It’s Themed Furniture Makeover Day again! I get so excited for this day every month and always look forward to what this super talented bunch of ladies have created. This month’s theme was Words/Letters and it challenged me to do something I’ve never done before, which was fun 🙂
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These were picked up by my parents for me at an antique show this summer and I was super excited to work on some matching tables again!
As you can see, the tops were covered in some worn out leather that needed to go. I tackled this first by sanding it off with my orbital sander. Unfortunately, the edges, where there was a lot of glue, were being quite stubborn and didn’t want to come off as easily as the rest of it. Grrr.
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with it so I avoided it and worked on the rest first 🙂 I used some Gel Stain on the top edge and the drawers.
After that, I needed to fill in some deep holes in the legs. If you remember in the “before” image, these tables had a shelf on the bottom. No more! I just wasn’t feeling it, so away it went 🙂 These actually weren’t as big of a pain as I thought they were going to be.
I used this awesome new wood filler I found that starts purple and turns white when it dries. Stuff’s awesome. It only took me two cycles of applying and sanding before I got a smooth surface. Definitely recommend it!
Once that was done, I painted the table in Annie Sloan Decorative Paint® in Graphite and then applied my stencil.
My stencil is from this Etsy shop and the translation is:
“I love you with all my heart. You’re the love of my life. My love for you is eternal. Let my kisses be words of love that I don’t say.”
Five years of French and all I could make out was I love you. Guess I should have paid more attention in class hehe.
Now for those edges…I decided to just paint over them and see how it would look.
I don’t know if it was just because there was still some residue left over or what, but it was a slightly different shade then the rest of the table. I probably could have left it as is and it would have just looked like an affect around the words but it really bothered me.
I picked up some strips of plywood from Hobby Lobby, cut them to size and painted them in the Graphite to use as a frame around the words. Problem solved!
Final touch was spray painting the ends of the legs gold. There were originally wheels on them, but one leg was missing a wheel so I decided to just take them all off.
I think this is the first piece that I’ve left the original hardware on. I gave it a fresh coat of gold spray paint but they just fit so well with the tables I couldn’t bare replacing them.
The tables are sealed with clear wax where they were painted, and a flat top coat where I used the gel stain.
I’m also really excited about some recent additions to my staging accessories 🙂 I got those pheasant feathers at an antique show when I was home a couple weekends ago. I’m kinda obsessed. And that fan! I’ve been on the hunt for a while now and was PUMPED when I finally spotted one. #happygirl
This was my first time using words on a piece of furniture like this. What do you think?! Have you used stencils or words/letters before? Where are some good places to buy your favorite stencils?
Be sure to check out all the other fabulous projects below! Have a wonderful day my friends!
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Could you share where to purchase the French Script? Absolutely love the tables!
Hi Charlene! I got it here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/drexart
Wow! I found you a round about way from Tami at Curbside Alert and I gotta say you did a fantastic job with your first furniture with typography project!! If you ever feel the urge to join another link party, I host Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday every week! 🙂
Thank you so much Kammy! I’m so glad you found your way over here and I would love to link up with you 🙂 Have a great night!
Bre your projects never cease to amaze me! This is so unique and gorgeous. I just had to feature it this week on Creative Spark Link Party. Hope you stop by and link up again today! http://bit.ly/10uAB5J
Thank you SO much Michelle 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful day!
Talk about inspiring somebody, you’ve sure done that for me. Been seeing your tables and wanted to know how you did them, love results of your hard work. Do you find people like tables with little casters on legs? Might be more a regional preference?
We live west of Grand Junction, CO and have found people aren’t too crazy about any distressing, let alone just a little. Its hard to know what to do and how. Your tables are so incredible, love the color and stain you used on them, then there’s French wording you applied. Do people like the French topography? where you live?
I’m still in learning phase as to painting, staining pieces. Need to know what’s best to use for keeping finish good on a piece?
Forgive me for picking your knowledge base. Any advice you can give would be so appreciated. Hope you’re having great week. Happy days and seaon
If you decide to reply please do so to my email address.
Bre,
Love the tables and how you used the wood around the corners…what an awesome fix!
Jenny
renovardesign.com
Thank you Jenny!! 🙂
Absolutely fabulous!Featuring you tomorrow at our Work It Wednesday Party..see you there:-)
Yay! Thanks Aniko 🙂 Have a great day!
Wow, these turned out beautiful! Great work (as always). Thanks so much for sharing at the Create & Share Link Party. Hope to see you again tomorrow night (7:00 PM MST)! http://www.designsbymissmandee.com/
Thank you so much Mandee! 🙂
Bre, you are so flippin’ talented! Those tables are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. You are one of the features today at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week’s party. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2014/11/make-it-pretty-monday-week-119.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Aw thank you Kathryn, you’re so sweet! Have a great day!
Hi Bre,
I have a question. I used the Elmers Contractors color changing wood filler on a chest I was painting with white milk paint. It dried overnight and turned white as described. But when I applied the milk paint, it turned bright pink again and smeared the color into the surrounding painted area. I am at a loss for why this happened. I am thinking of applying shellac to the treated areas as I’ve heard this prevents bleed-through. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks, Gwen
Hey Gwen! Hmm that’s weird. This was my first time using it and I didn’t have any problems. I used Chalk Paint, maybe the Milk Paint had a funny reaction? Either way I think using some shellac or primer should help. Let me know if that works!
Those are beautiful end tables! Love the quote as well! Beautiful combination! Found your blog through Outside [The] Box Link Party and so glad I did! Thank you for linking up and cannot wait to feature your project next Tuesday!
Thank you so much Megan!!
I love the color combo! Totally awesome the way they turned out! Congrats on being featured on Pink When!! I love redoing furniture!!
Have a great weekend
Jess
Thank you so much, Jessica! Hope you’re weekend is great!
These are gorgeous! Going to have to go dumpster diving and find a couple to do myself!
Thank you!! And good luck 😉
Wow! You are good! I would have never seen these two tables potential! These tables look so good! Wow! Just wow! Thanks for joining Celebrate Southern link up this week my dear! I hope to see you back again on Tuesday! Happy Halloween!
You are too sweet! Thank you for all the kind words! <3
Beautiful end tables! You did a fantastic job with them. Thanks for linking up to Show Me Saturday! Hope to see you there again this week.
Thank you so much Ginger!!
WOW what a great job! These look awesome! I just found your blog and adore your style! You should join me on Tuesdays for the Celebrate Southern link up I host over at http://www.2catsandchloe.com for some southern-inspired posts. It’s still live today! You don’t have to be a southern blogger to join, this post would be a perfect fit! 🙂
Thank you so much Susan! I’m so glad you stopped by and are a fan 🙂 I just linked up and look forward to reading more of your blog!
I’m so glad you joined our linkup! Thanks girl! Again, I love this project, you did an excellent job! I’m pinning this to our official pin board now! 🙂
Awesome! Thank you so much again for inviting me and thanks for the pin!
These are absolutely gorgeous! Love love love them!
Thank you so much Kristina!!
LOVE this makeover! Life to the full! Melissa
Thank you so much Melissa!!
Your tables turned out stunning and LOVE the stencil wording. I KNOW you worked hard on that leather as mine was such a bear to work with. Fabulous staging by the way!
~Tami
Thank you so much! The leather was definitely a bit of a pain to get off but so worth it in the end 🙂
Those tables are beautiful! I am loving the gel stains!! Oh and that stencil is gorgeous too…so very nice! 🙂
Nancy
Thank you Nancy! I’m becoming a big fan of the gel stains 🙂
Really creative idea, Bre! I’m really excited to try the new color changing wood filler. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jamie!! Definitely do, it’s so fun to see the color change 🙂
These are absolutely stunning! I love what you did to them and the fan (great find by the way) Looks perfect right there on top! What a great project. Thanks so much for sharing
Thanks Heather! I was so excited I finally found a fan like that, I’ve been on the hunt for a while!
Gorgeous, as usual!! I love seeing your before and afters pictures. And I totally agree, the original hardware is perfect!
Thank you Amy!! It was just too perfect to replace 🙂
Bre, These are stunning! I love what you did with them and the french words are fantastic…I love the translation!
Thank you Wendi! I love the translation too, it’s so beautiful!
The tables look fabulous. Added those plywood strips really did make all the difference.
Thank you so much, Trish!!
Your tables turned out amazing, Bre! I love the stain and Graphite together. Oh, and I took 5 years of French too! 🙂
Thanks Jen!! Hopefully you remember more than me 🙂
Bre, I have seen many leather top side tables and have been at a loss for what to do with the leather. You are truly inspired. I forgive you for not knowing anything but I Love You in French. What you do know and how you accomplish it are awesome. Love your painted color and the wood combo. Just the right amount of each. And the stenciling… OOH LA LA.
Thank you so much Gwen! I really need to brush up on my francais 🙂
Beautiful transformation as usual, Bre! I usually paint right over the leather because I never thought to remove it. Great job, girl! XO
I thought about doing that but their were some rough patches that I didn’t want showing through the paint! Good to know that I can paint right over it though! Thanks Christy!!
I feel like I say the same thing every time I comment. It is starting to sound artificial. But I don’t know how else to say that you have such a GIFT! Each of your pieces is a work of art. Great job, Bre! (Maybe take some Rosetta Stone classes in your spare time to brush up on that French. ;-P )
haha don’t worry I know you’re being sincere 🙂 I appreciate the kind words! It’s what makes me keep doing what I’m doing! And yes, I probably should brush up on my French 😉 Have a great weekend!
What a difference with the before and after pictures. These look so nice now!
Thanks Audrey! I’m super happy with the way they turned out!
I love these tables – the script on the top is absolutely perfect! Thanks for hosting such an awesome collection of furniture re-dos!
Kelsey @ the Vintage Storehouse & Co.
PS- As always, would love to have you share & link up at ReLoved Fridays!
Thank you! It was my first time using words on furniture like this and I was a bit nervous but so glad it worked out! I’m all linked up, thanks for the party!
I absolutely adore these! Love the french script on the top and the pop of gold with the knob. Divine!
Thank you so much, Erica!!
Simply lovely! Very well done! I am working on a French -themed dresser remodel right now, so I’m loving the inspiration!
Thank you! Glad I could inspire 🙂 Can’t wait to see how yours comes out!
Beautiful transformation Bre. I love the care and detail you take into everything you do. You certainly can tell, by the end result.
Thanks for sharing.
Make it a great weekend.
Aw thank you so much, Meegan! Have a great weekend 🙂
I love the tables. You did a lot of work and the tables are stunning in their new life. Jeanette
Thank you so much Jeanette!!
Such a transformation these pieces has! The french script looks great on top, and the two colors look fab! As always! 🙂
Thank you Amanda!!
Bre, your tables are fantastic! Love the rich dark colors, sexy script and the gold on those adorable little feet! amazing transformation!
Thank you Therese!! This is definitely one of my fav color combos 🙂
You – Are – AWESOME! These look incredible…well done my friend!!!
Dahh shucks 🙂 Thank you Laura!
What a lovely makeover! I love the color combination that you used and the added addition of the french script. If you sell these, I’ll bet that they’ll grow fast.
Thank you Paula! I will be selling them so hopefully there is some interest!
Whoa, Bre! These are gorgeous. Your patience when it comes to furniture projects always amazes me–you put so much detail in your work. Lovely!
Aw thank you so much Cat, I appreciate that!
Well done! You gave them a timeless, classy look! ( ps–you have a new follower here!)
Thank you so much Kelly! And yay, so glad to have you here 🙂
These pieces were already stunning, and script is such a perfect fit for them. Of course, love the two-toned makeover 😉 LOVE the matte finish of the Graphite paint!
Yes they were already so beautiful! I almost (for the first time) felt bad painting them but the veneer was chipping so I didn’t feel too bad 🙂 Thanks Amy!
These are gorgeous! I love the black and dark stained wood. It’s beautiful and looks right out of a magazine!
Wow what a great compliment! Thank you so much, Holly 🙂
These look gorgeous Bre!
Thank you so much Jillian!
Bre, these turned out fabulous! Love the colors you chose and the stencil on the top! LOVE!
Thanks Tara!!
Beautiful makeover Bre, as always! I love the graphite and gel stain combination and those gold dipped feet are perfect. I need to go check out your Etsy source for stencils – that one’s a beaut!
Thank you Marie! You definitely should, she’s got a great collection. I bought another one I can’t wait to use as well 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous … As always!
Thank you Katie!!
Oh Bre! I’m in LOVE! The tables are so dark and rich – it gives them such a sophisticated feel. The french script really balances that so perfectly!!! Just gorgeous!!!
This might be my favorite color palette haha. “Rich” is the perfect description! Thanks Kristi!
These tables are phenomenal, Bre! The detail that you put into them is insane! I love the gold accents and the French script. And you balanced the painted parts with the unpainted perfectly.
Aw thank you so much Sarah! It was my first time using a stencil and I was a little nervous but I’m so happy with the way they turned out 🙂
Bre these look fantastic. I love the colors you chose so classy. And the script is beautiful. Great job!
Blessings,
Beth
Love these Bre! Perfect fix on the edges. ~Sonya
Nice job! I need to set up a “picture taking station” like you have. I love the wall you put together. I actually want to cover a wall in our bedroom like that. Love it.
Thank you! And you should, it was so easy to make. I bet it would look awesome in your room 🙂