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Antique Dining Table Updated with Chalk Paint

June 16, 2015



CREATE   |   Published June 16, 2015



Beautiful antique table and chairs refinished with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com




Memories of large family gatherings transform a dining table into more than just a slab of wood on four legs.  Close your eyes and picture the father of the family standing at the head of the table carving knife in hand ready to slice the Thanksgiving turkey.  The sound of laughter fills the air.  And you are surrounded by the feelings of love and companionship that a close-knit family can bring.



A table may be where the family dines nightly telling one another what happened during their day or it could be reserved just for special family occasions where many gather around it.  Either way, the dining table can turn into a symbol of joyful times spent together.



Create a simple farmhouse centerpiece by displaying apples in a vintage colander.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com
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Unfortunately, I was born a few years too late and missed out on holiday dinners with the entire family in attendance.  But I've seen pictures and heard stories of the meals that took place at this very table I'm sharing with you today.  (One such story even explains why there are now only five of the six chairs left to this dining set and how my father was "to blame.")



Beautiful antique table and chairs refinished with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com



The antique table and chairs were given to my grandparents many years ago by someone who was purchasing a new set and needed to get rid of the old.  And years later, my grandma passed it onto my mom when another donated set was coming her way.


Back in the early days of my blog, I had mentioned that one of my upcoming projects was going to be repainting this antique dining table.  The wood had been stained very dark and was in drastic need of some updating and cleaning.  The chairs were upholstered in a vinyl fabric, which I'm sure was practical at the time but not exactly my choice for farmhouse decor.  This is the only before picture that I have.....






Fixing up the table turned into a project that literally took decades to finish.  Stripping wood down to it's natural state is not a fun job and actually completing the table for use kept getting pushed aside.  After being in our basement for years with a semi-stripped tabletop, I made the decision to forget stripping it all and paint the base and chairs instead with my DIY chalk paint.   Everything had been refinished before, so I wasn't damaging a priceless, untouched antique.



Beautiful antique table and chairs refinished with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com



Painting the table, by the way, was the best decision ever and not just because I didn't want to do anymore sanding and removing the stain!  I love the contrast of the wood tabletop with the painted and distressed legs.  An entirely stained table and chairs would have been way too much wood for this tiny space.


Because of the painted finish, you notice the beautiful turned legs even more now.






The detail pops out of the chunky trim underneath the tabletop.






And I'm totally smitten with the little wood wheels at the bottom of each of leg.






It was pure luck that beautiful wood was hiding out under all the grime and stain on the tabletop.  Once it was completely stripped and sanded a bit, all the wood needed was about 10 coats of polyurethane for protection.  No staining required, thank goodness....that is a process for me that ranks up there with stripping wood!  The table top is old and split in a few places, but in my opinion that just adds amazing character.  All I see here is beauty.



Restoring a vintage wood table top  |  www.andersonandgrant.com



After a couple coats of a creamy white chalk paint and some distressing, the base and chairs were protected with Miss Mustard Seed's clear furniture wax applied with a rag.  I love this product, but it is especially great for white painted wood because it doesn't leave a yellow tint like some waxes or polyurethane.  I love the smell of it, too, but that's just me.



Vintage dining chair updated with chalk paint  |  www.andersonandgrant.com



The chairs still need to be reupholstered in padding and some gray floral fabric my mom picked up at Hobby Lobby.  For now the bare wood seats are working just fine.


There is another leaf to the table that needs to be stripped and have the coats of polyurethane applied.  And chair number five needs to be painted, waxed, and upholstered.  But after close to 20 years in various stages of completeness, the table is finally in the dining room and being used again.



See how grandma's antique dining table and chairs is transformed and updated with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com



I love that it can be fully enjoyed and maybe once again hold at least a few family members for a special dinner......complete with the laughing and turkey.



See how grandma's antique dining table and chairs is transformed and updated with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com
I'd love to know....Do you have any fond remembrances of being gathered around the dinner table with your family?  And what memories are you creating now?


Green apples on the dining room table.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com





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See how grandma's antique dining table and chairs is transformed and updated with chalk paint.  |  www.andersonandgrant.com




AND HERE ARE SOME OTHER FURNITURE PROJECTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN....

Vintage cane back chair gets a farmhouse makeover

An updated antique booster chair

A yard sale chair makeover

Fixing and updating a broken roll top desk

Dining room sideboard made from an antique dresser



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anderson+grant is a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping you to create a slower, simpler home with contemporary style.

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