Sooo, g'day girls, I've been playing today, busying around this cottage, painting and painting, doing laundry, ironing my undies, ya know those Monday things we all love…I got to finishing up this charming breakfast table and remember those six chairs I found, well I finished re-covering the other four.
When I found the table she was already pretty likeable but just too dark for me. I shuddered when I plastered her with white paint, feeling a bit mean, but then ya know what, I thought well if I hadn't made her over chances are that she would have gone unsold and then in the crusher…so better be white with a new life than splatted. But I'm not sure how long she'll be at the Beach Cottage as I took her into the breakfast room and sadly and silly me (do you think I am anywhere near as organized as to measure things??? errrr nup) she doesn't quite fit so hmm I'm now wondering just quite what to do…
A couple of people asked me how I go about the distressing, believe me I am no expert but I took some pics as I went along. You can follow the steps to how I paint stuff here. For the sanded down edges, yep you guessed it, I sand them down – I use a piece of coarse sandpaper first off, like a 60 or 80 to quickly get the paint off and get down to the wood – take the sandpaper to the edges of the furniture and start attacking, I pretend it's Mr Beach Cottage when he has annoyed me. Carry on the assault on the corners, rubbing like crazy til they're nice and bare. Then I wipe off all the grubby sandy bits and take a fine grade paper, like a 250 or 400 and go over what I did, this makes the edges of the sanded off white paint more fine and kinda disperses fine white particles in the wood for a light colour. Wipe down and that's it, sometimes I varnish but not very often at all, as I like more chips and knocks to appear as we use it.
Well what do you think of her? I lurve the curves to her edges and the shape of her legs, to me, she just oozes casual chic in a nonchalant '40s way…
I know she's not rustic but after all my recents jaunts to Italy in Under the Tuscan Sun and France with A Year in Provence, I was feeling positively Continental this morning, the sun was out, the sea was sparkling, my sandals were on and a nice bottle of red was lined up and ready. So I dressed her up French style and enjoyed a nice lunch dreaming of Provence…and wondering just what will happen to my table, I mean, suppose I put her up for auction and no-one wants her, wouldn't that be wretched, or worse I do sell her but some nasty little man acquires her for 99 cents, because no-one else bid, oh no I would so hate that. C'mon bloggies what do you think I should do?
Would she fit in the main bedroom? Make a lovely writing desk… a sweet place to write love letters and thank you letters etc….
I went through a stage of reading all those ‘a year in… etc’ books. Check out the post of my last Summer holiday where I finally got to spend time in France and Italy… and loved every minute of it.
Oooooooooooooh Sarah how beautiful does she look, soooooo much better white, have never seen one like this before. So is your next tablescape going to be on your new beauty, (a small tablescape would look sooooo pretty). Hop over to my blog I have given you an award.
Enjoy your night
Lyn xoxo
Or on your verandah area? It’s so sweet. I’m sure there is somewhere you could put it.. Where would you auction it…on Ebay? I bought the most beautiful dinner set today at the Salvo’s which I will share with you sometime when I get around to posting..After your last table setting I was going off to buy the all white but I just couldn’t resist this setting when I saw it. I just seem to have so much I need to do at the moment… but I hear you say she still has time to get to the salvos and write on blogs …I keep thinking I need to catch up so I don’t feel guilty but I’m not sure that day will ever come..
My first thought is “desk”. I think it would make a fabulous place for writing, plopping down the old laptop, paying bills. (But then again, I think of any horizontal surface as a great place to plop down the laptop!)
Love what you did with this. Wish I had room for it as I would take it in a heartbeat. xxoo
Sarah, I’m not sure I see a problem with it right where it is. It looks wonderful, and I love the chairs with their stripe fabric seats. The table has such a nice shape, and if you find a place for it, it would be great for having company over if you wanted to seat several tables filled with guests. I hate for you to have to get rid of it. If you feel it doesn’t fit where it is, can you use it in a bedroom or on the porch? I use an antique trestle table as a desk now, and I love it. Before I got the room ready for it, I used it in my living room between two chairs. It worked great there. I could pile lots of cool things on it.
Sheila
Another job well done….you’re funny about pretending it’s Mr. Beach Cottage!
I adore this table!! A few ideas. Could you use it as a writing desk somewhere? Perhaps cut down the legs and use it as a coffee table? Make it narrower and perhaps use it as a sofa table or a hallway table? Otherwise, I think you could store her for a bit and then have yourself a big sale with your finished pieces with no homes.
Love your blog and your cottage. Just found you and can’t wait to visit again!
?Jen
Oh, I so wish I could take it off your hands. It’s gorgeous. Can you move near me? Lol.
Have to say I love the chairs most of all. The lines, the curves. Love it!
Aha……..busted,You do iron your undies.haha.I knew it.As I look at your young looking little hands,you look young.With all that energy,if you aren’t I want to be your manager and we’ll market how you get your energy and we’ll make millions,ok?…Ann
Born to be a desk? Maybe or “Make it narrower …and use it as a hallway table?” I think Susann has a good vision here. For some reason I see this beachy beauty looking fab narrower posing in a hallway. Does that make me a vandal?
I think that she is gaw-jus. JUst gorgeous! I’d find somewhere to put her if you love her.
Yippy Yea giddy I finally learned how to distress my paint!! do I need to say I love her….of course I do! I need a plane ticket and I’ll bid on her!! LOL I’m sure I could figure out how to get it in my suitcase…
So, did you laugh your socks off in Provence with Peter or what? As for your charming table, I would love it for awhile and then send it on it’s way to make room for another ‘soon-to-be-fabulous’ dumpster find. If you’re not up for hosting a tag sale, take heart that even nasty little men need a lovely place to dine and you’ve made the world a little bit better with your amazing grace!
A job well done once again! I think she looks perfect right there all dressed up with wine and all! I also like the idea of her being a desk, just big enough for everything you need….it feels good to give her life again, huh?
~ Tara ~
Your table looks awesome! I have a dining room table I need to get to work on…thanks for the reminder!
Hmmm… can I join you at the lovely table? I’ll bring some cranberry wine and lobster rolls! =)
hey hey Great job you did with your table , I am planning to take out an old one of my shed., and do something like this.
Before I’d sell it, I’d put it outdoors to enjoy. I spend a lot of time in my gardens. So I want them to be outdoor rooms that ooze comfort and charm. For awhile I was hung up with the notion of “but will the weather ruin it?” Oh well. Better than the crusher. I recently put one out in the courtyard, and bought one of those slick non-fabric, water-won’t-penetrate pieces of fabric people use for tablecloths. Have it cut to let some fall over the edges. And will protect it for some time.
Brenda
oooh, love it girl!
Someone else has already said it but the table is looking a dit desk’ish to me. Nice stable place to pay bills and sort paper.
What ever you decide it sure did come up a treat with a bit of white paint.
Cute table, Sarah! You’re so cute with your descriptions…I hope you keep it. Too nice to pass on to someone else. Aren’t you running out of room yet? I know I am.
I think she (I love that we’ve given her a gender
looks quite nice where she is! But maybe the “scale” looks better in your (amazing) pictures? It would make a lovely desk. How’s about in Miss Beach Cottage the Younger’s room?
p.s. Ironing your undies…Very impressive, lol.
As pretty as this treasure is, if I were YOU, I would FIND a place for it…it is magnificent, girl 11
Your table has so many possibilities. Behind a sofa, writing desk, dressing table or nightstand. Love it!
Gretchen
I love your table ! Congrtulations
This is such a charming table! You have done a lovely job restoring her!