End table Re-fab

Here is my latest rehab project. I picked this little end table up at the local Salvation Army for a few bucks. The drawer was missing and the paint job had seen better days.

I loved her lines and size, so I over looked the fact she was empty inside.

As I began my sanding, I discovered the green/gold color was some kind of treatment over white paint.

She has lots of gouges and scratches (and plenty of dirt too).

I sanded to the bare wood in some places and only till the shine was gone in others. I was trying to get rid of the chippy layer. I would learn this was a mistake when I went to spray paint.

Why is it a mistake? The paint takes differently to raw wood vs. painted wood. I was pretty ticked at myself b/c I have done enough furniture to know you either sand it all off, or at least evenly on the whole piece.

Here is an up close shot of how rough the edges were. It was not in great shape. I guess that is why I got lazy. I figured I didn't want to put a few hours worth of stripping and sanding into a $5.00 end table.

First coat of spray paint is on. (Of course, i used Krylon Blue Ocean-my favorite color ever!)

It was very uneven. Raw wood peeking through. Not good. I think I ended up doing like 4 coats.

Next I cut a piece of 1/2 inch MDF to make a bottom for my storage area. I then sprayed the inside white as a base coat.

I smeared the edge of the MDF with some construction adhesive to give the paint a barrier (otherwise the MDF would just soak it up). I thought about using some dollhouse molding, but I was trying to make this one quick! (hahahahaha....i worked on this in my spare time over 4 days vs. the 1 day I thought it would take)

I know the construction adhesive is a tacky solution, but honestly not every project is worthy of the time and energy the perfectionist in me wants to give. I knew this was going in my bedroom, and that the edge would be good enough.

Here it is painted. Not perfect, but it'll blend with the rest of the table's imperfections! In the picture above you can see I also painted the interior blue.

A few more coats of paint and I am happy with the coverage. It is smooth and even and nearly perfect. That means it is time to bust out the sander again.

There goes the paint job. Sometimes I hesitate before I start sanding b/c I love a nice, smooth, perfect paint job. However, I am a realist and anything in my house will get worn. I have 4 boys that make that a guarantee! At least this way it gets started on my terms.

So I sanded in the areas most likely to get bumped and battered. These happened to be the areas that were already pretty bumped and battered prior to the makeover.

Now comes the fun! My friend -Valspar Antiquing Glaze- and I got down and dirty!

I used a stiff paint brush to push the glaze into the groves and onto the edges.

I work on one side at a time. On larger pieces, I do small sections. This one was small enough I could do an entire side at one shot.

Here is a closeup to show you the groove I mentioned earlier. I left the glaze heavy in most areas of the groove.

Here she is finished and ready to go to her new home. I found a perfect sized basket at Michael's to hide my junk.

She is still pretty battered and worn. Only now she is beautiful too!

And now for her new home. I can't believe I am showing this next picture.

This is what I have been using for a nightstand. It is tiny (and not very pretty). Our bed is a king sized bed and we have high, boxed ceilings. The scale was all wrong. I also need to get something on our walls! We have lived here for 3 years, but I am scared to commit!

I am much happier with the end table as the nightstand. I need to make up the bed, work on the accessories and the wall, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. And certainly for a $5.00 investment, it couldn't get much better!

I like to give a side-by-side before and after.

So what do you think?