Dining Room Table

As usual, I'm not quite finished. These projects always seem to hit snags and take longer than anticipated, but here it is {almost} done. (I wish I could have taken these pictures with natural light, but its been so dark and overcast!)



And here's the table "before" ...


I was trying to match the sideboard and I think it turned out pretty well.




I told Mr. T that now that I see how many beautiful inexpensive but well made pieces you can find out there if you just look around, that I regretted purchasing the sideboard. His response was that I shouldn't regret it because it was my inspiration. I suppose he's right that it was my muse for this project.

I used gel stain for the first coat on the top and I have to say I'm not a gel stain fan and will never use it again. Traditional stain is much easier to use and dries in half the time. Complicating matters is the humid wet weather we've had which has slowed down the dry time so we brought the table back inside and its drying much faster now. I have to sand it once more and apply one last coat of poly and it will be done.

Also, I had planned to buy a small cabinet with either an open top or glass doors to display my milk glass. However, as I was sitting at my computer beside my great-grandmother's secretary like usual on Saturday, it suddenly hit me. I could move the secretary into the dining room. It is something I've seen over and over in blogland, but for whatever reason, it never occurred to me to do it myself!


I have been planning to paint it for a long time and probably still will since the finish is in terrible shape, but for now the dark tone now matches the other dark wood in the room and the contrast between the dark wood and the white plates is great. At least I think so. ;-) I also think the dark wood adds a more masculine element without taking anything away.

Check out all the other transformations at Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday!