Breakfast Nook Table Makeover

If you had a chance to check out yesterday’s post on the French Linen Hutch Makeover, you might have seen a glimpse of the breakfast nook table makeover too.

We’ve had the breakfast nook table for a while now and every day we love it even more than the day before. My bestie S helped me build the table and it’s one of the pieces we grieve we can’t strap to the tops of our cars when we have to evacuate during hurricane seasons.

We whitewashed the top with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White back in the day and painted the bottom in Pure White. That combination served us very well for a while.

Given we’re updating the breakfast nook, we didn’t want to change the table too much, but we definitely wanted it to look like it had been refreshed. So, we decided to give the breakfast nook tabletop a more rustic feel while keeping the bottom painted white. This is a look at the top of the breakfast nook table before…

This layering technique and “aging” process for the top of the breakfast nook table has a lot of steps to it but the patina you get in the end is worth it. Here’s a look at all the details…

BREAKFAST NOOK TABLE MAKEOVER SUPPLIES:

• Sander
• Sandpaper
• Old Towels
• Tarp (to protect surfaces)
• Metal Brush
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen
• Paintbrush
• Cup with Water
• Steel Wool
• Dark Furniture Paste Wax and/or Dark Furniture Paste Wax Puck
• Paste Wax Brush (optional)
• Valspar’s Faint Maple

BREAKFAST NOOK TABLE MAKEOVER STEPS:

Step 1 – We started out by using a wet sanding technique which is basically where you sand a piece of furniture while the wood is slightly damp.

Next, we take a slightly damp old towel and rub down the surface area we’re going to sand. You’ll want to make sure to do this in very small sections to make it more manageable.

This method can be tough on sandpaper especially if the piece of furniture has already been painted. This shot is a good example of how it cakes up on the sandpaper. Once each section is completed, you’ll want to go back over it with a damp cloth to make sure all the sand dust bits are gone. Otherwise, they’ll settle into all the nooks and crannies and eventually get into your paint or wax brush.

See how the rest of the table is smooth but there is one section that is kind of rough? That’s how small a section you’ll need to work in.

It’s a very subtle change but see how the top looks like a “fresh white” while the bottom still looks kind of yellow? The top has been wet sanded, and the bottom has not.

Wet sanding a painted piece of furniture helps to create a more natural looking patina because it allows you to leave some of the paint intact while also allowing you to sand down to the original wood while keeping a smooth finish.

Step 2 – We wanted the breakfast nook table to be pretty rustic, so we decided to raise the woodgrain even further by using a metal brush. Make sure you go with the woodgrain when doing this step.

Steps 3 & 4 – Next, we gray washed the top using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen

and while the paint was still wet, we went over it with a piece of steel wool.

You’ll want to make sure you wipe off any bits of steel wool that might be left on the table prior to moving on to the next step.

At this point we had a layer of white from the original paint, a layer of natural woodgrain exposed from wet sanding and the metal brush technique, as well as a layer of gray from the gray wash and steel wool treatment. See all the layers?

Step 5 – If you’re happy with the result you can add dark finishing paste wax with a brush to the tabletop

and you’ll have this…

Step 6 & 7 – I wanted the color of the breakfast nook tabletop to be a bit warmer, so I decided to create an additional wash using Valspar’s Faint Maple

followed by another layer of dark wax but this time instead of brushing it on, I applied the wax using a solid piece of dark paste wax which was like using a wax puck. I used a medium-soft bristle brush to help get the tiny wax pieces off the table.

This technique does take quite a bit of time because there are a lot of steps, but the finish is always worth it. This breakfast nook table makeover now has the multiple layers that help to give it a warm and worn over time patina you might not get if you’re simply just painting or gray washing then waxing.

Make sure you leave plenty of time for the wax to cure as the wax will be soft which means it will be easy to nick. Honestly though, that just gives it more character in my opinion.

Things are finally coming together with the breakfast nook makeover and we couldn’t be more excited about it. I was hoping to share the reveal tomorrow but there was a delay with the artwork I ordered. I’m not 100% I’m going to use it any way, but I should try just in case it’s perfect!

I found some fun options along the way though, so I’ll share them with you tomorrow in case you’re looking for breakfast nook or dining room artwork ideas too.

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo