I am SO happy with how this table turned out!!
Before I get into why I made it, let me share a picture...
Can you believe it all that FREE RECLAIMED wood? Just how I like it; free, reclaimed, full of character, it just doesn't get any better!
This project all started several months back...
My husband needed a desk, and since life was so crazy I decided to find one at the Restore instead of building one. I scored a cute little number with a hutch for $20. So we moved my little one into a different room and converted his old room into an office. (or rather, we just took out the bed and dresser and put in a desk, someday I hope to make it actually look nice)
Anyway....long story short, my husband wants the desk to face out (so his back is to the wall) and the hutch needed it's own table...
That is why I built this one.
I measured the bottom of the hutch then went out to find something (in my stash er, hoard of free wood) I could use for a table top. This piece was perfect, it measured just bigger on the sides and a few inches wider, just what I wanted.
I measured the height of the desk and used that to figure how tall I wanted the legs. Then I cut the support pieces, or apron. I decided at the last minute to add a lower shelf so I cut two more side pieces, you can see them laying down in my dry fit picture above.
When I dry fit, I like to do a rough trace of each piece so I know where it will go when I actually attach it. I measured about an inch on all sides for the table top to hang over a bit.
Now time to build, my favorite part!! I started by drilling pocket holes in all pieces that needed them. Then I made the two sides.
I clamped them together to attach the long pieces, and used glue of course. Make sure to check for square at this point, but don't worry if it's not totally perfect...you are using reclaimed wood after all.
Once I had the base all built I put some wood down to see what worked for a bottom shelf. Every single piece of wood was a different type, and I think that adds character, plus it is what I had. All pieces were from the free section on Craig's List, including the top piece. I liked how these three boards worked with only a small gap between. I also really liked that they were all different widths too. I measured and cut them.
My next step was to stain the table top and bottom shelf slats. I choose Minwax natural stain but first I added wood conditioner. At this point I was loving the stripes on that board in the back! The stain brings out such beauty in wood. Oh, and you can see my
Vintage Step Stool on the table too, I am always doing more than one project at a time. Aaaaand if you are wondering why my garage is lined with mirrors? It is because I teach clogging in there...
Once the wood was ready I glued and nailed my bottom shelf board on (with a nail gun). I also need to mention that at the last minute I decided to do one coat of the same natural stain on the legs too, it really darkened the wood =).
I squirted on some glue, which I quite enjoyed doing, it is fun to make squiggly lines!
And I turned it over, matched it up to my previously drawn lines (almost perfectly) and screwed the top and base together with pocket hole screws. The wood is pretty old and you can see in the middle pocket hole screw it split, but thank goodness only in that one spot! It is very sturdy.
That is it! I finished it off with three coats of poly, sanding with 400 grit sandpaper after each coat. It is so perdy! [a disclaimer (confession): I don't really have a good camera, so I use my iphone for pictures (gasp!!) I won't tell if you don't...so lets be honest, things always look better in person right? Maybe someday, you will get a better "look" at my projects through a nice camera...someday...]
Anyway.... I know it is for my husband...but I had to pretend it was mine for a little...
...and I was liking it very much!
This knot hole is making me swoon...
I love the imperfections in the wood.
Ok, so now to my REAL problem, and for this I need, want, am HOPING, you give me some awesome advice...
How should I redo the desk and hutch to match???? (sorry blurry picture...)
Paint? Colors? Stain? Both? I could eventually just build a desk...but summer time and six kids...probably not happening...yet! I mean I am lucky to even complete a project, my kids are more important, and time is not on my side.
So spill the beans, I'm all ears!!
*Click
Here to see how the desk and hutch turned out!*
And, thanks, in advance! You are the best!
Mindi
I will be linking to
these parties.