8.10.2010

Having Seen Better Days...

This is my dining room, although at the moment it is in complete disarray due to our new found love for legos. They have officially taken over. The dining chairs are still at the reupholsters and have been since March, ugh. That's what I get for going to someone who is a bargain. Anyhow, my dining table which is a square fits the room perfectly and seats 8+, but it has seen better days. I would love a long dining table, but in reality it just won't fit. We enjoy entertaining so many seats are a must. so I am thinking of giving it a face lift.


Over on Vanessa's blog I saw a link to a DIY project that left me speechless. It seems the lady from Freckled Laundry gave an ordinary wooden dresser a faux zinc finish. I personally think its gorgeous and wonder if it would hold up as a dining table top. Does anyone know if a coat of poly would make it last? I think chipping or paint transfer would be worse than my ugly table top.


I also thought about leaving the top to ruin and keep the aged look and then paint the legs and apron giving it a more farm house feel.

{Let me know if you know where this image is from, I have had it saved before I made it a point to site every image, sorry}



Or my favorite and won't ever happen option is just take off the top and add a slab of marble! Although I am thinking for that price I could just buy a new fabulous table which is something I want to avoid right now. I am thinking cheap.

{again I have this sited as David Jimenez, but could not find it on his site when I went to link, any ideas?}



So what would be your pick?

92 comments:

A Perfect Gray said...

some wonderful options...the marble would look great, but you're right, it probably would be pricy.

keep us posted!

Tara said...

i would paint the bottom before the top...but the marble is gorgeous.
the marble might be less than you think?
another option might be concrete...ashley ann at http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/ has one...but perhaps concrete might be a little too rustic?
can't wait to see what you choose!!

Ms. Bright said...

While I think the faux-zinc is a neat idea...for you, I'd say paint the apron/legs. I can't imagine even touching the top. It'll will get more beautiful with age, scratches from your family, etc.

Melissa said...

Maybe just the apron (painted?) I like the idea of a chippy, well-worn top-- it suggests age and lots of use. Maybe a coat of wax on top to add some depth to the patina? I'm also in the market for a new table-- my trusty source for all things fab says she has a 1940's french table that will expand to seat 10 (for $175!!!) I can't wait to go see it!

Milk and Honey Home said...

http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-tip.html

Paula--look at this treatment a designer did to brighten a mirror. This looks a little like zinc. I think it will be beautiful (but your room already is, too!)

A House and Home said...

Wow, I love all of these ideas...the concrete is especially creative, inexpensive and "green" while it can be very chic. That's an interesting thought. Also love the zinc idea...but I would sand it down and remove the poly to get a more natural french country look. I too love the scratches and stains along the way that add character.

Mrs. Limestone said...

I'd love to see the zinc treatment...that would be gorge.

I need a new dining room table (I actually love my table but the ornate base makes it impossible to put enough chairs around it) so Im dining room obsessed.

Also have to add that Im in love with your dining chairs! I tried to grab some simliar ones at an auction but was outbid. Any idea what the style is called?

Anonymous said...

the marble is gorgeous! You have a great space to work with though. And can we talk about that cabinet in the image with all the glasses? I am in love!

Unknown said...

i totally agree about painting the top - i'd hate to put all that work into it and then have it get ruined.

for the interests of frugality, though, i'd say to paint the legs and leave the top. if you change your mind later, you can always just paint that too.

Melissa @ Veranda Interiors said...

Leave the patina on the bottom and do the base, that would be perfection!

Laurel-Dawn McBurney said...

I also love, love the idea of painting the apron in the zinc faux finish...

I do love the idea of sanding off the finish on the top of the table, and allowing the "happy accidents" of your family to give it a little character...

Also, while watching Design Star, the kitchen challenge, they took sandpaper, a little stain and a hammer to a table that looked a LOT like yours- and painted the apron grey... it was fabulous... check it out here!

http://my.hgtv.com/design-star-judge-the-designs-2010/Episode-7/Alexs-Design-Kitchen-Makeover/detail.esi?oid=17986345

Staley Mc said...

I love that zinc finish! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Heather said...

I love the idea of painting it in the faux zinc...is the mirror that color too? It's a little hard to tell from the photo. Also...wild and crazy idea...what about doing a faux marble on the top? I've done it to smaller pieces before, and it's not that hard (and it's fun!)

Melissa Marie Head said...

I love the idea of letting the top get worn and look farmhousey.

coolkids said...

I think the farm house look would be awesome. I agree with a pp that I would be afraid to touch the top.

Haven and Home said...

Love the marble but you are right, may not work. I do like the idea of the top being worn, makes the room feel well lived in!

megan @ a life's design said...

I would say go with the farmhouse look, but they are my favorite. I think it would be the best with kids.

Cat said...

I like leaving the top the existing wood and doing the legs, etc. I love that look! ;)

Stephanie said...

Hi Paula! I love the first and second idea :) This may not apply to your table b/c of the shape, but I LOVE this table redo from The Little Red House blog:

http://inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-build-table.html

Logan said...

I love the look of a big, worn farm table. My parents have one so it has special meaning to me. Could you possibly strip the top of your current table and let it age a bit?

I like the marble too, but it looks a bit cold.

Brigette said...

I would go for the farmhouse look with the zinc technique and I think I would sand the top to make it a bit more rustic looking.

Char said...

i love the worn top and painted legs option

Char said...

i love the worn top and painted legs option

Anna said...

Oooo ... marble. That does sound lovely.

But for real world today ... I think I'd go with painted legs, leave the top. I love the look of painted wood, but I would worry - as you mentioned - that with the abuse a table gets w/ kids around, it would end up chipping and looking rather "Meh."

Good luck! Can't wait to see what you decide!

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Can't wait to see what you do.

And call Mr. A--- if you bug him- he'll get them done. I called every day for a week and my chair was finished after that. Should have told you that sooner!

Heather said...

Love your blog. I'm all about the farmhouse table with worn top and painted legs/apron. I'm trying to figure out my dining room right now. It is small, but I love to cook, eat, and share. I am loving rustic wood mixed with black and white paint and elegant accents. Can't wait to see what you will do. Oh, and I'm a Bama girl too. I live in Madison.

Gramercy Home said...

I'm with the majority: leave the top (or sand it down a bit) and paint the legs/apron (the zinc treatment would be v. cool). I love a well worn wood top dining table. It brings such warmth to a room and allows for people to feel comfortable and linger well after dinner is over. I had an old table from my parent's house that had scratches of my old handwriting from where I did homework on it without any protection. My mom was so mad but now we think it's so cool!

Tamara said...

so many options, but i think i'm with the majority -- paint the legs & apron and go for a rustic feel for the top.

don't know if you have a leaf, but for my little hand-me-down kitchen table, my husband & i sprayed our leaf down with chalkboard paint. i love the contrast with the wood table top -- and of course leaving chalkboard love notes and letting isaiah scribble on it is so fun.

Lissa Pierce said...

I would just stick with painting the bottom. I love that image with the gray base and it would look great in your dining room from what I tell in the picture. If you painted the top you would have to lacquer the top to death and even then it might still scratch because of heavy use. Can't wait to see which you choose.

Unknown said...

I love your ideas.. but I have to tell you first that I really adore the space as it is! I know, I know.. change is good :) Love the marble idea..but I am adoring the zinc'd effect on the bottom, that would be very Paula :) xx

Julie said...

Marble sounds amazing. I wonder what it would be like to price it out?

Julie said...

Marble sounds amazing. I wonder what it would be like to price it out?

Chelsea Gwynne said...

I'm sure you'll pick the right table! Your plants on top of your little dresser in your dining room right now look so great!

jora said...

ok i like them all, but i am definitely loving that marble one.

tye said...

I love all the options! What if you painted the the legs and apron and distressed the top a litle more... then found a remnant of marble just to put on the top of your table in the middle? Just a thought! I can't wait to see what you decide!

Stacy of KSW said...

I'm still drooling over your DIY zinc find! I want to paint everything I own zinc now :)

I'm pretty sure I have your exact same table sitting in my garage. It was perfect for our family too but I upgraded last year to an amazing craigslist find. I actually miss the square shape :(

Anyway, I always wanted to refinish it too and I'm thinking the zinc trick would be AWESOME!! Legs or top. I saw a preview on Life in the Fun Lane last night of a driftwood paint technique she is going to share soon (swoon). It might make for an interesting combo - Beachy chic meets industrial :)

paula said...

Mrs. Limestone, not sure of the origin. I have seen them labeled as english and french, but I do know if you were to "search" them balloon back seems to work. I adore them but the Mr. not so much. Hoping after the reupholster and rebulid they will support him more.

LindsB said...

I like the second choice, leaving the top all beat up and painting the bottom half, if you ever get sick of it then you can try the faux zinc finish or even replace the top all together. Either way I think whatever you do with it will be so pretty!

Aimee@ the Functional Space said...

Paula, in remodeling (and upholstery too) it can be well crafted, done in a timely manner, and a great price. You can have two but NEVER three of those things at any one time. I hope you get your chairs soon!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for featuring my faux zinc nightstand, Paula! To answer your question, yes, you can poly it but I'd spray it with poly first so that the initial brush coat doesn't ruin your paint job. I think it would make fab table top but I'm kind of siding with Option #2, painting the apron and legs. Can't wait to see what you choose!

Thanks again for being sweet,
Jami

:: Lavender's Green :: said...

If money were no object I'd go the marble (obviously!). But, I like the idea of painting the legs and apron and leaving the top a nice wooden finish. I'm actually thinking of doing that to my little old dining room set. I'll let you know if I do!

x Jasmine

J said...

May I ask who you are using for the upholsterer? I live in B'ham also and have been trying to find someone to reupholster a 1940's sofa we inherited.
Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Paint the top and get a piece of glass custom cut for the top.

Emma said...

That image of the farmhouse table and upholstered Thonet chairs was originally published in Canadian House and Home. Looking forward to seeing what you do!

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