DIY Wood Plank Table Top Reveal

I shared this picture of our dining room a few weeks back  right after we changed out the chandy. The chandy change prompted me to envision a new table top. I had seen so many planked table tops out there that I just loved. I shared a few of them here. Is it a project that I really should have tackled? Should I just have left well enough alone? Am I the only one who asks those questions when attempting a makeover?

I talked myself into making the plank table top because I was tired of looking at this. This is what you never saw when I shared pictures of our dining room but I saw it every day. Not only was the tabletop scratched but the finish was starting to come off every time I cleaned it which was often because it had a shiny finish. 

We went out and purchased boards from Lowes. We used two different sizes to change things up a bit and to keep the new top in line with the size of the old top. We used three wider ones and two skinnier ones.

We laid the planks side by side and then screwed the braces onto the bottom.

We used three braces to ensure it would stay together and of course plenty of screws!;) I know there is a proper way to complete this but we used what we had on hand.

I wanted to make the planks look like they were old barn wood. To accomplish this I took some of my Country Gray AS chalk paint and watered it down a ton to create a wash effect. It took very little paint. Yo can see the difference in the knots of the wood from top to bottom. Top with wash. Bottom without.

Next I used some DIY stain made from steel wool and  Apple Cider Vinegar. I tested the stain after it sat for just 24 hours but it came out very orange and took 6 coats to get it to show up so I let it sit longer. The longer it sits the darker the stain. I ended up letting my jar of stain sit for 5 days before I attempted using it again. The home made stain was BEYOND stinky and honestly took way too many coats to get the color I wanted. I do not recommend this method of staining.

With the DIY stain not giving me the results I was looking for I decided to use some Minwax Provincial stain. It helped me achieve the darker color I was wanting. In between each coat of all of the stains I used a heat gun to help it dry faster which resulted in a more weathered look. I suggest if you use the heat gun to do this make sure the area is highly ventilated and that you wear a mask! Other option is to just be patient and allow it to dry naturally.

After many attempts to get the old top off the base in one piece we got fed up and just hammered the heck out of it. It was actually made from particle board so there was really no need to save it for a later date. There are two pieces to the base because it had an extension. At this point I was still questioning if I was doing the right thing. I mean really who in their right mind would basically destroy a well made fairly expensive....we got ours on clearance at a STEAL because of a few scratches four years ago... solid dining room table? I guess that answer is me!;)

Next we used the original braces from the base of the table and screwed the new top on.

The next day I would walk by the table and it just was not right to me. I decided that the base was way to shiny and new looking and was lost in the black rug. FYI the rug is from Ballard Designs. I have had many inquiries about it.

Out came my chalk paint once again. I used dark wax to dull the paint. I think by adding the chalk paint it makes the top flow much better with the base.

I am truly in love with the new top and how it turned out!

I was not liking our dining room chairs with it though so I stole some chairs from our office that I purchased a few years back. I still need two more chairs which is fine because before I even decided to change out the table top I was already on the hunt for new chairs for in here. There was nothing wrong with our chairs they just were not the look I was wanting.

Here is how it all has pulled together thus far. I am debating on whether or not to change out the fabric on the end chairs or to attempt slip covers. I am also debating on whether or not to paint the blue bench.
I am really torn over it all. I am so indecisive it is not funny, so be sure to stay tuned for more changes in here. I am hoping to luck up on two oval back frenchy chairs to replace the other two chairs that are not in the picture. I am also waiting on the new bling for the chandy that I ordered over a week ago. Hoping it will get here soon.

 The total time for this project was 4 days from start to finish to allow for dry time. I forgot to mention I put on several coats of rub on ploy to protect the top. Total cost was just $54 for the lumber and screws to make the new top. All other supplies I already had on hand.

Linking up to the following linky parties:
Tutorials Tips & Tidbits
Feathered Nest Friday
Be Inspired Fridays
Fabulously Creative Friday

Furniture Feature Friday

Metamorphosis Mondays

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cowgirl Up

Wow Us Wednesdays

Treasure Hunt Thursday #94 & Highlights

Welcome to THT #94! So glad to have y'all here. This party is only a success because of you. Thank you for partying each and every week and welcome to those who are new. Hard to believe that February is half over with. It seems like yesterday we all were scrambling to get our Christmas decor up.
Here are a few of my favorites from last weeks party to include some great Valentine decor since tomorrow is the day of love. I hope everybody has a fabulous Valentines Day!

Hymns & Verses- Neutral Valentine Vignette

Between Blue & Yellow- Buffet Makeover

Debbie-Dabble- Valentine Tree

21 Rosemary Lane- Red Beet & Cauliflower Soup

If you have been featured please feel free to grab the "I have been featured" button to proudly display on your sidebar!:)

Now on to this weeks party!
What would be a HUGE help and encourage more comments not just from me but others as well would be for everybody to take off their required verification codes for leaving a comment. This seems to take just a few seconds of time but when you have to do it on 30 or more blogs it takes up a TON of time. Last week most everybody had turned off their Word Verification which made it so much easier for me to stop by everybody's links! Thank you!
READ THE RULES PLEASE!:)
Now on to this weeks party! As with all parties there are the normal rules. You must link back to From My Front Porch To Yours in your THT POST. Just common courtesy. If ya don't link back ya don't get to party. Only link up to your Treasure Hunt Thursday post and NOT your blog homepage. Please No advertising and PLEASE NO MORE than 3 links from the SAME party goer. Also NO MORE linking up to your own link parties. I am seeing more and more link ups of just people promoting their own linky parties. I know it takes time to go back and make a separate post to join the party but it is just the polite thing to do. If you find your post deleted it is not because I am a meany, I just have to make sure the rules are being followed. You can save some of your posts for the following weeks party!Please only link up new posts and not posts that you linked up the week before.Also be sure to visit at least the link before you and after you to just say Hi! It makes partying all the more fun and remember if your link has had the most visits you will get featured on Tuesdays! If you are new around here I would love it if ya become a follower!:)

Most Viewed Links Treasure Hunt Thursday #93

Hope your week has started off well! The weather here has been a lot cooler and rainy which makes finishing some projects a little harder. I am not complaining though. I enjoy the cooler weather since summer will be here before we know it and so will the 110 degree weather.

On to the most viewed links from last weeks Treasure Hunt Thursday!:)

1. Quirky Vistas

2. Tinsel

3. Never Ending Decorating

4. Savvy Southern Style

See y'all back here tomorrow for treasure Hunt Thursday #94. 

Wood Planked Tables

 I have always loved the look of planked table tops.

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 I like to think they have a story to tell with their rustic beauty.

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They can be dressed up or down.

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One of my most favorite wood planked tables is this one from over at Peeking Thru The Sunflowers. I have been admiring Des's dining room table for some time now. Her hubby made it for her from reclaimed barn wood. It is swoon worthy I think.

Surprisingly enough The Hubster gave in to my request to create our very own planked table top. Can you guess where it will be going?

If you guessed our dining room you would be right.

I spent 30 minutes taking every screw out in hopes that the top would just pop right off.

That was a huge negative. Apparently we purchased a very well made table. I have no idea just how we will be getting the top off but trust me it will be coming off.  

In the meantime I spent time out in the garage working on the new top.

I am hoping to be done with this project by the weekend but we shall see.

Linking up to the following linky parties:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

How I Found My Style Sundays- Confessions of a Plate Addict

 Hi! I am Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict and I am so excited and honored to have been invited by Pamela to be a part of her How I Found My Style Sundays! Thanks so much, Pamela! I love her style as I am sure you do, too! Today I am going to share how I found my style and a few tips for creating your own style that have worked for me over the years.

For me, finding my style was easy…just a natural progression of my life as a French teacher. I have had the wonderful opportunity to live and travel in France over the years and to visit and be a guest in beautiful homes in Provence…like this one where I spent some time a few years ago. How could I help but fall in love with Country French style!

But eventually the birth of my first grandchild drew me back home to Georgia. And I knew what I wanted to do…create a little bit of France in my own home! So I began to look for pieces that reflected what I had seen in France. My hutch was the very first one that I found…and is still one of my favorites! It had the Country French look that I love and was a blank canvas for me to display another love of mine…my plates! I like to find a big piece that reflects my style and use it as an anchor in my room.

Next, I added color to my home…an easy choice for me! I love the sunny blues and yellows of Provence! I could not live without those colors! I have found that if I use colors that I love I never grow tired of them. My little breakfast room is one of my favorites in my house…full of lots of light. And I have to point out another one of my loves (hard to pick a favorite)…my wrought iron rooster chandelier! 

The blue and yellow continue into my living room where I have mixed patterns and fabrics in Country French style. I love the warmth and coziness of this room!

You cannot have Country French without toile, in my opinion…so I have filled my guest room with it…plus more layers of fabrics in stripes, checks and florals! I find that layering coordinating fabrics and patterns helps to create a cozy feel.

Here’s a peek into my my guest bath where the Country French look continues. I love the dark fixtures and have added more Provençal colors…antique red with yellow this time. I couldn’t find a shower curtain that I loved, so I have used drapery panels instead!

I also used my favorite Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles sugar and creamer to hold little French soaps. I love using unexpected accessories to add some interest to my rooms.

And here’s my master bedroom…this time with a more feminine pink and green toile. And you may have noticed that…as in every other room I have shown you…there are plates on the wall! I love to use groups of plates to add a little architectural interest to otherwise boring walls.

And I am sure you are beginning to see that my plates feature prominently in my home! I have to share my favorites with you…my vintage Quimper plates…some of which came from the antique market in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France. I think that collections reflect who you are and what you love and should be displayed so that you can enjoy them every day.

Of course, not all of my accessories have come from the markets in France…in fact, not many of them! But I have found a way to create a French feel by making my own “vintage” French linens…

…and willow baskets…with tags labeled in French, of course…

…and frenchy accessories by upcycling flea market and thrift store finds and giving them a vintage French look and feel. Thrift stores are a great source for bargains that you can use to create accessories that match your style.

And I’ll leave you with this final tip…Find a style that is your own and go with it. Do not be worried about what is in fashion because that will come and go. But if you surround yourself with things that you love and use colors and fabrics that speak to you, you cannot help but be happy in your home!

Thanks again so much, Pamela, for inviting me! And I also thank you, her readers, for being so welcoming! I hope will visit me at my blog Confessions of a Plate Addict where you are always welcome!

Thank you so much Debbie for sharing your beautiful home with us!