DIY: SIDE TABLE

Have you ever found a piece of furniture you absolutely love that just needs a little TLC? That’s how I felt when I saw this gorgeous side table at a vintage sale. I think it was love at first sight! The price was outstanding – under $100. Ladies, if you’re hunting to a great bargain, barn sales & flea markets are the way to go.

I had THE perfect spot for the side table all picked out in the farmhouse. At first, I wanted to paint it. But when I thought about the beautiful wood that was (hopefully!) hiding under the varnish, I knew I wanted to see if I could bring back its natural beauty.

Below, see how I took a great vintage find from a 5 to a 10, with just a little elbow grease & a heart to see it restored!

STEP one: Remove doors & drawers

To effectively remove all paint and lacquer from ALL sides of the doors and drawers, I first took out the drawers and doors, and set the separate pieces out to be worked on.

Even if the paint isn't visible, it's important to clean off the nooks and crannies so that your piece is as beautiful and close-to-original as possible.

STEP Two: Plastic wrap

I covered the piece with Citristrip varnish remover and covered it in plastic wrap. The plastic helps keep the varnish moist, so that the chemical begins to peel the paint away from the wood more effectively.

STEP Three: Paint removal

Scrape down all remaining paint and wipe down with denatured alcohol with steel wool...

I HIGHLY recommend wearing gloves! My skin gets so dry and cracked from the dry winter air, and I try to save it as much “extra” irritation as possible when tackling a DIY project.

...this will help reveal that fantastic, shining wood underneath!

STEP Four: Sand

Sand off any imperfections (I just use Walmart-grade sandpaper; whatever you have on hand will work. If needed, you can repeat steps two through four.

STEP FIVE: Linseed

Wipe down with linseed oil (this one works great) - the oil helps bring out the natural texture and grain in the wood. Put in the work to add that fabulous new-find glow to the piece!

STEP Six: top coat

Cost with a top polyurethane coat (I recommend this brand). I used a flat finish because I wanted it to look vintage.

And you're done! Enjoy your beautiful side table and the vintage flair it adds to your space. Have YOU planned a weekend DIY, friends? Let me know if you try this tutorial in the comments, or via Instagram, @maplecreekmarket! Happy Friday!

Blessings,

Ginny

Shop the side table details!

Cake (Everything Dawn), Wooden sign (Currently Chic), Cake stand (Pioneer Woman)

#vintage #table #vintagefarmhouse #homedecor #rustic #fixerupper #DIY #wood #betterhomesandgardens

DIY WALL ART

Hey everyone! I decided to write up a little post about my horse art in the farmhouse kitchen. First, I have to say that I'm a huge bargain shopper. I love to find great deals and steals and turn them into decor. With that being said here's the story... Last fall when I was at Walmart shopping I ran across a bunch of black and white throw blankets in the home section of the store. As I began to look through them I came across a horse. I was amazed at how much it looked like a painting. My creative wheels began to flow and some smoke literally was pouring from the top of my head. (Just kidding!) I decided to purchase the throw because it was only $16.44. Like, I said I'm all about a bargain. When I got it home I laid it out and brought in different scrap pieces of barn wood from the barns to decide on a frame for it. I decided on a white and chipped frame to really showcase the black and white in the piece. I was nervous about the whole process and didn't want the throw to look like a throw. Did I mention I was also having a meeting at the farm with a large group of people? I really wanted to see what their reaction would be when they saw the horse. I had my husband construct the frame. When it was complete we attached the throw to the backside of the frame with some little apostery nails. My husband put hangers on the back and I picked a spot in the farmhouse where I thought it would look amazing. When we hung it up it really made a statement. I remember my teenage boys looking at it and saying they really liked the horse painting! Back to the meeting at the farm... I was anxious to see what the reaction would be from people who would see the throw hung and framed. Would they be able to tell if was a Walmart throw? But to my surprise, everyone loved it and wanted to know where I found that amazing piece of artwork!