Staining and Distressing a Table and Chairs




I want to MAKE my own farmhouse table....
But until I have the time to do that project...
I decided to stain the table and chairs I have.......AND
What a difference a few coats of stain make! 
 I am so pleased with the AFTER~!
Let me just say I usually HATE sanding!!! 
But using an Orbital Sander and Detail Sander sure 
does make the job fast and easy:-)
 I used the sander on the side of the table and each of the legs for a distressed look
The detail sander worked perfect around the spinals of the chair. 
But of coarse I gave my little helper some manual labor! 
I used an American Walnut water-base stain. I Love a water based stain.....
EASY clean up for a girl that hates to wear gloves!
This is NOT the proper way to stain!!!!!
Reading the directions on the back of the can......
I thought 'Wet Edge' meant to keep my brush wet....when the hubby came out and seen me doing this he about died in laughter:-) LOL 

The proper way is to glade the brush all the way across the table keeping it all wet before wiping it down...

OK so no biggie.....
After about 5 or 6 coats you don't even see that I messed up the first coat.
 I distressed the table a little with a chain and hammer.
In between each coat you need to sand...I just did a quick wipe with this sanding sponge and wiped off the dust...so the next coat of stain sticks..
SEE the proper way to stain????
Wipe the whole table and edges with stain...then wipe off with a clean rag.
I did about 5 or 6 coats until I got the desired darkness..
And now for the chairs.....I started at the back of the chair then wiped sections across the front of the chair then around the edge....after that I wiped it all off with a clean rag. NO worries about the stain on the spindles, it wipes right off with a clean rag...so I didn't feel the need to waste time taping.
Awwwww! Look what I found in between drying time.
And this from a man who is NOT a fan of the distressed look..
LOVE you too, honey!!
Here you can also see how I sanded the chair,
wiped with stain and then a clean rag.
After the table and chairs were stained, I applied a couple of coats of water based Polycrylic Protective Finish in Clear Satin
 Perfect!!! Oh don't you just LOVE 'em??!
 I really LOVE the distressed look.....
 My 'NEW' table needed a table runner.....
so I just cut a stripe of green burlap and hot glued a few rosettes on each end.
I'm so pleased with the outcome of my table...I think it looks EXPENSIVE! 
It only cost $15 for a can of stain.
Check out all the places I party!

64 comments:

Stacie Marshall said...

Table looks great!

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

Wow! I Love it! What a big difference. Thanks for sharing!
sandraallen260@centurytel.net

Handmade Crafts Done While RVing Blog said...

This is awesome and a look I am use to being from the east coast...

Evielynne

Unknown said...

SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
that is all.

Kara said...

I love the transformation, and for $15, it's even better!! Way to work with what you already had. It turned out great!

Lizzie said...

Your blog header should really read, "Flight attendant turned stay-at-home mommy and amazing re-vamp artist"!
A very clever make-over. And the step-by-step "how I did this" post is great.
Well done you!

Nicole said...

Great job! I am loving your distressing job! But I have a question.... how long did your fingers show the stain?? I saw them in one of the pictures and got curious. :) Oh and I LOVE the idea of a burlap tablerunner!!

Connie the crafterbug said...

I have a table that has the exact same structure and I have been wanting to paint it similar to this. Maybe I will now because yours looks so beautiful.
Connie (New follower)

A Few Pennies said...

Beautiful job! Patty

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

It looks terrific, Michell! One of the great things about the "distressed" look is that it doesn't need to look perfect. So your initial booboo was no biggie. By the way, your little helper is a doll. ;)

Thanks for linking to the party this week.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Jeannine of I am what I am said...

I have the same table, just in a light color (maple perhaps?) I've been wanting to paint & distress it, but didn't know how it would look. Thanks for the tutorial! I have a lot of other projects to tackle before the table, but it will get done eventually!

Tanya said...

I LOVE that! I have the same set only I have a bench too. I am totally gonna do this! Great job:)

Unknown said...

Totally awesome! I wanted to try this myself bus wasn't quite sure how to go about it, Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

That's great! Good job. I love the sentiments of you post with the love note from your hubby and your little helper is precious. Looks like you thoroughly enjoyed this project. Thanks, Jenn (By way of Brambleberry Cottage Time Travel Thursday)

Unknown said...

I'm a new follower from the blog hop...Love the table...I've been wanting to restain some of my furniture but still in that nervous stage...Now you got me excited to just do it!!!

Would love for you to follow back...like you I was a flight attendant as well for NWA...great blog title!!!

~Denyse~

Debbiedoos said...

Looks fantastic. Lots of hard work. You may be interested in my chalk paint giveaway. If you have heard about this paint, there is NO priming or sanding before, just start painting.

Kimberlea@SaVvyDeCor said...

Great job! It looks beautiful!

Christina said...

GORGEOUS!!! The colors are PERFECT! (...and I hate sanding too!)

Thanks so much for linking up to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

Unknown said...

beautiful table set, looks hundreds of times better with the darker stain! Exactly like what I am going to do to mine...soon...someday!
You've earned a new follower ;)
xoxo Kim from
tiarasandbowties.blogspot.com

Meri said...

It looks great! I love the dark wood top with the white bottom, it's a great look and it flows with your kitchen perfectly!:)

InMyOwnStyle said...

Hi Michell-

You took the table and chairs from totally plain to perfectly charming. The set looks great against the green cabinet too. I can see why you are thrilled - great job - and since you were distressing the table it didn't matter if your wiped the stain on correctly or not? You could of said to your husband - oh no honey this is the way you do it when distressing :)

My best- Diane

Andie Jaye said...

it looks great! i just got done doing this to my table legs and chairs. now all i have to do is get the seats recovered. i was worried about my husband liking it too! glad that it worked out for both of us :) stop by if you get some time. andie @ http://crayonfreckles.blogspot.com

Miss Charming said...

You did a wonderful job! I have a kitchen table very similiar to yours that's on my list of projects. Thanks for sharing!

Little Miss Penny Wenny said...

looks fabulous! I haven't used a detail sander before but so wish I had one today when I was stripping the top of a very intricately carved french dresser. Great job!

xoxo

Jen

Becca Bertotti said...

Looks fabulous !! Wonderful tutorial, too !! I'm taking notes as I'm going to be stripping and staining a table top today. Eeek. Thanks for sharing, Becca

www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com

Screaming Meme said...

Great table transformation...:) and the name of your blog is too perfect for you! Love it! :) made me smile! Come by & sign up for my continual giveaway...this week a $100 giveaway! And a few of my recent posts about furniture and bird cages...and a hilarious story about me! ;) Meme

At The Picket Fence said...

Well done! It looks absolutely fantastic and you did a marvelous job giving it a face-lift. :-) Thanks so much for linking it up to Inspiration Friday this week...you know we always love having you there!
Vanessa

LYNDA QUINTERO-DAVIDS said...

You really did an excellent job!! And I love the green painted amoire behind the table. Just beautiful!

:D Lynda

Susan said...

That is really beautiful! I've never known what "wet edge" was until I saw this one. Now I do. :)

I'm preparing to paint and distress a dresser and now you've got me thinking about staining the top! Ohhhh!

Chelsea @ two twenty one said...

Looks great! I have the same exact dining room table, and I plan on doing the same to it later this summer. Thanks for the tutorial... I pinned it for later! Found you at tt&j!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

your table and chairs look great! I love stained tops with white. My coffee table is like that. Would have loved to do my table (kitchen) but it wasn't real wood. :(

thanks for linking up!
gail

Unknown said...

It looks SO good. I have always been a little afraid of using stains, but maybe I need to give it a try.

Kim @ A Brush of Whimsy said...

You did a great job on the set!

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Very pretty! The thought of staining around spindles has always intimidated me. You made it look easy!

Lanell said...

I need to redo my kitchen table and this is a great stain color. In the meantime, I threw on a tablecloth. Your blog is great and I love the "flying" theme. I found you at The Creative Crate. I'm a new follower.

Sherrie said...

Great job! That is too funny about the wet edge.

Denissa said...

Awesome job! It looks great! I re-did our dining table also but wasn't brave enough to sand and stain so I used spray paint! :)
Also LOVE the burlap runner, I may need to make one myself! ;)

Deanna said...

It came out beautiful! Don't worry I've made mistakes too but hey I learned tho! Good Job, thanks for sharing!


Deanna
http://deelitefulcreations.blogspot.com/

Erin @ 3 Meadow Lake Cottage said...

What a great transformation! You're right, it does look expensive :)
I'd LOVE it if you'd link up and share this project at The AFTER Party @ 3 Meadow Lake Cottage...

http://www.3meadowlakecottage.com/2011/05/after-party-and-amazing-kitchen-redo.html

~Erin

Anonymous said...

Great job on your table!! I have a table in the breakfast nook that I need to do this to.

Bec@littlelucylu said...

Your table looks great! (And like a lot of hard work!!!) I don't think I would have the patience to do that! :)~
I saw you on Tatertots and Jello - I was featured, too ... and I had to laugh at your comment that you cried when you saw it ... I did, too! :-)
We are so silly!!!
Congrats to you ... love your blog! :-) I've been a follower for a while now! :-)
~Bec

wyochatfields said...

Beautiful job, thanks for sharing.

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

Wow...what a lot of work...and it shows the amount of effort you put into it - beautiful job!

Emily said...

I have a table I've been thinking of doing something with for a long time, yours looks awesome! domesticdeadline.blogspot.com

Jill said...

Great job. My boyfriend has a very similar type table....he might be upset with you for giving me ideas. ;)

xinex said...

Awwww, how sweet! You did a great job and he's just showing his admiration..Christine

Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama said...

I love your table and chairs. I like the white with dark stained top.. that looks really good. I recently redid a table that looks a lot like yours but i painted the bottom of table and all chairs black. Im ready to try another one soon.

Tracy Huffman said...

OH! I am DYING to do this to my dining room table!! Thank you for the inspiration! It looks lovely :)

deb said...

Simply beautiful!!!!
*hugs*deb

Anonymous said...

Your dining room table looks marvelous! You did a great job.
I'm popping over from Cielo's!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Ginger said...

Nice change! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

Christina said...

In case you haven't seen it already...I featured this project on my blog yesterday :)

http://christinasadventures2010.blogspot.com/2011/05/sunday-features-19.html

Mary said...

I love tables! Thank you for sharing it at Masterpiece Monday. I hope you have a great week! Mary :O)

At The Picket Fence said...

And the fabulous Michell strikes again... You did an incredible job. It look so wonderful, I am impressed!
Thank you for sharing it with us at Inspiration Friday!

Heather

destiny said...

Looks great girl! I have always loved the dark stain and white combo!! Beautiful!!

Tracy Crosby said...

Looks awesome! I am planning to do this same thing to my own table this summer! Totally going to use your tutorial! :)

Violetpaperwings@blogspot.com

SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime said...

Michell, this turned out lovely :) Thank you so much for linking up this great post at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop.

Pretty Pauline said...

I am getting ready to distress our entire table in white, and I've never done it before! So *THANK YOU!* for showing me how to along the way. Especially the chain and hammer part... I'm a leetle bit skeered of that~LOL! But now I am inspired. :)

Spunky Junky said...

I love this table Michell! I have been stalking it for awhile. haha. I am featuring you on Spunky Junky.

xoxo
Halsey

Anonymous said...

Lots of fun ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Homemade Heather said...

pinned :)

Emily S said...

Wow this turned out so pretty! I have almost that exact same set (though it's all wood, no white) and now I know what to do with it when I'm ready to refinish it. Great job!

cuteasacanvas said...

This is awesome and a look I am use to being from the east coast.
Thanks for post.
Aeron Chair

Lily said...

Wow! I Love it! What a big difference. Thanks for sharing!

table top fridge

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