Chalk Painted, Stenciled and Distressed Dumpster Table
Dear Beautiful Table, your scandinavian antique beauty has us mesmerized. What’s your story? Did a family of four sit around you and talk about the day’s adventures on the farm? Or were you an antique table brought over from Europe and passed down for generations? Â Or were you simply an ugly table left by the dumpster of an apartment complex in Raleigh, NC? {insert record scratch sound bite here} Yup, would you believe that a few short weeks ago, this beauty was sprawled in pieces by a dumpster? All the pieces (including the leg bolts) were neatly in a plastic baggy and secured to the table. This is one of the best pieces of furniture I’ve ever found in the trash (well next to it to be exact.) I didn’t have to do any structural repairs, just reattached the legs. But, it looked like the below photo when I picked it up:
It wasn’t in horrible shape. A few gouges in the top. But, the green and honey top were dated in style. No doubt the previous owners were moving and didn’t want to haul the dated table to the new digs.
Luckily I didn’t have the boys with me, so I was able to wrestle the entire table into my CRV.
Materials:
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- Shellac Based Primer
- Sandpaper
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in: Old White, Duck Egg Blue, Versailles and Cream
- ScotchBlue painter’s tape
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Royal Studio Design Lisboa wall stencil
- Foam roller
- Small paint tray
- Stencil brush
- Small flat artist brush
- Palm sander
- Damp rag
- 2″ paint brush
- Antiquing Glaze (my formula)
- Minwax Polyacrylic Water Based Sealer
Instructions:
The table had lots of knots. To prevent them from bleeding through the paint, I used BIN primer (a shellac-based primer) to seal the knots. I also added a little wood putty in some of the deep gouges and grooves, but left some alone to keep the distressed look.
When the primer and wood putty had dried I lightly sanded the entire table.
Flip the table upside down and paint one coat of Annie Sloan Chalk paint in duck egg blue on the legs and skirt of the table. So now, notice that I didn’t have to prime the entire table?! That’s the beauty of chalk paint, no need to prime and only one coat covered the green.
After that flip the table over and paint the top with two coats of old white paint. (Two coats have better coverage and will stand up to distressing better.)
After the paint dries, tape off the edges of the table with ScotchBlue painter’s tape.
Paint duck egg’s blue chalk paint inside the tape lines.
You can lift up the tape as the paint is drying. Ooooo, clean sharp line:
Measure the table length and width and mark intersecting center lines in pencil.
Line up the center of the Lisboa stencil with the center crosshair. Check that all the stencil points are lined up on the center lines as well.
Tape the corners of the stencil down with painter’s tape.
Pour some Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint into the paint tray. Enlist an assistant (curious six year old boy) to roll paint over the entire stencil. Less paint and multiple passes is better than too much paint.
Lift off the stencil to admire the design. Then, wait a few minutes for the paint to dry.
Position the stencil up to the corners of the first print. (The corner circles will overlap and repeat with the first print.)
Your assistant will likely be eager to roll paint again.
After three tiled passes, the table looked like this. I was tempted to leave it as is because the stencils make a stunning decorative runner.
But, I had bigger plans. Next, line the stencil up with the edges of the pre-painted pattern. Gently support the stencil edge that isn’t on the table and roll paint over the stencil.
The table took nine placements of the stencil. But, it looks AH-maze-ing!
To add some added dimension, tape around the center leaf pattern and the corner design on the stencil.
Using the stencil brush, pounce cream chalk paint into the center and corner areas.
The cream is a very light yellow, but it immediately adds some dimension to the table top. Then continue moving the stencil around and painting the taped off areas with cream chalk paint.
Finally use a small flat artist brush and paint some small leaves and dots with versailles green chalk paint.
Finished painting. She’s beautiful isn’t she? But, she’s missing her story…
…I had to abuse her with the orbital palm sander. Sand down through some of the layers of paint. Sand along the table edges and a little bit on the table legs.
Wipe the table with a damp rag. Lightly brush some of my aging antique glaze over the table. Wipe off any excess.
Apply 2-3 coats of Minwax polycrylic sealer.
And let the fun begin. The kids have been using this table for drawing. And I’m not going to stress about any stray marks because the table is distressed and busy enough to hide them. AND, we’re making stories of our own on the table.
I know the distressed look isn’t for everyone, but I love how the table looks old and weathered. But, you knew that about me anyway.
She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I painted four unfinished wood stools from Wayfair with the different chalk paint colors to match the table.
Do you think I’m crazy for distressing the table? Heck, you probably think I’m crazy for hauling a table from the trash.
Have a great rest of your week y’all. And safe travels.
Disclosure: Royal Studio Design sent me the Lisboa stencil per my request. I was not compensated for this post, nor was I told what to write. All ideas, words and photos are my own.
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Brittany it’s beautiful. I’m not one for stencils because they remind me of the 80’s but you’ve taken it to a whole new place, truly breathtaking. And the distressing is the cherry on top, really a nice piece and so fresh to see posts about something other than turkey crafts.
Turkeys? Oh shoot. Did I miss that time of year already? When you don’t have a kitchen you tend to overlook some things. LOL!
Oh my gosh!! That is gorgeous, I so want one, thank you for sharing, you make it look so easy it give me the confidence to give it a go :)) x
Jane, it was really easy and the Royal Design Studio stencils are thick and forgiving.
What a transformation! Looks great! Cannot believe you found that table beside the dumpster.
Gina, you and me both. Still can’t believe I found it for FREE! Thanks for your comment.
Love everything about that table! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Cheri. And you are welcome.
Oh wow, that is just awesome! I’ve never seen a table like that- you’ve really made it special. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Megan, nice to see your name here. How are you doing?! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving too. Thanks for the sweet comment.
That table is absolutely stunning! Great job! You’re not that far away from me. Maybe we will run into each other at a show someday. =)
Hey Andie. Thanks for the comment. Where do you live? And I guess I’ll see you by the dumpsters ;-D
Troutman…next to Mooresville. About 1/2 hr away from Charlotte.
Just gorgeous. I love the stencil you used. Cheers
Thank you Karen. I appreciate the time you took to leave me a comment 😉
Hey Brittany! That’s the very same table that I picked up for my son! I got mine for free too from a neighbor whose son got it from a friend’s mom who was throwing it out. Ok…that sounds a bit weird.. ha ha!
I’m going to show my son what you’ve done with yours and see if I can talk him into letting me try something similar. Thanks for the great inspiration!
If he doesn’t go for the girly look, Royal Studio Design has a lot of other stencils!
Oh wow! I don’t think you are crazy AT ALL! I love when I find furniture in the trash! What a score and the paint job you gave it is terrific. I’m so jealous.
Thanks Kim. Trash furniture is the best because I feel like I’m giving it a second lease on life.
That is one rockin’ table. I loved how it looked before you distressed it, but I love it even more distressed. Totally fits the space and looks like a hand me down antique. Great project!
Thanks gal. I didn’t mind it before either, but I LOVE it now.
Wow Brittany. What a find! What a score! What a great stencil project for the lovely Lisboa Tile….and are you willing to hire out that assistant?? You’re right, the stencil DOES look great as a table runner, but I LOVE the allover distressing treatment and it looks SO FAB in front of that salvaged wood wall. Thanks for a great project!
Thanks Melanie. It is an honor getting a comment from you (the founder of Royal Design Studio.) It was a lot of fun and thank you for creating such great stencils!
What a transformation! I’m still torn between the runner look and the whole top being stenciled. Both are amazing! I love the color you added too. Simply Amazing!!!
Aundrea, I love the runner look too. I might have to make a real fabric runner using the stencil for another table now. 😉
Ok, 1) I can’t believe you found the table I WANT by a dumpster… well played. 2) You just affirmed me in my desire for a CRV. My number one question has been “would I still be able to haul random stuff?”. Clearly the answer is yes. 🙂 and 3) Distressed is queen. The end.
I’ve had my CRV for almost 10 years and it can haul a lot of stuff! We have the older version with the pop up back window (which is a must for hauling long boards.) Honestly the only thing it can’t fit is all the random stuff that a family of four and a dog needs for a week at the beach. For those such trips we have to use a car top carrier and even then we are crammed. I foresee a minivan in my future ;-D.
I can’t believe you found this table next to a dumpster! It has great structure. And the stencil looks like it was made for it! It turned out so lovely. 🙂
Michele,
Thanks for your comment. I am so happy that the stencil fit the table, and it doesn’t look too weird where it runs off the sides.