Loblolly Manor Coffee Table
Just before Thanksgiving we were looking over the to do list for Loblolly Manor. My dad had finished the dining room table. The chairs were painted and the chair pads had been upholstered thanks to my aunts. The buffet was in place. The chairs that would provide extra seating in the living room had been finished too. We had made plans to head back to IKEA to pick up another rug and the couch from Pottery Barn was on the way. We knew we wouldn’t have it all finished by Thanksgiving but we were closer than we had been since August.
Given we had most everything else in place for the living room, we set about working on a coffee table. I’ve shared before the budget for Loblolly has been largely used for construction issues, roofing concerns, all new appliances and flooring. We’ve had to get really creative with the pieces we’re bringing in so we can keep the French Country look my mom is after. Bringing in a coffee table was kind of controversial. My Dad didn’t want one but all the girls felt it was necessary based on the amount of juice boxes, toys and random things that come with sharing a retreat space with 4 grandkids.
But you can’t argue with free and S found the base of the coffee table on the side of the road. The top was missing,
and I’m pretty sure a dog had been chewing on one of the legs.
Luckily, this kind of stuff doesn’t scare us at all. Over the summer my mom’s dad had me a bundle of scrap wood and it was in the scraps of wood the idea for this coffee table was born.
We didn’t have enough wood to cover the entire top so we headed to Lowe’s to buy enough new pieces to frame out the top. We used a cordless drill and wood screws to secure it all together.
Next, we created a crossbar system to help hold the weathered wood scraps in place.
Once the frame and the crossbars were in position, we were able to start placing the weathered scraps. We secured the scraps to the cross bars with liquid nails.
After the liquid nails had dried S secured the entire top in place using wood screws and a cordless drill.
The next day I painted the frame in two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White, sanded with 320-grit sandpaper and followed with two coats of clear paste wax.
I sanded down some of the weathered boards because my dad doesn’t appreciate the rustic look (I know, how are we related!) and then used Varathane polyurethane in a matte finish to seal the weathered boards. I know in advance those weathered boards are going to get used the most thanks to drinks, chips and other fun bits that get sticky during family movie night.
Even with the drop cloth in the way, it looks like this coffee table could have stayed at our home on the island.
But once I got this picture from my Mom, I knew it had already found another perfect spot.
See you guys back here tomorrow. The day we painted the chairs for the dining room we also painted a few chairs in Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint to help give extra seating in the living room.
Many blessings,
CoCo
That looks great! You really joined together the rustic and chic to make it perfect. I bet your dad likes it now. 🙂
I really appreciate it, Stacey, thank you so much. It was so nice to have a place for everyone to put their feet up and just relax with cocoa and coffee this past holiday season. Hugs, CoCo
Hey CoCo – this coffee table is fabulous! And finding the base on the side of the road is serendipitous! “S” has mad carpentry skills that we envy…the table looks beautiful in its new home. You’ll just have to make another one for yourself!
Thank you so much ladies! I still can’t believe the base of this little gem was on the side of the road. It’s the perfect coffee table for Loblolly. I can’t wait to use it at our family retreat for years to come. Hugs, CoCo
Oh my gosh, Coco, that table is perfect!! I love the combo of the more formal curvy legs and the rustic wood top. I am sure that your mom is so pleased, you are one talented family!!
Thank you so much, Kimm. I know you appreciate roadside finds too. It’s amazing what a little paint and creativity can do turn a piece of trash into a treasure 🙂 Hugs, CoCo
I love how this coffee table turned out. Beautiful work!
Thank you, Renee! We’re really excited to have to the coffee table at Loblolly especially since my mom’s dad gave us the reclaimed wood for the top. It just made it extra special. Hugs, CoCo
This table looks amazing! Great vision! I love what you did with it!
have a great day!
Smiles!
Terry
I appreciate it, Terry, thank you so much! Hugs, CoCo