Thursday, April 12, 2012

Oo La La Coco!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!  We're still working to determine the extent of the flood damage.  I've been trying to work, paint some furniture, and be around for the two-hour windows the plumber and contractor give you for when they'll arrive (hate that!).  

Anyway, on to my little "Coco" table: Around here you'll often find government-issued furniture on Craigslist or in thrift stores.  These pieces are well made, but they usually have laminate tops.  I guess the thought is since they are going to be on military bases getting who knows what kind of treatment, they want the tops to be durable.  I always stayed away from them because latex paint doesn't adhere to the laminate (even with an oil-based primer, at least in my experience), and I never wanted to even attempt to pull off the laminate.  But that was before I discovered chalk paint, which is supposed to adhere to anything.

So when I found this table on Craigslist at a very reasonable price, I decided it would be the perfect trial piece to see how chalk paint did on laminate.  It's been in my stash for awhile now, but I decided to paint it while I was doing my Lucketts pieces.


(I know there's a typo in the watermark--saw it as I was loading the photo--but I'm too tired and time-crunched to go back into Photoshop to fix it. Sorry!)

What made the table stand out for me was the detailing--the curved bottom shelf and the corbels at each corner.




First I painted it in two coats of Annie Sloan chalk paint in "Coco."  This was my first time using the color, and I really like it--it's a gray/brown (none of my photos really get the color right).  It covered the laminate just fine, but the table was just a little too plain for me.  So I pulled out some white milk paint and a stencil.




I also painted a trim line on the corbels and the sides of the bottom shelf with the white. 



As you can see, I didn't worry about being precise with the trim painting.  I knew I was going to sand over it.

I wanted the stencil to look worn, like both it and the table had been around for awhile.  So I went over it and the rest of the top with a medium coarse sanding pad.  I followed that with a coat of clear wax, followed by a light touch of dark wax.  Then I went over the top again with a fine sanding pad because I liked the washed-out, worn look I had before waxing.


I did the same wax and sanding treatment on the bottom shelf, followed by a light distressing of the legs, corbels, and sides of the top and shelf. 





After letting everything set, I tried scratching the top with my fingernail, then by sliding a plate over it.  Nothing.  That paint isn't going anywhere! 



The chalk paint passed the laminate top test, and I love how the table turned out.




Oo la la!





Sharing at:

Primitive & Proper: POWW
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
My Repurposed Life: Catch as Catch Can
At the Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity
You're Talking Too Much: Meet Me Mondays
Le Chateau Des Fleurs: Monday French Obsession Party
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
House of Grace: Twice Owned Tuesday
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday
Type A Decorating: Anything Goes
Elizabeth & Co: Be Inspired
DIY by Design: Swing Into Spring Party
Savvy Southern Style: Wow us Wednesdays

19 comments:

  1. Flood damage , where have I been ? Sorry to hear this has happened hope all wasnt damaged to badly ! Lovely work here on the tables. Have a good day !

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  2. love it! coco is one of my fave colors, great job!

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  3. very cute! i love those little corner pieces on this piece!

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  4. Great find! Glad the chalk paint passed the test! The stencil makes it great!

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  5. I would probably have passed this diamond in the rough over as too plain, but you turned it into an adorable piece. I love the stencil! I'm visiting from Redoux.

    Have a lovely weekend!
    Deborah

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  6. I purchased a similar table a few weeks ago and have just painted it today. Mine had a laminate top too! Not the best look. I've used a new laminate primer for the first time so will blog my results. It's always a worry the paint will scratch off. :) Yours looks great. Thanks for sharing. I'm your newest follower. I'd love you to drop by my blog too! x Julie

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  7. Very nice :)
    I would love if you link this to the French party on Monday!!
    XO
    Isabelle

    http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/

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  8. Sooo cute and good to know! I've been nervous about the same thing. Slightly because ASCP can be expensive and probably just because I'm nervous.

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  9. Following you back! See you Monday!
    http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/

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  10. Voila! Wonderful result~ Love it :)

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  11. great job on your craigslist table!!! by the way--you should use windows live writer to blog. Watermark one photo, then never have to do it again. Windows Live Writer will upload every picture to your specifications... LOVE it!
    gail

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  12. Oh, that turned out very nice! I like the curve of the table too.

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  13. I am probably the last person on earth who hasn't tried chalk paint but this might be the post that puts me over the top. Seems like a miracle. And that French stencil on the top just makes it. You turned it into something lovable again!

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  14. The table turned out amazing. I'd love for you to link up to my party that opens at 8pm EST tonight. Hope to see you there.

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  15. That looks great and I have used that color many times. Thanks for sharing at Wow.

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  16. Came out darling~ thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  17. Such an inspiration!
    Come back next Monday to the French party!
    XO
    Isabelle

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  18. Your table turned out beautiful newbie here from Ohio one of your newest followers I came over from Elizabeth and Co I made a table for my daughter for Christmas similar to your table she is doing her living room in a Paris them okay well off to enjoy my coffee and your blog

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I LOVE comments! Thank-you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to write a note. Please make sure your email is on your profile if you would like a reply.

-Deborah