Yes, it was going to need a little TLC. The chairs were stained, the table was scratched and there was four kids worth of jelly and black raspberry ice cream to scrub off.
I started by trying to clean the seats with upholstery cleaner...that was a fail. Then I thought why not try to paint the seats with ASCP (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint)...epic fail. The painted fabric looked horrible. My only option was to reupholster the seats.
I found this gray and green outdoor fabric for 50% off at our new and very beautiful JoAnn Fabrics store. I'm very pleased with the after. The more I craft the more I realize that a mistake or a failure usually causes me to have a final product that I like even more. I truly believe there aren't any mistakes in crafting.
The next item I needed to tackle was the table top that was in bad shape. I was off to Home Depot to buy on orbital sander and sand off the whole top. I have started to really enjoy using power tools. There is a strong sense of satisfaction when you can cut or sand wood.
It turned out that the top was made up of very thin pieces of wood and the sanding actually took it down to the wood underneath in some spots. I was sick to my stomach. My only option was to trudge ahead and hope for the best. After three coats of stain (Minwax Honey) and two coats of polyurethane this is my final product.
The picture doesn't do it justice. I was very proud of my first refinishing project. I do admit I was a little over the top when I called the kids into the room and had a moment of silence to stare at my table.
For a total cost of around $400 I now have a table and six chairs that I think will look pretty snazzy in our new digs.
Here she is waiting for her first meal with the Ritter family...pizza. Don't you love the boxes in the background? The new house can't be built fast enough.
