Over the years I have completed numerous DIY projects. I started out just painting furniture. I messed up several pieces on my own before I finally signed up for a furniture painting class. The class was called BYOF, Bring Your Own Furniture. I knew I wanted to paint my kitchen table set, but that was too big of a project for an evening class so I just took two chairs to the class and then took what I learned back home to finish the rest. Keep in mind this was pre-Fixer Upper days which launched the farmhouse look so I painted them all different, bright colors. Truth is, I still love bright colors mixed in!
I gradually got into building projects. When I think back on all the projects I have done, there is one in particular that sticks out and is easily my favorite! The first farmhouse table I created with the help of my dad is my all-time favorite furniture build. It really had little to do with what I built and all to do with who I was with to build the table.
When I decided that I was going to tackle this project, I knew I wanted (read: needed) my dad’s help. My dad is the most talented carpenter I have ever known so I suckered him into helping me. I had found plans for this table through Pinterest. The link to the plan is no longer available, but you can find similar step by step plans here.
We worked all weekend to build the top and base. I then loaded it up to take it home to finish it up and get it ready to sell. For the stain, I used dark walnut Miniwax stain.
Then sealed it with Miniwax One Coat Polyurethane. I always put mine on with a foam brush. Once you finish the sealer coat and it is fully dry (24 hours), go over with a very fine (300 grit) sandpaper to smooth out any bubbles that were created. In fact, you could just wad up a brown paper bag and rub over the table. It takes very little grit to smooth out the bubbles. The fine grit won’t scratch the top or remove any of the sealer. It just gives it a smooth finish.
Once I finished the table, it just so happened my parents signed up to have a booth at an outdoor flea market. They were in the process of downsizing and needed to get rid of some furniture and home décor. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to sell the table I had built so I loaded it up and headed to the show. It got a lot of interest the first two days, but did not sell. I ended up needing to leave early so I left the table with them in hopes they could sell it on the final day. I was so thrilled when my mom called to let me know that a sweet little couple came by and fell in love with my table and just had to have it. Just like that, my first table was sold!
Now, the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward a couple months and I was back visiting my parents. I went upstairs to put my bags in my room and sitting there in their loft was my table! That sweet, little couple my mom referred to was my parents! The moment I left the flea market, they put a sold sign on the table because my dad said he had to have my first furniture build. Since they downsized, the table I built now serves as their kitchen table. I am so glad they ended up with this table because there were far too many memories created in the making of the table for it to reside in someone else’s home.
Since that project, I have gone on to build numerous other tables. Check out my portfolio for a glimpse of my other projects.
**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
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