Remember the 80's show, "The A-Team?" George Peppard had a catch phrase in that show, "...I love it when a plan comes together."
When I saw this table at a yard sale, that was my first thought. Okay, maybe my second thought...because my first thought was likely, "will this fit in the car?"
But I digress.
You often run across these vintage Mersman tables, and they aren't always in great shape. As such, you might be inclined to pass them by.
Don't do it. I say, snap that baby up, and give it a new lease on life!
This project came together quickly and easily, and with just a few supplies, this table was ready for prime time...get it? Don't groan, they can't all be winners...
So let's gather our supplies:
- Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Carbon shade (I would recommend 2 jars)
- Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Everlasting Shade - 1 jar
- Americana Decor Ultra-Matte Varnish
- Americana Decor Matte Decoupage
- Whizz 2" Foam Roller 3 Piece Kit
- Jen Manufacturing Poly Brush 1" Size
- Sponge sanding block (if you want to distress your piece) and to sand between coats (optional)
- Soft cotton rag for removing dust
- Image of your choice
- Decorative knob (optional)
- Drop cloth
One of the great things about working with the Chalky Finish paints is that there is NO priming needed. So, if you are of the impatient sort, like me, this is certainly a huge plus. It distresses easily, and comes in a wide variety of colors to fit any decor.
I decided that this table's round shape was just begging for a clock image. Now, it is a generous 33" diameter table, so once I designed my image in Photoshop, I ended up taking it to Staples to get it printed. I went with a 30", which ran just under $30 for printing (actually more than I paid for the table!).
I used the Jen Manufacturing brush to cut in my edges - those of you that follow this blog know that I swear by these brushes for just about everything. They are cheap, and good quality, and those are two words you don't often hear in the same sentence! I absolutely love them.
I also LOVE the Whizz 2" brush. I recommend them for even larger furniture redo jobs, simply because they work great, and offer quite a bit of control around details like spindles and table legs. They can rinsed out and reused as well. In this project, I used a Whizz brush not only to paint the table, but also to apply the decoupage to the table top.
I gave the table two coats of chalky finish paint; sanding in between coats. I used a soft cotton rag to remove the dust after sanding. I also gave the table a distressed look, paying particular attention to the edges, and areas where it would naturally be aged over time. A sponge sanding block is great for this type of distressing, because it will easily bend around the edge of the table top, as well as the legs.
Once I had the table completely dust free, I applied a thin layer of decoupage to the table top, working quickly. I applied the clock image in sections, smoothing as I went along. Once the image was completely down, I went back over the image with another coat, and smoothed the image again.
One note on decoupage: folks tend to panic when they see bubbles in between the image and the surface it is being applied to. It happens, and it is no cause for worry. If you notice the bubbles when it is still damp, you can often work them out with your brush, or a brayer. Often, they will even out on their own. You can also use a small gauge needle to pop the bubbles, although that is generally a last resort.
Once the image was dry, I checked along the edges to make sure it wasn't pulling up anywhere, and added a bit more decoupage as needed. Then, I swapped out the original table knob on the drawer with one I had found at Hobby Lobby. They have such a great selection of knobs, and they run a 50% sale at least once a month - so watch your store circular, and score a deal!
Chalk paint does require a finish over it, in order to protect it. In this instance, I went with Ultra-Matte Varnish, and used the Whizz roller to apply it over the entire table. This not only protects the Chalky Paint finish, but it also offers another layer of protection for that decoupaged image. Since I wasn't sure how the eventual owner would be using the table, I wanted to make sure that the top would hold up under daily use.
Keep an eye out at your local flea markets and yard sales - you may just find a diamond in the rough!