This was tragic in the beginning. TRA-GIC!

I thought it was going to be a simple job of stripping and then painting but noooooooooooooo! It had been painted and then covered with contact paper and then? PAINTED AGAIN! I didn't get anywhere with an entire can of Citristrip because of the stupid contact paper. Once I got the top coats of paint off, then I had to pull off the contact paper and THEN I had to strip that paint off. Seriously...I almost gave up on this thing thinking that a plant stand just really isn't worth all this trouble so I left it alone for a few days and worked on something else. Then I thought about how gorgeous my trailing begonia would look on it so I stripped it, sanded it and painted it. Then? I got jiggy with it and used my stencils to put a few designs on it. After that, I used 100 grit sandpaper to distress all the edges of the wood and went over it with dark wax.

And now? Me happy! Had I known about all of the layers of paint and the contact paper in the middle? Yeah...Idda passed. I never want to do that again.

Isn't it purdy?

I fell down a rabbit hole recently on Pinterest regarding Annie Sloan chalk paint. I got really excited and then Angela shared with me the china cabinet she did and that pretty much sealed the deal for me. I wanted to do something with the paint.

Our dining table is in the dining room so we needed a kitchen table. Of course I'd identified one. For whatever reason, I didn't pull the plug on it immediately and The Robinator kept asking me when we were going to get a table. I'd decided I wanted to use a bench against the bay windows so the view wasn't obstructed and well...I just kept dragging my feet because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. I wanted it to be fun but still neutral. Crazy I know.

This is what I liked:

But I wasn't crazy about the white. The walls on the main level are taupe with white trim. Too much white will make it BLAH...in my opinion.

The Annie Sloan pics on Pinterest made me feel like...YAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT THAT!!!!!!!!! Pinterest Annie Sloan Table

Okay...so I needed a table.

The Robinator was a good sport and went with me to a place that sold old furniture. We were walking around when I found a table with crap stacked on top of it. It looked horrid but it was REAL wood. I asked the owner how much and when she said $50 I agreed INSTANTLY.

We brought it home but my shoulder was hurting so badly...he wouldn't let me start. But I went to the place where they sold Annie Sloan chalk paint and picked out the color, Provence. I figured it would give me the pop of color I was looking for while still remaining relatively neutral.

I decided I wanted to stain the top so I chose Minwax Dark Walnut as the stain for the tabletop.

I woke up this morning chomping at the bit to get it done but my shoulder was still messed up. Because he's kinda awesomely fantastic...The Robinator sanded it for me and then I got to work.

These are the steps:

1. Clean with Clorox cleaner and damp towel.

2. Let dry.

3. Sand top only (going to stain the top) with coarse sand paper.

4. Wipe off dust.

5. Sand again if needed.

6. Wipe off dust.

7. Sand with fine sand paper.

8. Wipe off dust.

9. Wipe down with damp towel.

10. Let dry.

11. Stain.

12. Let sit for 15 minutes.

13. Wipe dry with old, soft t-shirt.

14. Stain again if you'd like it darker. (I didn't.)

15. Paint rest of table with chalk paint.

16. Let dry for an hour.

17. Paint again.

18. After 5 hours, add Annie Sloan dark wax to top.

19. Wipe off excess wax.

I didn't buy the clear wax for the painted part because I didn't think I'd like it but I think I now want it so I'll go get it tomorrow and add it.

The table looks awesome.sauce.

In my opinion.

Would you try something like this? I now want to paint and stain whatever I can find. LOL! I have identified the next piece I'm going to do and I am super-dooper excited about it! I've found the chairs I want to use but not the bench so I might have to get it made.

I want to use coordinating seat cushions and Sheffield valances in the space so that will be cool! Buying new furniture made out of real wood can set you back a grip since the days of MDF being easy and much cheaper options. I don't like MDF. I'm a grownup. I want my furniture to be made out of real wood. So...either I'm going to have to upcycle old pieces or spend ridiculous (to me) amounts of money to get good quality products. With a little elbow grease and some vision...I'm pretty excited about the prospects ahead of me now that I know I can do this. I know what my next two projects are going to be and Shelly has me penciled in to do something for her, but my project after that is a guest bedroom where I want to do two twin beds with an American flag motif.

I'm all excited and whatnot and so is The Robinator. Dude keeps passing by the table marveling that we only paid $50 for it. LOL! I love that.

GOBBLE.GOBBLE!!!!!!!!

Plant Stand Makeover in Annie Sloan Provence and Dark Wax

Annie Sloan MIRACLE Chalk Painted Kitchen Table!!!!!!!