Changing That Yard Sale Picnic Table

Hello, hello!  I know it's been a while since I last posted a project. So sorry for those of you who look forward to seeing what's new here in Lewisville.  Simple explanation -life is BUSY!  I get to home school my kids, and I just needed some time to get myself and their upcoming school year organized. I think we're all back to normal now.

 I know so many of you LOVE before and after projects, and quite honestly, they're my favorite too!  So I have one of those projects to show you today.  Remember that picnic table I bought a few weeks ago for just $15 at a yard sale?  Well, I finally got my hands on it!

 Here are some before pictures.  The table was made from raw wood but never finished.  Plus, I'm sure it had been left out in the Denver winters (cold and snowy) in addition to the mile high summers (sunny with afternoon rain storms).  Needless to say, it had been neglected.

I don't mind big projects like this because I have a great orbital sander (also purchased at a yard sale, ironically).  I took an hour, maybe two, and sanded the table with 150 grit sandpaper.

 By the way, as a  precaution I always wear my fabulous eye goggles and that ever so beautiful white mask.  Safety first!

Just sanding the table made such a big difference,  but not as big of a difference as staining it.

I didn't want to paint this wood table.  The wood, though neglected, was still in good shape, and there's just something about a stained wood that I'm a sucker for- always! So I wanted to use a dark stain and decided to use minwax Ebony.  I've never used it before, so my excitement for a new stain was building.  Big DIY
scream here!

By the way, my Cody dog always has to be with me.  He's a big black lab, but he's also just a year old and all puppy.   Love his cute, little tongue.

I used 250 grit sandpaper on the edges to "shab" the table.  I wasn't going for a perfectly stained picnic table, and I love the shab look on dark furniture.

Finally, I protected the table and my work with Polycrylic.  I prefer polycrylic on lighter colors and polyurethane on dark colors, but my polyurethane hardened over the summer....sooooo polycrylic it is.  Both of these protect your paint and stain projects really well, so using the water based protective finish on my ebony table wasn't going to hurt a thing.  It was just my plan B and plan B works.

And here's the table with just one coat....and Cody in the picture again!  I'll be adding at least another two coats of poly over the next two days. 

A closer look at the dark, rich color.  My family Loves it and so do I!

One more time.  Here is the before.

And here's our new (old) picnic table.

Now, I really need to re-stain my deck!  Yikes!  I'll be adding some cushions to my benches and hopefully have everything ready for you to see soon.

So what do you think?  Not bad for a $15 table, right?  LOVE.

Blessings,

Lisa

I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 

Common Ground

 Home Stories A-Z

Remodelaholic

Fluster Buster
Posed Perfection