REFRESHING A TIRED TABLE ON THE PATIO

If you get enough of this . . . 

 . . . eventually you end up with this!   

There she is - off behind the shrubs . . . "weathering"!

This poor table sits outside all year round and that's a strain on anything in Wisconsin!  My husband and I made this table from 2 x 4's, pine planks, and some 4 x 4 lumber about 10 years ago.  I made the bench, cutting one side into scrolly scallops to make it a little more interesting.  It's all been painted several times and it was due for an overhaul.  First I sanded it down a bit to get the paint chips off.  The far left portion of the photo shows the condition it was in.  

Not good.   

Then, after I read that Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint could be used outdoors, I used my brand new can of Old White to paint the top of the table.  One coat was enough for most of it, while the areas of stubborn black got a second coat.  It dried almost instantly which is good because I am NOT a patient person!  Then, after enlarging an "ornamental doodad" I found on the Graphics Fairy here, I taped it together and traced it onto the table top.  I didn't want a huge, distracting design - just enough to break up the monotony of an all white table.  I painted the design in dark brown acrylic and then as soon as it was dry, I lightly sanded and applied Minwax dark finishing wax to the whole top. 

 The legs and bench got a coat of exterior brown latex (thank you Bobby)!   I think the wax is going to hold up beautifully.  We had dinner on the table last night and any water condensation on the glasses beaded right up!

So, you could go from this . . .

to this . . .

in just a couple hours, with a little paint, and a great design from the Graphics Fairy.  It's a quick and easy way to get a patio face lift, and around here we need "quick" because the snow will be flying in no time!
HELLO SUMMER!


Linking to 
Furniture Feature Friday
on Miss Mustard Seed
and 
Primitive and Proper
and
TIME TRAVEL THURSDAY
AT THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE