Today I thought it would be fun to take a stroll down memory lane…or table lane. So many pieces of furniture run through my shop and I never get the chance to tell you about each one. I thought it would be fun to focus on tables and show you how my photography and skills have changed in the last two years because we’re always learning and growing, right? Check out my table transformations.
I’ve put together 20 of some of the tables that have come through my shop for a whirl through the past. Ready? Let’s go! *consider yourself warned this is photo heavy!!
DIY TIME
I’m going to start with a library table I happened upon while looking for furniture for the home we had just moved into back in 2003. (I told you I was going waaaay back)
They were having half off on some of the items that had been there too long and I spied this antique pine table. I needed something to occupy our long walls, and though I thought this one was too long, I just had to have it because the price tag was right – $20.
We made it fit in our living room for several years, but eventually it was hid behind our upright grand piano standing on end. Sad, I know, but we needed the space for other things. It wasn’t until two years ago I decide to give it a makeover because the top is so bad and it needs to go to a new home where it would be loved.
The top was painted a charcoal/chocolate gray and I whitewashed the legs. Take a look at my awesome photography skills back then. bleck. Even with the lack of a good shot, this table sold within hours and I can’t tell you the number of requests I’ve had to see if I had another. Onto more table transformations!
HARLEQUIN
Found this handsome iron beauty at a thrift store for a couple of dollars. This one first puzzled me because it had a leather top and I had no idea what to do with it, but my eyes kept being drawn to those geometric legs.
In this makeover, math became my best friend, and I drew my design with ruler in hand and created a harlequin top. Much better, don’t you think? This beauty is now living it up in Texas.
Found this unique cherry hexagon side table at a garage sale for $3. It was in great shape, but had a broken piece at the bottom that was easily repaired. 
With some white paint and glazing, this table was brought back to life. Again, this was from about 2 years ago and most of my pictures were for product shots and I had a lot to learn about lighting and making use of a tripod and timer.
MORE TABLES
Next up is a pair of matching, but not totally matching side tables I bought off of Craigslist for $15.
They had wear and some minimal damage, but were in overall great structural shape. One of my favorite paints is antique white for its versatility to go in almost any decor, and that’s what this pair got.
The next piece was a coffee table I found for around $10 at a thrift store and loved the intricate carvings on the side. This is another of my first table transformations.
A little crayon artists had added details at some point. meh. However, it really was in good shape and I decided to use my antique white again with distressing. This picture was taken with a point-and-shoot, with light on (mistake!) and no tripod.
MID CENTURY MODERN
While driving home one day, I spied this table upside down in a pile of curbside trash with one leg sticking out.
Likewise, can you believe someone trashed a Mid Century Modern Acclaim table by Lane!! Just look at that dove-tailed woodwork….gorgeous. In pristine condition, one of these could go for over $300.
We used this table all over our house for many years as is, even as a nightstand while we awaited the completion of our bedroom makeover. All that is wrong with it is some damage to the top that repairs easily. I wanted to snazz it up a bit and add a contrasting color. White it was.
Funky fun retro, isn’t it? This once trashed treasure is now a part of a doctor’s office in New York. Happy ending.
These next two table transformations are also from the trash in the same pile. The snow was flying and pregnant me parked on a non-parking street while I held up traffic. After my head popped back out of digging I saw the trash truck waiting behind me and all sorts of people giving me “the look”. Ah well…couldn’t let them be smashed!!
Agua paint with gold dipped legs, just made this piece sing.
The other table, a 1980’s glass-top side table just had a cigarette burn.
I wanted to make this piece pop, so I used coral to bring it new life.
LEGGY GEM
The coral table behind this sweet vintage pedestal table I found at a garage sale for $3.
It too only had some wear to the top, and just needed some loving.
Further, this coffee table is given to me for free because it’s leg is broken off.
I just made a simple brace and replace the broken dowel and it was as good as new.
I used a dark charcoal paint on the table and a light aqua on the pulls. My kids and I all thought it looked like a crab. hahahaha….
I’ve shown these two before in my Modern Masters metallic paint review and am still loving that Queen Anne library table.
COFFEE TABLE
Next, this oak coffee table/entertainment stand is pretty sad looking. Since the snow was flying I felt like being at the beach, and that inspired this transformation, and other projects I blogged about here.
After that, I add rope pulls, new trim, and a sunbleached stained top gave this classic piece a lift.
$10 is the Craigslist price of this antique empire table. Those curves drew me in…swoon.
Finally, with a new stained top and vintage brass pulls, this lady was ready for display. Wish I had room to keep this one, but it didn’t last long in my shop.
Magic Linen Waffle Blanket ~ $130
Went to a garage sale in the freezing winter and found this gorgeous semi-circle table for $10.
I wanted to make this sweet table look rich and draw out those intricate inlaid brass pieces. Much better, right? This table flew out of my shop in minutes…love it!
In addition, one of my favorite table transformations is this intricate table from a local resale shop.
The full makeover is here, but it’s a fun read if you want the details on how I came to finishing this piece.
ALMOST THERE
Last, if you’re still with me (and I hope you are!) I’ll just show you a few more tables and hope you enjoy their makeovers.
Now…you have to tell me which one(s) are your favorite!! Share any you love to inspire others. Thanks!
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Also,more makeovers like my table transformations:
Awesome! You are one truly talented lady!
Thank you! I have fun watching each one transform and then be added into someone’s home.
I absolutely love how you refinished the top of the table that you sold to a doctor in New York. I’ll never look at dove tail joints in the same way after seeing that!
These makeovers are all beautiful. I’m amazed that you come up with all these different looks time after time, that’s a talent!
I personally want to take a moment to thank all the people in your area who over the yrs thought these Before pieces were junk and were happy to get rid of them for ~$10-20 bucks. Thank you also to the Big Boxes with their wkly flyers tempting people to buy the latest trend in MDF furniture causing them get rid of these old classics gems. Thank you for the good prices on these and for not just sending them straight to the dump. Without all these people in your area I would not be enjoying all your creative Before and After eye candy here today -you never cease to amaze me!
One thing I just don’t get though is how you were able to part with that Empire Table – those curves are to die for or at least add an extra room onto the house so you had a place to use it haha!
This is by far the BEST COMMENT EVER!! You are hilarious! Yes, one can kick onself from time to time, but at the moment it was sold, I just had too much in my house and was excited it had a new owner. Live and learn. 😉
This is great!!! Haha! Yes, blessings upon those who trash our future treasures! What an amazing table turn-over collection too!
Thank, Becky!
Look at you go! I’ve been storing a few coffee tables in my “storage area” (aka. not a storage area!), and your coral table caught my eye. I’m in awe of this color, and you’ve gotten my wheels turning. Great job on all 🙂
Thank you! Yes, lots of projects can build up, and thankfully mine have been over time. That coral table was done by my daughter and I’ve enjoyed using it on other projects as well. It’s a fun, bold color…try it! 😀
I can’t believe that this is my first time seeing your work! You have a talent for seeing what the items could be and going for it!! Absolutely gorgeous work–I like that you don’t do the same project repeatedly, but actually use many different styles. Just unbelievable!
So glad you stoppied by, Adriana. I can’t tell you how much it means that you notice I do different styles. I’m not a stuck-in-a-rut kind of person, and it’s fun to be creative. You made my day!
I don’t usually leave comments, but I have to say you are one incredibly talented lady! I love every table in this piece – so beautiful! Please keep showing your work.
Thank you so much for leaving a comment, Diana. It means so much to hear someone is out there reading and enjoying my efforts. 🙂
Always fun looking back through your most recent link! Always inspirational!
That’s awesome to hear you enjoy the flashbacks. Thank you, Gwen!
These tables are absolutely beautiful. Don’t know how you come up with such delightful transformations. God has given you a most artistic talent to see the potential in a piece of furniture. I really prefer the original wood look, but sometimes a piece of furniture is just too far damaged to restore it. Sometimes it breaks by heart to see the original wood finish covered in paint, but your transformations always do the pieces justice.
Larissa, where can i find a step by step tutorial for re-doing furniture? Specifically, my kitchen island (all wood) and hutch/cabinet? I am ready to take the plunge, but I truly don’t understand all the steps involved, wax or no wax – what’s the difference?, antiquing or whitewash – are they the same thing? Please help. Your secret admirer in DE, Wanda H
How exciting, Wanda! Each time I work a piece of furniture, I share my steps so it really depends on what you’re wanting to achieve it. I don’t have them all put into one place because each piece is of a different era or requires varied repairs. If you’d like to email me with questions, feel free by using the contact button at the top of the page. 🙂
I love to see all your make-overs. You have such talent !
Would you tell me a name of your favorite antique white paint ?
Thanks so much, Kathy! That is the name of the paint: Antique White by Behr, but I use it in Glidden.
Hard to pick a favorite, kiddo – but I’m leaning heavily toward the Empire table . . . and actually found myself wondering where I could use one like it in my own house, which is basically furnished with auction bargains, estate sales, cast-offs by family, etc. To me, the fun is in the hunt for something I can repurpose or refinish – and then enjoying the high dollar look for pennies.
Yes! That’s it exactly. Why spend big bucks when you can have the enjoyment of making your house your home. (and not look like the neighbors across the street). 😉 Thanks, Susan!
This was a fun read, Love Before and Afters! Like what you did to the Lane Acclaim, a little paint but still shows it’s original style -cannot believe someone trashed that! Inquiring minds 😉 want to know what happened to the MCM Brasilia dresser behind the pine sofa table in the first photo?
Thanks! Good eye too. 🙂 That ended up being a custom order for a client that had me paint it in a purple. Not my favorite choice, but she loved it and that’s all that mattered. 😉 You can see it here: http://www.prodigalpieces.com/broyhill-brasilia-loses-its-flower-power/
I absolutely love this post!
I enjoy painting furniture, but to me the hardest part of the process is deciding which way to go with the particular piece. A rule of thumb I have come to is this: if a piece is casual I usually go for a whitewashed, beachy look. If a piece is more formal I often find painting it black or a very dark charcoal looks wonderful. And if a piece is funky that’s when I go for a fun color.
Of course, rules are made to be broken, and sometimes I just do what I want 🙂
Thank you so much for all of your incredible ideas.
You nailed it, Shelley. 😉 Thanks for stopping by and showing me love.
These are all so beautiful Larissa. Just by quickly looking at them I see that I still have much much to learn from the great table master! Merry Christmas dear friend!
Ha! love the title. Thanks, Mary and Merry Christmas!
Each piece is so unique! I love painting furniture but I must say, you definitely have a gift for knowing what each one needs to give it life again. I very much enjoyed this post Larissa. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones 🙂
Thank you, Karen and same to you!
So many great makeovers! I love the first one and the Empire the best. Somehow you managed to make that Empire table look even more substantial, and bring out its curves to the fullest.
I’d love some tips on photographing makeovers. I’m so lousy at photographing mine!
Thank you for saying so, Elaine. It really is all about learning your camera. I have a Pinterest board with many tutorials.
Larissa, I know I say this alot, but you do amazing things with furniture you really do, I wish I could’ve got my hands on a few of those pieces I have to say, just beautiful…you have every reason to be very proud of yourself…x
And you words mean so much, Jeanette. Truly. Thank you!