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January 9, 2012

Ugly Duckling Table

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The debrowning of my living room continues with another table redo. This ones a lot simpler than the last one and it’s a table that’s been sitting in our living room for awhile. And yes, its brown…how did you guess?
Here is the before picture…
 funky table
brown table
Here is the conversation between me and my husband when he caught me starting to sand it..
Adam: “Still trying to save that table, eh?”
Me: “I just don’t want to to be brown anymore”
Adam: “It doesn’t matter what color it is, it’ll still be an ugly table. Wait…you aren’t going to put that on your blog are you?”
Me: “Of course, that’s how it works. I do stuff and then I write about it.”
Adam: “If post that you’ll loose peoples respect and no one will read your blog anymore”
So to say the least, it’s  not my husbands favorite table :)
It was free to us though and it’s the right size, so it stays. Plus I don’t think it’s that bad. The wheat tile on the top is a little funky, but I can make it work.
Besides, Elijah loves it. He thinks it’s great for climbing.
ugly table rescue
Don’t worry, I set him straight.
new life to a table
When I took over sanding (I kinda wanted to finish this decade) I realized that A LOT of people have tried to save this table..
ugly duckling table
  I decided to sand the top down to the wood and stain it. Hmm, choices choices…Dark Walnut, English Chestnut or Red Chestnut? I went with English Chestnut (I didn’t want it to be too dark or too red) and did three coats.
minwax stain

I though about possibly maybe leaving it like this…

table saving

but I really didn’t like the red and decided that a crisp white would look better.
Here is the finished product…and I don’t know, I think I saved it.

table save
funky furniture
 Here it is in it’s rightful place. I forgot to take a before pic of it here, but I’m sure you can imagine.
cheap table fix

So what say you? Is it the most horrific thing you’ve ever seen or do you think it’s kinda cute?(It’s okay to say it’s the superbly ugly, you’ll earn brownie points from the hubs.)
Ashley

Looking for more furniture ideas? Check out THIS POST.
Furniture ideas

Filed Under: Decor & Crafts, Furniture, Projects36 Comments

« The Debrowning of the Living Room
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Comments

  1. Jan Elizabeth (A.K.A. jemh) says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    Honest opinion? I like the white legs, think they match the style of your chair fabric and look really good. But the top looks like a different style altogether. I think it would look really pretty white and maybe change out to a blue tile or something.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  2. McDougall says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    I think the form of the table, shape that is…is genius. And I think you are genius for seeing it was worth saving. However, I still don't care much for the tile top. I would have liked to see the whole table painted a fresh yellow and the tile top replaced with something as interesting as the form of the legs…a tile with check/stripe/dot etc. graphic.

    Reply
  3. Leanne Hoge says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    I love the white, but I agree that the tile isn't quite working with your decor. I'm thinking take the tile out and fill it with little objects like broken tile pieces, PENNIES!, bottle caps, or just a cute piece of paper and then fill it with a clear epoxy to make it level again…? If the tile doesn't come out, I say caulk the cracks and paint over it…although I think a hammer will do the job of getting it out. If nothing changes though, it's still super cute. :)

    Reply
  4. Ashley says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    Thanks for the honest opinions y'all! Looks like the tile top has to go. I agree, but wasn't sure what to replace it with. However..Leanne, PENNIES, of course! I love it, and I could do it at the same time as my penny countertop.

    Reply
  5. Wendy says

    January 10, 2012 at 12:38 am

    I love the shape of the table legs.. it's really funky! The tile is too country for the legs though. You should repurpose the tile onto something else though – it's beautiful!

    Reply
  6. Elsa says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:12 am

    Well….. I hate to say it, but I love the tile. :)

    Reply
  7. Kia @ A View From Here says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:17 am

    I think it's an adorable little table and I totally ♥ the wheat tile. Only thing I'd have done different was to take it all back to bare wood and stain it instead of painting the legs white.

    Reply
  8. [email protected] says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:44 am

    I love the shape of the table. The white works really well, but I too think the tile is somewhat distracting. I would probably do a quick fix and white wash it. Kudos for saving it.

    Reply
  9. Janette - The2Seasons says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:48 am

    Relax. It looks much better. I think the white is a major improvement over the brown and think you made an excellent decision.

    Reply
  10. Artsy VaVa says

    January 10, 2012 at 2:22 am

    It's definitely not an ugly table anymore. You did a great job!

    Reply
  11. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    January 10, 2012 at 2:40 am

    I love free and since you got such a great deal, you can't go wrong! You've gotten some good recommendations, for sure. I'd be worried about using pennies for the top with babies in the house. But good for you for saving it and for giving it new life. I'm your newest follower and I hope you can pop over to Cottage and Creek and follow back.
    Lynn

    Reply
  12. WhyCuzICan says

    January 10, 2012 at 3:02 am

    I'm jealous of the great LITTLE table you reloved! I need a SMALL table like this, and I'm on the hunt (for about 5 months now). I'll keep looking and hope an “ugly” one shows up to relove!

    Thanks for sharing :)
    Visiting from Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrify Linky Party,
    Suzanne in NW Illinois

    Reply
  13. Tulip Row says

    January 10, 2012 at 5:06 am

    So funny! Cute table, I like it.

    Reply
  14. Kristie-Creating Chaos says

    January 10, 2012 at 5:34 am

    I have to agree with most other commenters, the wheat tile is holding this little table back from achieving it's optimum cuteness. But shame on the hubby, even if I don't love everything you do, it doesn't mean I'm going anywhere!

    Reply
  15. Layn @ reignalayn.blogspot.com says

    January 10, 2012 at 6:08 am

    Love the table itself. Strongly dislike the tile. Sorry. If you paint it or pop it out and replace it- I bet it would look SO much better. Mod Podge some scrapbook paper over it. That would be super easy and SO nice.

    Glad you blogged it.

    Reply
  16. Lynda says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    The “before” table really was a bit hideous, but you can’t possible go wrong with free. Changing a piece from the ugly ducking to a beautiful swan is half of the fun :) The stain you chose really goes well with the wheat and the overall design is lovely. Great job!

    Reply
  17. [email protected] says

    January 10, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    The white legs are gorgeous. The tile isn't working for me but if you like it then who cares? It's yours! I think it's great you found this and saved it!

    I host a party on Fridays. I'd love for you to link up!

    http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/latest-and-greatest-13.html

    Reply
  18. Sugarplum's Mama says

    January 10, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    You go girl! I like it…

    Reply
  19. Cupcakes&Lollypops says

    January 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Can you cover the tile in the same fabric as the chair? Or anything else in your living room, I love the table, but not keen on tile!

    Reply
  20. Lori says

    January 10, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    I definitely agree that it looks better but the tile top has to go! I love the idea of doing a penny mosaic, but any tile or glass (recycled glass bottles?)mosaic could work.

    Reply
  21. Thrifty Crafty Girl says

    January 11, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    I found this post at the Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy linkup… and after reading about your little table adventure, I became a follower… so there. Tell your husband that that little table GAINED you a reader. :)

    Reply
  22. Christina says

    January 11, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    Like many here already, I love the lines of the legs and think you did a great job !

    Reply
  23. Pam says

    January 11, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    Adorable.

    Reply
  24. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    January 11, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    so so cute! i love those curvy lines!

    Reply
  25. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    January 12, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    I want that table!!! Wow! That looks SO GREAT I can hardly even believe it! I so need end tables, but ones with that much character are so hard to find! I LOVE the way you refinished it LOTS!!!

    XO, Aimee

    Reply
  26. Jen says

    January 13, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    Great update!! Turned out beautiful! Following you!!

    Reply
  27. [email protected] says

    January 14, 2012 at 12:24 am

    Love the white, love the lines, don't love the wheat… I'll bet you could find an awesome decorative tile to replace it, or just fill and paint over that joker :) Good job saving it though. It deserves a chance.

    Reply
  28. Carrie says

    January 14, 2012 at 2:48 am

    So cute to see all the little “helpers”!!

    Reply
  29. Jen says

    January 14, 2012 at 6:22 am

    I LOVE the table, and it's funky form…I'd probably toss the tile, but I think you were totally successful in reviving the table to it's original beauty. I'd be thrilled if you'd come and share your post at the Head to Head Showdown, going on right now at http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com ~Jen

    Reply
  30. Michele Alger says

    January 14, 2012 at 7:33 am

    Honestly? I. Like. It. I think you chose the perfect color stain to compliment that tile and the color of the rest is so clean looking. The character of the scrolly (is that a word?haha) look is so pretty. I, for one, say SuCCeSS. With a double dose! ;)

    Reply
  31. Dawn says

    January 14, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    I have to wholeheartedly disagree with your husbands opinion, that table has incredibly awesome lines. I would fight for that if I saw it for sale in a shop! And your redo of it is just fabulous!

    Reply
  32. Jen Lossing, The Consigner Designer says

    January 18, 2012 at 2:50 am

    Wow, this looks great. That table has such great lines! It looks great next to that chair! I just did a tutorial on how to refinish a table. Mine is similar in scale to yours. Feel free to check it out if you'd like. http://theconsignerdesigner.blogspot.com/2012/01/pretty-in-pinkor-so-they-say.html

    Reply
  33. My Thoughts says

    February 7, 2012 at 1:01 am

    I think the stain makes the tile “fit” better; the white makes it look…fresh (I guess that's the word). I like it. :-)

    Reply
  34. Janet says

    May 16, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    I really like the table, too. I am neutral on the tile. I think the table looks great with the chair. I do think the scale and shape of the table top doesn’t go with the bottom though. The bottom has such a “party” going on that it makes the top feel diminished. I would cut a new circle top and attach it right to the rectangle top (it could always be removed again in the future). The curve would match the bottom better. It only needs to be a circle that extends just beyond the corners of the current top. It could be used out of one solid piece of wood or tongue and groove stuff attached together and cut into a circle. That’s my thought!

    Reply
    • Nana says

      March 12, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      I’m with Janet. A larger top would balance out the weight of the bottom, especially now that the color isn’t uniform, and the darker top looks even less pronounced.

      Reply
  35. Eva says

    July 2, 2013 at 2:36 am

    I love what you did and I totally dig the wheat tile. I think it’s vintage-chic and unique. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d LOVE a cute little piece like this! Kudos!

    Reply

Ashley - Wildfire Interiors
Welcome to Wildfire Interiors! I’m Ashley, and I think you should love where you live. Small budget or big budget, color-obsessed or neutral lover, trend follower or trendsetter, and whether you know anything about design or not…we can all have homes that make us smile. Read more…

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