Would you be able to see the potential in these yard sale tables? One is a large coffee table, one is an end table, and one is a sofa table. All with caning, missing the glass inserts that were originally included in this 1980’s set. I picked them up for $30 for all three!
I started with the coffee table. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White, but it was an EPIC FAIL. This is the first time I haven’t been pleased with the outcome using Annie Sloan, but I think the tables had a lot of furniture wax built up on them, so it kinda seeped through the two coats of paint I applied. Not acceptable. And I decided I wanted a glossier finish on the coffee table. So I lightly sanded it and put two more coats of Benjamin Moore’s White Dove in a semi-gloss finish.
Perfectly perfect! I LOVE my new coffee table, even though I had to use four coats of paint. Still a bargain when it was all said and done!
You can see the newly-painted end table in the above photo, as well. For that piece, I lightly sanded it FIRST, then painted it with two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Aubusson Blue. I finished it off with a coat of clear wax and a buff. I love the slight sheen.
Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue with Clear Wax
It turned out great, with no furniture wax bleed-through. I haven’t painted the sofa table yet – I don’t really need the piece, so I might save it until I have a client who needs it. The lesson here is that if you have an old piece of furniture that may have decades of furniture wax on it, it may need a light sanding before using Annie Sloan paint. If you notice bleed-through in spots after one coat, go ahead and lightly sand it (and dust completely) before putting on another coat.
If you get a chance, check out the latest Benjamin Moore ColorChats blog where some of my work is featured and I’m quoted a few times in Leah Rosch’s article about taking the stress out of choosing a new color palette for your home.
If you’d like to learn more about choosing paint colors, color placement, and exactly what paint products you should use, download my Color Workshop Video today!
oh i love the glossy white on these tables! so fresh!
Love the table makeovers Kristie. I see this style all the time at garage sales….oh the power of paint!
When I do a class, I always clean the piece first, with TSP. It’s a heavy duty cleaner and degreaser, (wear gloves in well ventilated space) that removes most build-up. Not all, but most) The woven fiber made your job all the more challenging, but the good new is that it turned out great!
Happy painting!,
Barbara
Great advice, Barbara! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love the finished product. And yes, I do see the potential in such thrifty finds – a little too much, perhaps. I adore those tables, but often pass on anything with caning for my home. I just know my little ones would ruin the caning. Huge bummer for me. So, as usual, I shall live vicariously through you.
These look amazing, Kristie! You make me want to become more crafty : )
That’s funny, cause I’m not really even that crafty! 😉
I just LOVE the coffee table transformation. I have never before considered painting caned furniture but you bet I will now! I love your whole living room, in fact. (Drooling over the sofa…)
Thank you, Vanessa! I LOVE my sofa – I’ve had it for a few months, and it is fabulous . . .
It takes an “eye” to see the good bones in a piece and a vision to overcome ugly.
You’ve got both Kristie! Are the girls learning to do this with you? I never could get my daughter to love working in the garden & pulling weeds,etc. But…she does now…after 30+ years of resisting!!!
Thanks for showing us…… Using what you have –your hands and your gifts–love this!
Kristie I am so excited about the transformation on these two pieces, they are perfect!
The colors amazing! What color would you paint the sofa table in were you to do so? Hmm….
xoxo
Karena
2013 Designer Series!
Looks great Kristie and so does your new sofa!
I have a sofa table that’s still brown wood with the caning on the bottom shelf and had wondered how the caning would turn out if painted. I would paint it some rich creamy color. Since you did each piece a different way, do you recommend using the chalk paint or will just the Benjamin Moore paint by itself do?
It depends on the look you want to achieve. I wanted my coffee table to look kinda funky-modern, so I really wanted a glossier finish than you can get with chalk paint. If you want a more matte finish, or you want it to be a bit rustic and patinaed, chalk paint is the way to go.
I’m just playing around with chalk paint for the first time as well and with my piece I am uncertain if I want that mat look as well. I put a first coat of Annie Sloan’s soft blue on and am toying with using a Ben Moore paint on top as I may want a brighter color also. It seems as though you just lightly sanded your coffee able and then painted with the B.Moore white paint. Was the A.S. paint sufficient as a primer?.. I’m pretty certain that it works that way but not sure.. … Thanks for your help..
Yes – it worked as a primer (albeit, an expensive one!)
I found this exact coffee table on the side of the road. My guess a garage sale fail. I redid it and wish I could post pics of what I did to mine. I covered the caning with 4 chalkboards that I made, then trimmed them in rope. I painted the table cream and distressed the edges and clear-coated the entire table. Can go either beach/nautical or French Country!! Came out great!!!
Sounds cool! Please post a picture here, Rina – we’d love to see it!