Beautiful New Dining Room Table

One of the things I've loved so much about blogging this past year is how much I'm learning about home design, building my own furniture, and various wood treatments.  And I look forward to learning so much more.  Now that I work with wood for a living, I've also learned so much about different ways to age new wood, though, I'm certainly no expert.

Several years ago when I decided to build a new dining room table with the table legs that my dad made, I really didn't know that much about any of those things, but we really needed a larger dining table for our larger than usual dining room and I really wanted to give those special table legs a purpose.  The tabletop I put together then was okay, but, I wasn't happy with the dark stain and polyurethane combo I used.  It didn't absorb into the wood, instead, it sat on top of the wood and dried to somewhat of a strange shine.  Neither of which I wanted.  I also longed for a thicker table top.  Preferably barn wood, but, our supply was gone and the barn wood we could find was just the thin 1 inch variety.  Also perfectly fine, but not what I wanted for a top.

My go to wood source for projects around the house is the cheap craft wood aisle at Lowe's, the lower grade, with slight warps and knot holes, works fine for my projects.  It's cheap, even though sometimes you have to sort through the stack to find the best pieces, but again, cheap, and that's just how we have to roll around here.  As many times as I have made trips to Lowe's for wood over the years, I've never ventured into the "man lumber" section.  Well, wouldn't ya know, on a trip with hubby there the other today for deck lumber, I discovered 2 x 8's that were not treated, thick and in my price range!  Duh.  I thought that section only contained green, treated lumber. Well, that has opened up all kinds of possibilities.  And these were going to be perfect for a new tabletop.  I bought 5 of them (each 8 feet long) to make a 6 foot long x 3 foot deep table top.  They were 4.75 each......total cost was 31.00 bucks.

I really wanted to age the wood to make it look like barn beams, especially since my sweet husband gave me the salvaged barn wood shelf I built for him.  I wanted to make them match.  So I decided to age each piece separately before I even made the top.

First thing I did was cut each one down to a 6 foot length.  Then I took my sander and rounded all the corners and sides quite a bit so they looked worn down.  I did this with a palm sander and 150 grit sandpaper.  Then I took 220 grit sandpaper and sanded the tops down very smooth, then wiped down completely.

Next step, BRUSH on Minwax Special Walnut stain.  I brushed it on because you can get so much more into your wood using a brush than using a cloth.  I let it soak in for about 15 minutes and then took a clean, dry rag and wiped off any stain that didn't soak in.  Then I let dry completely for several hours.

Next step, again using my sander and 150 grit paper, I sanded again, paying close attention to the corners and edges.  The trick is to get those areas to really look worn down.  (Do not sand off all the stain, you just want to distress it a little by removing some of it.)  And then again with 220 grit to get everything nice and smooth.  Wipe down with another clean dry rag to remove every last bit of sanding dust.  Then I took another clean, dry rag and used Minwax Paste Finishing Wax in Natural to wax each board.  Then wipe to a nice smooth finish.  It will be so smooth and lovely.

Then I just laid each board side by side, attached beams to the back with large screws to hold together, attached the table base with angled wood corner braces that attach to the table top and each apron underneath, turn it over and that's it.  Here is a before pic of the dark table that I wasn't happy with.

former Tabletop

And here is the new tabletop.

New Tabletop

I am so thrilled with this top!  It's thick and sturdy and matches the salvaged barn wood shelf behind it perfectly!  And it lightens the room,
which always seems dark because of the dark floors.
I don't think I could be more pleased.

Table Still Dark

I don't know about you, but when you get something new for a room, does it inspire you to completely change the room?  It sure does me, so, that's what I did.  And I'm very lucky to have a hubby who doesn't mind if I do these things, as long as I keep costs very low. 

I also took down the monster shelf I built for my platter collection that was in the place the shelf is in now.  Again, another one of those things I learned.  It was too big for the room (if that's possible) and I wanted the table to be the focal point.

BEFORE
Um...icky photo.  Also before the new camera (and learning not to take photos at night.)  I laugh when I see posts and photos from when we first started this blog a year ago.  Clearly, I knew nothing about taking photos.  But that's what it's about, right? 
Learning as you go along. 
Here it is after removing the shelf monstrosity.
So much better.  I kept the white console table my dad built for me and moved it across the room.   The huge rolling pin is vintage and was a gift from my hubby.  :)   The mint growing in the chocolate terra cotta container is orange mint and smells so good!

We got rid of a few other pieces of furniture.  When hubby comes home with vintage furniture pieces, I tend to cram them all in the dining room because it's so big and I want to keep everything he finds.  But I'm learning that less really is more.  You know?  I also made a lot of changes on the walls, just by moving some things from other rooms into the dining room.  It's an inexpensive way to change a look. 

A few months ago I saw this amazing huge chalkboard made from salvaged molding on Maria's blog.  I know, I know......another chalkboard.  But this was the king of all chalkboards, so I gave away all my other ones and decided to build one like Maria's using new molding instead of salvaged.  I have to say that I adore Maria's style and blog.  I recently splurged and purchased one of her vintage french linen kitchen towels.  It is so lovely that washing and drying my hands in the kitchen has become a simple pleasure.  ;)  Anyway, I'm currently working on several tutorials, one of which is how to build this giant chalkboard.

Another change was the curtains.  We've always had the wood blinds, which I love.  I've received so many emails asking where we purchased those blinds.  We bought them at Lowe's when we first moved into our home.  I'm not sure if they are still available because it's been so long.  I don't know the name either but I do know they are bamboo.  I bought these sheers at Wal-Mart for $16.00.  I changed out the curtain rod with a skinnier one to accommodate the curtain holes. 

Our dining room and kitchen are my two most favorite rooms in our home, probably because it's where we are the most.

 Done!  If you are still here after that long post, thanks for visiting today!  Stay tuned for tutorials, back porch decor and a fun vintage school map project for one of my kid's rooms!  Have a great weekend!

Beautify Your Bedroom With Luxury Beds With Traditional Design

The existence of a bedroom in the life of people is very important. It is designed for daily wear. Therefore, you should keep your bedroom so that it looks beautiful design. Believe it or not, a nice bedroom convenient to use. There are many ways that you can do to make your bedroom looks beautiful as choosing the right bed for your bedroom. Speaking of bed, luxury beds with traditional design looks to be well treated.

Bedroom With Luxury Beds With Traditional Design

In fact, the measure of "wealth" in every human being is very subjective. But usually luxury beds with traditional design to make with elaborate ornaments that she looks beautiful and robust. In addition, this type of beds do not like playing with colors. Such is usually normal, but looks classy. Another important thing that can distinguish with other beds, is the head. You can find many traditional luxury beds have surprising ways headboard.

Through features luxurious beds with a traditional design that will look good to your bedroom looks elegant like a princess room in the movies is. All you have to do is choose the most suitable bed that looks great for your bedroom. To measure the best bed, which is very important for your bedroom, so you choose to find the bed that will look good. Then you should also think about the color of your bedroom.

The color of an area to determine whether the bed is appropriate or not in this space. Therefore, it is very important that you match the color of your bedroom and bed. From the traditional luxury bedding not to play with many colors, it means they just are matched with your bedroom. Finally, you should not bother with complicated things, make your bedroom looks beautiful, because luxury beds with traditional design are able to do for you.

Tips For Making Indoor Garden In Your House

Have you ever wondered how to make a Indoor Garden in Your House, and if so, please let us help. Indoor gardening is not uncommon, as it is a great help, especially for people who are in the country the fourth season. It is very useful in winter to kill time. If your hobby is gardening and you grow your plants all the time, without impediment winter must want to grow an indoor garden of his house.

Before you begin, garden, let's see what tips you should consider for the Indoor Garden in Your House. Begin by selecting the space up lighting small garden in your home, you really should prepare before hand. Let us choose the right place. The space for growing a garden in your house needs a lot of leeway. You need to have enough space for your garden. Not too big, start with space, you can still expand later get used to used to the indoor garden.

The following is the preparation of the container. You can buy for planting or to do or re-use of container plants. Remember to put stones or marbles in the bottom layer of the pot. The next is to choose the right plant before buying the seeds. You can either low, medium or high to select Maintenance, plants such as spider, dragons or even bonsai. For the beginner, it would be best to care Cattleya for your Indoor Garden in Your House.

Simple Minimalist House

Like the simple minimalist house?, and if so, to know what the simple minimalist house design looks. This is the house where you find less stress, because it has less clutter and soothing. Minimalist house is more attractive because it is simply furnished and nicely decorated. It is also easy to clean with empty space or a room with only a few furniture.

Simple minimalist house has little furniture, such as a living room has a sofa, a small coffee table and a small stand of entertainment. The entertainment venue is not as big as the other house, as it is important to keep them as low as possible. It would also transparent surface with a few decorative accent, such as family photos for your blank wall or desk. The simple minimalist house design has complete quality than quantity, you play with your artwork for interior decorating instead with lots of furniture and decorations.

So, how to create a simple minimalist house? Begin with your furniture. The room with small but essential furniture to fill only. The easy and simple furniture with solid color is a good choice. The next is have the transparent surface. All Clear in the earth to be simple and minimalistic to keep it. As a minimalist concept for your floor and furniture wall watch, you have, we do not want too many decorations have there. One or two simple furniture and decor would.
Normal window with curtain simple and solid color is a good idea for your simple minimalist house. The key is to match the color of the curtain with a different color to emphasize the minimalist concept in your house. Select a basic color such as white, blue, brown, to avoid pressure on the eyes.

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Marble Coffee Table For A Touch Of Elegance To Your Living Room

To create conversation space in your living room by using the right furniture that suits the needs of your living room. Sofa and chairs to sit, complete with an elegant marble coffee table will surely make your living room a vision and a different sense. Marble table can have a different perspective actually perform when combined with the various elements of the material.

If you want to have a modern look in your living room, get a marble coffee table with steel frame with a simple and minimalist style. If the table is rounded or square shaped marble, the frame is very much decide the modern look of the table. Steel frame with clean lines make table modern, futuristic and classy, ​​with the texture of marble.

For a more rustic living room or Victorian style, chose the heavy material of wood, to make the marble table. Curve different and a different look and feel on the marble coffee table. Timber is often used oak wood with a glossy finish. This can be combined with wood chair with cushions to complete the marble coffee table set. The heavy look of the table should be proportional with wooden chair that has the thinnest legs so that your living room will look balanced combined.

Like the coffee table tops, each marble coffee table has a different texture, color and pattern. It is in every layer is required in marble and unique special treatment to keep hard marble. Put in a marble facing and often will also help the sealing performance marble. It should last as long as maintenance is a very important factor when the marble chosen as the surface material of the coffee table.

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