original Windsor chairs, so I purchased the two ladder-back, straw-seated chairs from a local consignment store. I decided I wanted an all-black table based on a table I had seen in a Pottery Barn earlier this fall. (I can't find a link, but rest assured, it was basically the same style, chairs and all, just painted black.) I consulted Raechel, who has painted dining room chairs and other furniture black, and she suggested I use oil-based satin paint for the smooth, Pottery Barn look. (That's really what she said, and we both know that's what we're all going for at all times.) Oil-based paint scared me a little, but I bit the bullet and bought a gallon of the stuff from Sherwin-Williams, as well as some tinted primer. I bought all of the supplies, stocked up on odorless mineral spirits, and went to work.

I went to work a month ago.

It took a long time.

But after all that time (and this rather rambling introduction), I'm happy and ready and just positively thrilled to reveal a beautiful final product.

Ta da!

It. Is. Gorgeous.

Seriously, it's wonderful. It was worth all the work, all the stained fingers, all the paint fumes (I hope), all the time. I am so very happy with it.

I had a less-than-quick stroke of genius regarding the ladder-back chairs. I didn't love the straw seats, so I had just planned on painting them black. Then a few days after starting, it hit me: why not make upholstered seats? Uh-duh. (I mentioned this brainstorm to my mother, who said, "Oh, yeah. I thought about that a while ago, but I didn't say anything because I thought you liked the straw seats." Clearly we failed to communicate. Clearly I am slow.) So I spent $15 on nice fabric and batting, borrowed my parents' staple gun, and went to work. I am pleased with the result, and now our seating is just that much more comfortable.

I won't lie: this was all a lot of hard work. The primer was fine, and very, very necessary, but the paint was another story. Oil-based paint, I soon discovered, is a booger to work with. It goes on like tar, and you have to be as careful and as smooth with the application as possible. At first I used a nice brush, which worked okay for the chairs, but I wasn't getting a smooth finish on the tabletop. I wised up and used a mini-roller with foam rollers, and the result was much smoother and as thin as possible. I would highly recommend foam rollers if you tackle a similar oil-based project. Foam rollers and/or foam paintbrushes also work well for the multiple layers of polyurethane you're sure to need. Also, lots of patience, because it takes ages for oil-based paint to dry in between layers.

I would also highly recommend odor-free mineral spirits for clean up, as well as lots of disposable gloves. (Maybe all of this is "duh" for you guys, but hey, I was learning as I went. And I'm notoriously bad about doing my homework when it comes to house projects. I like to proceed under the delusion that my natural talent and good looks (*cough*) will get the job done. I learned very quickly to take advice, research, and, when in doubt, Google it.) Finally, I would recommend this great painting tutorial from Young House Love. Their tutorial is based on latex paint, but it still helps.

I would also recommend a very patient and helpful husband. Between being gone for Thanksgiving for a week, a week's bout with a cold, and just the general hustle-and-bustle of a busy home, we were without a dining table for a month. Just let that sink in: we had nowhere to eat, do office work, or entertain for a whole month. We put the kids' play table in the dining room and let them have free rein for that time, but boy, it feels good to have an adult space again.

One final detail for the dressing-up of the dining room: chandelier lamp shades.

They really finish out the space. And don't tell that one little, bright guy that he's any different from the others. His hat is on special order.

So what do you think? Worth the work, or should I just have plunked down several hundred (or even over a thousand) dollars on a new one? Wait, I know what your answer will be. But still, in the middle of it all, I was grousing that I wish I could have just bought a new one. And of course I'm glad I didn't. I keep casually walking over to my "new" table, gazing adoringly at it, and stroking it lovingly.

I can't help it. I'm in love.