I do have a way of drawing out a project, don't I? Part 1 and Part 2 of this kitchen table redo have been published previously. The hubs is thrilled this project is taking weeks, instead of hours. I'm usually a fast worker, so a project like this is good for me. It's kept me busy for days. Last week was spent adding urethane to the top of the stained table and refinishing the base of the table.
I used Helmsman Spar Urethane Clear Satin to finish the top of the table. This is an incredible product. It's self leveling, so there are no brush marks whatsoever, and it gives the surface a beautiful satin finish. I'm so happy with the results. Just follow the directions on the can for a beautiful finish. It literally looks prettier than when we bought it 25 years ago!
I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to paint the base of the table black or white with distressing. Since I had another piece of furniture in the room that was distressed white, I decided to go with that. You might remember that the base of the table was originally a golden oak finish, similar to this one...
Here's the process to paint over a varnished surface:
Step 1: Clean the area you are going to paint with Zep All-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser or like product.
Step 2: Use Klean Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser or sand it till your arm is numb.
Step 3: Apply Kilz Original Oil-Base {spray or can} to prime and seal the wood and block stains.
Step 4: Apply paint -- can be either enamel, latex, or oil. I used Behr Statuesque eggshell paint.
Step 5: {Optional} Glaze, paint, or stain the wood, if you desire to add a distressed look. {Google "distressing wood" to get ideas.} Distressing wood is an imperfect science. You just eyeball it till you get the amount of color and detail that suits you. Then you kick it a few times, slap it up one side and down the other, and presto... it's distressed. Or you leave the newly painted project in a room with the grandkids for 10 minutes. Pretty sure the end result would be the same. Distressed.
Because distressing is not an exact science, it can feel like you are wrecking your project as you add the distressed look. That's how I feel every time I distress a piece of furniture. In fact after doing the base of the table I called my husband and told him I was frustrated and wanted to repaint the base of the table black. Then I came downstairs and decided it wasn't so bad after all. Just remember to stand back to look at the project. Up close the distressing looks pretty horrible, but when you stand further away, you'll more easily see the beauty of the distressed wood.
FYI: I used a combination of light brown, dark brown, and dark gray enamel eggshell paint to distress this piece. I just brushed it on with an almost dry brush. I couldn't find a glaze like I'd used in the past in the stores in my hometown. I did, however, find one on the internet. This is what I plan on using in the future when I refinish my kitchen cabinets -- Van Dyke Brown Water Based Glaze.
Later this week I'll show you the finished project!
