Breakfast Table Gets a New 'Do

I am excited to be back {again} from a hiatus. Well, maybe I've been working on this project for two months. Or, maybe the hours of sanding ust felt like months!

I repainted this set almost two years ago. In decorating years, that's like 17 years. Here's how it has looked since it's last paint job:

So, we dragged it out to the garage for a little TLC. Here's a closer look at the top. Not digging the stain.

So, I took out my BFF (my little palm sander) and, with 80 grit paper, started sanding. And sanding. Then I sanded some more. And it started to look like this.

After about an hour, I had one WHOLE side sanded. At this rate, I'ld be done just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Then, the unimaginable happened. My BFF overheated. RIP little guy.

So, I headed out to Home Depot and got a new BFF.

A BFF with a lifetime warranty.

And, I started sanding again. My new BFF is stronger and much faster. And comes with 60 grit paper.

I got it down to the bare wood. To make it smooth, I went over it again with a 100 and then a 220 grit paper.

At first, I was going to stain the top. But, I've always loved what Layla at The Lettered Cottage did with her dining room table, so I ditched the staining plans and went for paint. I made a whitewash mix of 50/50 water and white paint (Swiss Coffee by Behr is a staple in our house).

Here's what it looked like after a couple coats:

Here's when things got a little crazy. I wasn't really liking this look, so I did a couple of dry brush coats with the Swiss Coffee (without water mix). For dry brush, dip your brush in the paint, wipe most of the paint off and paint away. Then I got out  my little jar of Valspar Antiquing Glaze and lightly painted some on. A little goes a long way!

I did another coat of the whitewash and this is what I was left with. Pure LOVE!

But, wait -- I'm not done!

It was a little harsh, so out came my BFF again and using the 220 grit, I lightly sanded and smoothed out the table. Ta-Da!

I also gave the legs a coat of Swiss Coffee (getting rid of the previous distressing). I love the way it turned out!

My bench and chairs are a bit off, now. I'll be making some changes to those soon. But, I love the new look of the table. What do you think?

Linking up to a few parties this week!

http://homestoriesatoz.com/.

Pinterest: Somebody Commit Me

It was 5:45 a.m. on Saturday morning and I was wide awake.

I don't have kids getting me up that early.

I didn't have any deadlines at work that had me up at the crack of dawn.

I have an addiction. To Pinterest.

I've seen other bloggers mention it, but didn't really have the time to look into what it was all about. Then, last Thursday, my co-worker said I had to check it out. "You would totally love it."

She was right.

If you don't know anything about it, know this: it is a beautiful little world where you "pin" your favorite online findings to boards. Just like a bulletin board. Genius!

I already do this in my office. I have inspiration boards for rooms I want to redo:

And dreams of giving up everything and running away:

Now, instead of saving links to favorites on my computer and forgetting about them, I can "pin" them all in one place.

I can make boards of shops I would like to open.

Tiny houses I would love to live in.

Kitchens I want to cook in.

Food I want to make for the 4th of July.

I invite you to follow me. Pin with me. Share the addiction.