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    • Jun 13, 2011

    by Layla

    The Tables

    Howdy! Hope you had a great weekend!

    I thought I’d blog about the tables we worked on for Kev’s parents porch makeover today.
    First up, there was this guy…

    He looked great as-is, so we didn’t do a thing to him.

    Then there was this guy…

    We primed and then painted the inside bottom of it a color called “Moonlight White” (Benjamin Moore), and nailed some vintage rulers and yardsticks (cut to length) to the top of it…

    And like our DIY wall art project, we attached them one at a time, alternating from bottom to top as we went along. That way, if there was any weirdness, it would end up in the middle of the tabletop, not at the top or bottom. Of course there was weirdness when we got to the middle, but we found the perfect little piece of wood in the craft wood section of Michaels and it worked out great…

    We attached everything around the door so that Kev’s parents could use the inside as storage…

    …and this heavy old handle I purchased on eBay a few years back, and some vintage casters I purchased from AnythingGoesHere on Etsy earlier this month, made for the perfect finishing touches…

    (PS- Before we painted the inside bottom of it, and attached the handle and casters, we sprayed the whole thing with two coats of polyurethane to help protect it from the elements.)

    The “skull” side table we picked up at Prattville Pickers was super simple to modify. We just carefully removed the glass tile from the two strips of adhesive tape holding it to the underside of the tabletop, and cut several wood “fill-it” strips (available in the fencing section at Home Depot) to use as a tabletop surface instead. (We attached them with Liquid Nails.) We finished by painting on a coat of Miniwax Special Walnut colored stain, and once that was dry, we sprayed on some polyurethane to seal everything up.

    (PS- Prior to attached the strips of wood, we sprayed the black metal base of the table with some of this stuff…)

    It’s available at True Value and it’s da bomb!

    You’d never know that table used to be so freaky lookin’, would ya! (Poor Mr. Skull Tile is currently sitting out by the curb waiting for Mr. Garbage Man to come pick him up.)

    The $20 console table was a cinch to spruce up. Like I said the porch reveal post, Kev just picked out a color (Southern Breeze by Behr available at Home Depot) and I painted it on and distressed the edges when it was dry.

    I did the same thing to the little foot stool we picked up…


    And there ya have it! Four frugal furniture facelifts!

    Stay tuned for Kev’s DIY sunburst mirror tutorial tomorrow and some more Pick My Presto action later this week. It’s been a while since I’ve done one and my PMP finger is chompin’ at the bit to have some Photoshop fun!

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    78 Responses to The Tables

    1. Susan says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:10 am

      Layla I love that crate! The yard sticks and the handle are perfect!

      Reply
    2. tinajo says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:11 am

      Awesome – LOVE the vintage rulers and all of it looks great! You´re great at what you do! :-)

      Reply
    3. Al says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:12 am

      These transformations are great! I love the new console table, that is my favorite. You really are so creative with taking old things, and giving them new life. :)

      Reply
    4. Tanya @ Sunday Baker says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:13 am

      Anything with frugal and furniture in the same sentence always interests me. I love the use of the old rulers. It really makes that piece look interesting and unique. I can just picture my 1-1/2 year old climbing in and going for a ride! Everything turned out beautiful. TFS!

      Reply
    5. Janette@The2Seasons says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:16 am

      Pure perfection. You two are so creative!

      Reply
    6. Fairfield House says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:20 am

      Layla,

      Great job on giving all of these tables a new look. The console table looks beautiful in “Southern Breeze.” The skull table is the best example of “never say never” and think “potential”. I especially love the repurposing you did on the chicken crate. Is the bottom of the crate solid? Hard to tell from the pictures.

      Your Friend,
      Deborah

      Reply
    7. Screaming Meme says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:25 am

      I loved all the tables and thought you all did a wonderful job! I love gifts like that…They last a lifetime in our memory…You are a great daughter in law…:) Loved Max helping out too…LOL :) So stinkin cute!

      Reply
    8. Shaunna says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:26 am

      They’re great, of course! I’m swooning over the crate table, you know.
      :-)
      shaunna

      Reply
    9. Megan says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:29 am

      I am jealous that you found that beautiful console table for $20. I must not know where to look. When I go into Goodwill’s the stores are filled with mostly clothes and just a few pieces of furniture. When I go into antique stores everything is so pricey. Such a talent!

      Reply
    10. FarmGirlJo says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:45 am

      This is the second converted chicken crate I’ve seen. Makes me drool! One would be perfect in my 1903 living room–if Icould just find one!

      Reply
    11. Laurel@chippingwithcharm says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:56 am

      Oh my, I love that crate table so VERY, VERY much!

      Reply
    12. Simple Daisy says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:58 am

      Love them all!!! I wonder if I could do that {the ugly table that you transformed with little strips of wood} to my outdoor table with a glass top!!! hmmmmm…..won’t hurt to try! Thanks for sharing all of your creativity!!

      Reply
    13. Jan @southernjunkin says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:03 am

      Great make overs!! Love, love the chicken coop with the old casters!! The addition of the rulers was the perfect finishing touch!!
      Blessings!!

      Reply
    14. Luciane At HomeBunch.com says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:12 am

      Cute, Cute, Cute!!!

      Love seeing the furniture transformations!!!! And I’m so impressed with the console. Love the color!

      I feel inspired by you every time I drop by. Thanks for that!

      xo

      Luciane at HomeBunch.com

      Reply
    15. Miss Kitty says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:18 am

      I love old yardsticks so natch I love your chicken coop makeover. I have memories of “Radio Hospital” in downtown Montgomery. “The Record Shop” has now morphed into “Cohen’s Electronics”…signs of the time.

      Reply
    16. Melissa says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:22 am

      Thank you for being such an inspiration!
      I love everything you guys are doing- and its inspired my husband and I to start our own blog! We just bought a house last November (in Canada) and are working on renovating and updating the entire place :)
      Its been so fun so far and I couldn’t have done it without inspiration like yours!
      LOVE the tables and the suburst mirror- I went out yesterday and bought a bunch of shims so I’ll be posting mine soon! I also found some vintage cedar shutters that Im going to redo soon as well!
      Thanks again you guys are doing an incredible job and everything looks amazing!
      Melissa

      Reply
      • Kevin says:
        Jun 13, 2011 at 10:36 pm

        Hey there Melissa!

        So glad to hear that you and your husband started a blog! It has been a wonderful experience for us! Look forward to seeing your sunburst mirror! :)

        Reply
    17. Jenn says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:30 am

      That table rocks my socks off!!! Oh to have such a handy and willing husband to go along with my crazy decorating…I’ll just have to dream ;) Way to go! What an amazing daughter-in-law you are, and how stinkin’ lucky are Kev’s parents!!!

      Reply
    18. Linda says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:35 am

      Love them all!!! Especially love the color of the Southern Breeze paint you used.. This may seem like a silly question, but….after you paint the tables, how do you “distress” them? Do you just use sandpaper? Are there other techniques that work well to “age” furniture that you have painted?

      Reply
      • Layla says:
        Jun 13, 2011 at 9:05 am

        Yep! A sanding block wrapped with sandpaper will do the trick! :-)
        My friend Shaunna’s e-book about painting furniture (there’s a button in our sidebar) offers TONS of tips on distressing and aging painted furniture too!

        Reply
        • Kim in MD says:
          Jun 13, 2011 at 11:14 am

          I was going to ask the same question, and I’m so glad to find the answer in the comments! :-)

          You and Kevin did a great job, Layla! You are both so talented!

          Reply
    19. Anne @Its a Baltimore Life says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:03 am

      Yall did such a great job!! Curuious though…where do yall find all those vintage rulers and yardsticks??

      Reply
    20. Brooke @ Inside-Out Design says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:29 am

      Great makeovers!! That skull table became unrecognizable! When I saw the first picture I was thinking, “Wow, Kev’s parents must be pretty edgy…” lol. I just got done painting a bunch of furniture and now I’ve sworn to my hubby that I’m done for a little bit. But your pictures are making me itch to do more…..I feel like an addict who just got crack waved in her face!

      Reply
    21. Laura Ingalls Gunn says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:35 am

      I love each and everyone! But the yardstick coffee table is by far my favorite. Well done!

      If you have a chance, please stop by and enter my giveaway.

      Happy Monday!

      Reply
    22. kim says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:52 am

      Wow!! Yet another inspiration to spruce up some older furniture we have. Now if I can only find the time!! Yardstick table=awesome!

      Reply
    23. Mandy says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:59 am

      I really love all of these projects, but my favorite one was the console table. I love the color that Kev chose and the distressing is just right! You guys are awesome! Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
    24. Amy says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 10:05 am

      Love the painted tables. Do you sand and/or prime them first, or just paint directly over the stained wood? I just picked up two child size wood desks that I can’t wait to start on!!!

      Reply
    25. Brooke says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 10:19 am

      I love the chicken crate and the yard stick top looks fantastic! I must say, I think my favorite transformation though was the skull table, it looks awesome now after some TLC! You two rock!

      Reply
    26. Ashley @ One in the SAHM says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 10:23 am

      I love all of this – especially that console table! I’m a new follower – thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
    27. l.lane designs says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 10:26 am

      Everything looks great!! You guys did a fantastic job!

      Reply
    28. Lara says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 10:37 am

      Where did you get the chicken crate?

      Reply
      • Kevin says:
        Jun 13, 2011 at 10:46 pm

        Hi Lara!

        We picked up the chicken crate at a local flea market here in Prattville, Al called Prattville Pickers. We’ve seen a few over the years and Layla has always wanted to turn one into a coffee table. Thanks for the comment!

        Reply
    29. Doreen, Houston, MN says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 11:12 am

      Thoroughly enjoyed the ‘reveal’ video! Made the porch area such a comfy, serene retreat! Beautiful!!

      Reply
    30. Katy Lunsford says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 11:23 am

      How awesome!! You guys are great!

      Reply
    31. Lori B. says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 11:32 am

      Thank you so much for this inspiration. I am loving the chicken coop table AND love the painted console. Such great inspiration for my porch project.
      Can you tell me any more info abou the paint you used? I know it is Behr, is it w/primer and what is the finish? Eggshell? Gloss?

      Reply
    32. Karen says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 11:51 am

      Everything is great! I’m in love with that crate and what you guys did with it .

      Reply
    33. Leslie Mammarella says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 12:26 pm

      I can’t take my eyes off of this porch. The console table for $20 is amazing. The color really makes it I sold a chicken coop at a garage sale and now I could kick myself….you are so clever. I LOVE your blog!!! Thanks for all of the ideas!!! Now if I could just put them together in my house!!!

      Reply
    34. Lee says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

      OH! I had one of those wooden chicken coop-crates when I was a teenager, we ended up getting rid of it, darn it! Such creative ideas, LOVE it!!!

      Reply
    35. Nutbird says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 1:43 pm

      I love your attention to detail when you are making things. Your instructions are so clear, I almost think I could do it myself. Well done. Ann

      Reply
    36. heidig says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 2:53 pm

      Love the rulers on the tabletop – cool idea!

      Reply
    37. Judy says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 3:02 pm

      So…did you spray the console and stool with polyurethane, too? We live in a humid city and painted out built in desk/shelf in the study with BM paint, and it gets “sticky.” If something a little heavy sits on the surface for too long or a drawer stays closed too long, things stick together. I read it was because of the latex paint. How’s the table outside? What kind of polyurethane spray do you use (if I can ask!). Thanks!!!

      Reply
    38. Diana @ Our Vintage Home Love says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      Love the vintage yard stick table! I have a collection of vintage yard sticks and have been trying to figure out a way to incorporate them into a table for my youngest son’s room. Great idea…….and I am drooling over that chicken cage. In my little town, they call them lobster traps, LOL! I have no idea why?! The porch redo was beautiful and looked so relaxing. Great job!

      Reply
    39. Adriane says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 3:26 pm

      Ahhh..your coffee table project turned out beautifully!!! My husband and I have an old luggage cart that we use as a coffee table and we love the uniqueness that it brings to our living room=) not to mention how wonderful it is to have a coffee table on wheels…for all of the vacuuming fanatics out there like me=)

      -Adriane@fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com

      Reply
    40. Susan says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 4:23 pm

      Love the redo! The video is adorable. Noticed Kev’s hat. War Eagle!!!!

      Reply
    41. Cheri says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      You inspire me!
      “and there ya have it” — sounds very Minnesotan :)

      Reply
    42. Katrina says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 7:42 pm

      Love the makeovers! I think my favorite is the “skull” table. The transformation was so creative and the little white table with wood top was so cute after!!

      Reply
    43. molly says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 8:59 pm

      love the coffee table ………………..you guys make everything look so easy……….! Thanks for the inspiration !

      Reply
    44. elyse says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 9:04 pm

      paint = magic!

      well done on EVERYTHING!

      xo
      elyse

      Reply
    45. Crystal says:
      Jun 13, 2011 at 11:26 pm

      The table looks awesome!! I loved the video and Mom’s reaction. :) So sweet!!

      I’m starting a linky party on Mondays called “Make a List Mondays”. If you miss Mondays, any day of the beginning of the week would be fine. Would love to have you!

      Crystal

      Reply
    46. laurah says:
      Jun 14, 2011 at 7:48 am

      I love the chicken crate table, and how crazy, the day after you posted this I spotted one of those crates for $13 while checking out our local ReStore for the 1st time! Unfortunately I had to pass because as cute as the idea is, we just don’t have a spot for it in our current home. Someday I hope to have a screen/3 season porch that looks this relaxing!

      Reply
    47. Amelia @ Home Decors says:
      Jun 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

      Cool. What a nice and practical way to DIY the tables. In these times when money is tough to get by, I’m also thinking of DIYing some of my garden and home accessories. It can save me hundreds of dollars. Instead of buying something out directly from Pottery Barn summer collections, I could just redo and fixed some of my old furniture sets and fixtures.

      Reply
    48. Emily says:
      Jun 14, 2011 at 12:11 pm

      The porch looks absolutely amazing. I’m in the middle of my porch redo and am loving the inspiration from this (and the last) post. Now I just need to find a cool coffee table for it and it will be perfect.

      Reply
    49. Erin @ Dwell & Tell says:
      Jun 14, 2011 at 3:30 pm

      Incredible job, you guys!

      Reply
    50. Shellaine says:
      Jun 14, 2011 at 10:41 pm

      Where do you find a console table like that for $20??? I’m in love with it!

      Reply
    51. Teresa (Our Corner House) says:
      Jun 15, 2011 at 10:45 pm

      Love love LOVE the one with the wood strips! Don’t know how you saw the potential in that table but man, it’s cool! Thanks for sharing.

      -Teresa

      Reply
    52. Jan says:
      Jun 16, 2011 at 11:25 am

      I love you guys! I’m always so amazed at what you can do and how you re-purpose and refinish things. I love the chicken crate table with the old rulers and yardsticks. So creative! What you did with the console table has inspired me to do the same thing with the one I found at St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store for $25. I wanted to get a better look at the color Kevin used so I googled Southern Breeze paint by Behr. What I found was a grayish blue paint that didn’t look at all like your pictures/video. So off I went to Home Depot to look at those paper paint sample things (I have no idea what the proper name for them is!). Hmm…..Now I’m even more confused. Their sample of Southern Breeze by Behr is a sage green. Why all the inconsistencies I wonder?

      Reply
      • Layla says:
        Jun 16, 2011 at 2:37 pm

        Hmmm….that’s weird! But for the record, the paper sample of it did look a little sagey green over here at our store too and it really is a gray blue paint on the console, so maybe we’re both looking at the same color after all! :-D

        Reply
        • Jan says:
          Jun 16, 2011 at 9:34 pm

          Thanks Layla. Whatever the color is, you did a great job! I love how you antiqued it on the edges. I’m going to have to try to do that with my table after I finish painting it

          Reply
    53. mlynn says:
      Jun 17, 2011 at 6:03 pm

      Love the work that was done, but most of all I LOOOOOOOVE Kevin’s mom….sooooo sweet!

      Reply
    54. Steph @ BirdHouse says:
      Jun 21, 2011 at 7:08 am

      You two are so clever! All of these tables turned out beautifully.

      Reply
    55. Silvia says:
      Jun 27, 2011 at 5:40 pm

      Love the console and the little stool…love the color. I came across your site and look at it every day. Your decorating style is what was in my head for many years but I cant translate it to reality and you did and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Congratulations to both

      Silvia

      Reply
    56. helga says:
      Jun 28, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Just wondering how did you guys paint the inside of that chicken crate? Just through the top opening? Also, did you stain it as well. It turned out so great! love it!

      Reply
    57. Erin @ Carolina Country Living says:
      Jun 16, 2012 at 10:05 am

      Hey Layla and Kevin,

      What size casters did you use on the chicken crate coffee table? I found some cool 4″ industrial-style casters on eBay for a fantastic price, but I’m thinking they might be a smidge too small for my crate.

      Thanks for your help!
      Erin

      Reply
    58. karen dilger says:
      Dec 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm

      I love the crate with the ruler top, Love the creativeness !!

      Reply