I Actually Finished Something!

That's right people. After a year (and then some) I have finally finished my first furniture refinishing project!!  YAY!!!! I know, at this rate I will get my house in order just in time for me to die and have it all picked over by strangers in a best-of-the-best estate sale, but I'm excited now, so let me have this.

I bought this table for $5 at Goodwill. I wanted something to practice on before I went ahead and made a mess of the dining room furniture (which a lovely former coworker gave us... I am excessively cheap). This was before I started blogging, so I'm sorry, but there is no true before pic, but it's basically like every other crappy wood laminate table from the 70's. Use your imagination.

After some research I decided to try the Rust-Oleum Furniture Transformations Kit in Charcoal (without glaze).

Fresh paint, mmmm

This is where my imagination got me in trouble. It would have looked perfectly fine like that. But I just saw that little grove going around the edge, and it was screaming for something more. Like maybe a mirror top....

which lead to more research and a trip out to Robinson and the Hobby Lobby with my sister-in-law (I had two coupons so I needed two people...) to buy Krylon Looking Glass spray paint. There are soo many things you can do with this! I have more ideas than time (and obviously follow-through). Add them all to the "some day" pile. 

Gaaa! Streaks! 

Except for the streaks, it was everything I dreamed it would be. Also, you really shouldn't let a perfectionist paint. It takes much longer than it should, and we're never happy with it. This is how the table looked for the majority of the year. I did the top coat on the main table, and that went well, but when it came to the door the whole thing dried milky, and I had to re-strip and start over (I'm pretty sure that's when all the motivation left me). I finally got a much smaller brush, took a painstakingly long time with it in a room wearing my ventilator, and after a couple of days (over a couple of weeks) managed to get it finished.

Silver and Grey

And put back together! I'll admit, I painted the wrong side of the hinges (previously brass colored, now silver) and made my brain hurt trying to make them go on the way I thought they should, but that's a touch-up for another day. As far as I'm concerned, this bad boy is done. It has a new home in the living room with the lamp base I got at Target (70% off) and the lamp shade I picked up at a film set dressings sale for $5 (TFIOS. Can't wait to see the movie!) Here's hoping this (minor) accomplishment will motivate me to tackle the next big thing... painting the buffet table with chalk paint. Wish me luck!

Feels like Home...