I wanted a cute table by the chicken coop. Yes, I could have bought a new one. But I am Raleigh GREEN Gables, and I always encourage clients to use what they have instead of rushing out to buy more stuff.
I had a table I found in our shed when we moved in. I assume the original owner of our house built it.
It, however, did not meet the “cute” factor I want for my coop. No problem. I also tell clients if your table or pillow or bench is not exactly what you want, refurbish it. You can paint anything. Or reupholster. Or switch lampshades. Just use what you’ve got. You will have less clutter, and there will be less stuff in our landfills.
Here is the table. I forgot to take a “before photo” when it was standing upright. It’s summer, so I was too lazy to turn it over for the photo. Do a handstand and look:
Table Before
To paint furniture, start painting the piece upside down. Let it dry. Then flip it over, so you can cover everything. First, I primed upside down and then right side up. I painted in the same order. It took about two hours. And ta da!
If you look closely, you can see the ladies through the table. They are such hams! I love it so much that I am thinking of painting our dining room table and my son’s room this color. (It’s Irish Moss by Benjamin Moore.) I found it while reading Young House Love.
Say it with me, folks: Use what you’ve got. It will save you money and our planet.