How To Transform a Vintage Sofa Table Into a French Country Entry Table / Kitchen Island
BLOG AND AUDIO: How I transformed a vintage sofa table into a versatile shabby chic French Country entry table / sideboard / kitchen island with chalk paint, antique glaze, bronze patina, and metallic paints.
Vintage Sofa Table Makeover Using Chalk Paint to Create a Versatile Shabby Chic French Country Entry Table / Sideboard / Kitchen Island
by Kim Hansen, Co-Founder and Artist, JK Hansen Studios
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ON THE HUNT ONCE AGAIN!
Happy New Year everyone! Now that the Holidays are over I’m back to searching for unique pieces of furniture to transform into stunning one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork. My first stop was our local thrift store. I can always count on finding at least one piece of furniture to take home with me. As soon as I enter the thrift store ~ I put my blinders on and head straight to the back of the store where all the furniture is located. If I don’t stay focused, I become easily distracted by all the isles filled with miscellaneous items for sale.
There it was… a sofa table. It immediately caught my eye. It was as if a beam of light was shining directly down on it. ‘Look at all those details!’, I thought to myself. Other potential buyers were eyeing it as well. So I gave it a quick inspection and located an associate to put my claim on it. It was in fairly good shape ~ extremely sturdy and had a few scratches here and there. The drawers were in great condition and glided in and out smoothly. The top would definitely need sanding though, but I already had a vision of how I would finish it.
PREPPING THE TABLE FOR TRANSFORMATION
I removed the hardware and gathered my supplies together to start the transformation. I hand sanded the edges and top and cleaned the entire table with a soft damp cloth.
TIME TO PAINT!
I used FolkArt Home Decor’s Sheepskin (Cream) Chalk Paint for the base coat. The chalk paint was really thick. So I added about two tablespoons of water to thin the paint. Following the grain, I used my 3-inch paintbrush to apply the first coat of cream chalk paint to the table — being careful not to completely cover the details with the paint. I always allow a bit of the original wood to show through here and there ~ I think it gives the piece dimension and a variation of colors.
After the first coat was dry, I applied a second coat of the cream color using the same technique.
AGED TO PERFECTION!
Using Rust-Oleum’s Chalked Decorative Glaze I aged the table by quickly wiping on the glaze in small areas with a handy wipe and then lightly wiping off with a damp cotton painter’s rag.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS!
To add shadowing, I applied Dixie Belle’s Bronze Patina to the table with a two-inch paintbrush and wiped back and blended it in with a damp painter’s rag. I also added a small amount here and there to the top of the table and bottom shelf using the same technique. Next, I brushed on Modern Master’s Champagne Metallic to further highlight the details on the table legs, feet, edges and details on the front of the drawers.
HARDWARE
I always try to keep the original hardware on any piece of furniture I find. The drawer knobs were in nearly perfect condition, but I wanted them to match the finished furniture piece. So I added a kiss of Modern Master’s Champagne Metallic to each drawer knob using a 2-inch paintbrush.
SURPRISE!
Who doesn’t love surprises?? Depending on the piece of furniture, I like to add a nice surprise to the inside of the drawers and/or doors. On this piece, I decided to add black velvet drawer lining. And for the added WOW factor I hand-painted a Royal Bee Stencil on top of the black velvet lining using the Champagne Metallic paint.
FINAL STEP!
The next morning — to protect this beautiful transformed vintage piece — using an unbleached cheesecloth I applied two coats of Rust-Oleum Chalked Protection Top Coat Wax Matte Clear over the painted surfaces and three coats to the top.
The drawers are perfect for storing your good cutlery and serving utensils.
And the lower shelf for your pots and pans.
Well, 2020 is off to a great start! I’m looking forward to this New Year. I’ll be on the hunt for unique pieces of furniture to bring back home and breathe new life into them. Once again, I’ll be tapping into my creativity, imagination and 30+ years’ experience as a commissioned artist, muralist, and faux painter to transform long-forgotten pieces into beautiful conversation pieces. Every piece I paint ~ I pour my heart and soul into. Painting is my passion and I take pride in my work. My customer’s 110% satisfaction is what I always strive for.
Thank you for visiting our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, or leave a comment below. Your feedback is always appreciated. I hope I have inspired you for your next DIY project.
ARTIST: Kim Hansen.
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