Dining table and chairs makeover

When we first bought this house and moved in, we decided we needed a new dining table. But we didn't want to pay a lot, so we found a solid wood table and 4 chairs on Craigslist for $100. It had seen better days, but we were all hyped up on DIY everything, so we figured we could make it look nice again! But after project upon project, it got put on the back burner.

This last week, my dear friend Amy and I made plans to hang out. We went to coffee and she asked if I had any projects I was working on for the house. The only thing we were currently working on was painting the exterior. Yuck. Although I'd been wanting to get to work on this table all summer, so I mentioned that to her. She immediately told me she'd come help!

The table is just a simple table, although the legs have a few little design features. And the chairs are typical Windsor chairs with spindle things in the back. I'd been checking out Pinterest and saw a few things I liked.

I really liked the look of this from DIYdesign

But after imagining for 5 seconds how I would paint the spindly back a different color than the seat without getting both colors everywhere, I decided that would be too much work.

So solid colored chairs it would have to be. Then I saw some other ideas.

Country Girl Home did her table like the one above, but then just painted her chairs all white. Classy!

Paddington Way did her table all white, and then her chairs a solid pretty green.

 

So many choices! I really loved the look of the first two tables, and figured that colored chairs would still look nice with a white/wood table, so that's what I decided on. Our dining room could use a little pop of color, so I knew the colorful chairs would be a great addition.

Next up I had to buy the materials! I wanted to do this the easiest way possible, so I decided to use spray paint! I wanted the table legs to be white, but not too white, so I found Valspar's Riviera Dune. I was a little afraid it would be too sand-colored (since it is called "dune"), but it ended up being perfect! First we wiped the table legs down with a liquid sander/de-glosser, then I laid the table on its top and Amy and I got to work spraying the legs. It took about 3 cans to get the legs evenly covered.

Then we moved on to the chairs. I love the green color in that last picture, but I couldn't quite find anything like that at Lowe's (and was too lazy to check Home Depot). Amy found a nice light Tiffany-ish blue that we tried out and I really love it. It was Valspar's La Fonda Mirage. It took 5 cans to get all four chairs covered evenly. After everything dried, I sprayed the chairs and table legs with a clear glossy coat of spray paint.

Now it was time for the table top! I wanted it to be a warm, natural, rustic-looking color. But there is no one stain that was quite what I was looking for. When I did my wooden crates for our entry way, I used vinegar and steel wool to age them, kind of a gray. Then I added a warm brown wax on top.

But I wanted to make sure this would last so I wanted to use stain. I found Rustoleum Weathered Gray wood stain, and figured that would be a good base coat similar to the vinegar/steel wool solution. Then I decided to try putting Rustoleum Dark Walnut on top of that. I was a little nervous as I wasn't sure how they would work together, But I sanded the table top, then just got started! First was the coat of Weathered Gray. It went on really opaque, which surprised me, and worried me a little. But after it dried, I actually liked it! Ben and I debated just leaving it like that, but I wanted it a little warmer.

After an hour, I put on a coat of the Dark Walnut, and it was so very perfect! Just the color I was hoping for! I still need to put a clear protective coat of Polycrilic on it, But I am so in love! And it really was quite easy!