Creating a New Place to Gather...

We have never had a dining area for the family at our lakehouse, just a small table indoors and a few outdoor tables. We often just used folding tables for our get-togethers. It's always been fine, and we have fun, but recently I decided to remedy that situation...

and to do it on a budget!

We started out with the old 7 foot long wood table from our sunporch at home. It's a great sturdy table and provides a lot of seating area. It has always been very worn and rustic and the stain on the two leaves has never matched the rest of the set.

Here's how it looked when I bought it for $30

at a garage sale several years ago...

Next, my husband built two great wood benches, each measuring nearly seven feet long. He did a beautiful job and adapted an

Ana White plan to be just what we needed.

Next, I took two wood chairs from home, that I had recovered...

Finally, we married all these disparate pieces together with paint! Since these were going into our family's lakehome, we wanted a rustic, casual beachy look. The table was done with an almost dry brush technique. I used DecoArt's Americana Chalky Finish in Yesteryear, a soft light gray.

I left stained wood showing and wanted the wear on the table to be highlighted. It has an almost driftwood or birch look...

I love the old name carved into the table...

The chairs and benches received a solid coat of DecoArt Americana Chalky Finish in Relic...a dark gray, almost chalkboard color paint.

I finished the pieces with DecoArt Americana Light Satin Varnish for a stronger finish than wax.

It gave my husband and I great pleasure to see the family gathered around the table, sharing meals and playing games, at our recent gathering! It worked perfectly for our needs

and it was great re-using pieces we already had!

Have you heard about the wonderful Chalky Finish contest DecoArt has going on right now? The grand prize winner will win $2000 and $500 of product!

Click on the photo below for all of the details!

I am a blogger for DecoArt...all opinions are my own.

I am joining Vintage Inspiration Party

Until next time...

32 comments

Rita C at PanoplyJuly 21, 2015 at 5:48 PM
Nice job, Linda, to yours and your husband's part in this project. This will be perfect for big family meals or games, or even just sitting around talking.
SImple and Serene LivingJuly 21, 2015 at 6:26 PM
It looks great, Linda. I know your family will really enjoy it. xo Laura
Jacqueline~Cabin and CottageJuly 21, 2015 at 7:35 PM
What a sensational looking redo! I still have the four, four-ft benches that were made for my old oak family table. They are so versatile. But we passed on the big table to my oldest son. Sure wish I had a cabin or beach house to keep it in instead! Haha! You must be thrilled with the new look. Fabulous!
Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresJuly 21, 2015 at 8:12 PM
What a great job you did updating this well-loved table. So much nicer with the lighter paint color. Your husband did an amazing job with those benches. He's hired!! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.
Blondie's JournalJuly 21, 2015 at 9:57 PM
This is awesome, Linda---the perfect 'family gathering' table!!! You guys did a great job. I've used this brand of paint on a few projects and it's terrific!

Jane x
Joy@aVintageGreenJuly 21, 2015 at 10:03 PM
Every piece works so well with the other pieces, a family table.
camp and cottage livingJuly 21, 2015 at 10:38 PM
Linda
Your table and bench turned out so nicely. I do like the colour.
It's a great size for a family to gather around too.
Deanies StashJuly 22, 2015 at 12:22 AM
I love that paint! I use it a lot. I love how you painted the table, benches and chairs. Very casual but pretty!
amy of studio four cornersJuly 22, 2015 at 5:41 AM
what a great project - and how great that your husband built those benches - what a guy! I'm sure you'll have many great times around that table...
Vickie @ Ranger 911July 22, 2015 at 6:48 AM
For $30 you sure got your money's worth! You've found a great farmhouse style table for your family, and the benches your hubby built are fabulous! I'm sure you'll enjoy your dining "set" for years to come. Great transformation, Linda!
RueJuly 22, 2015 at 9:40 AM
Good morning, Linda :)

The table and benches look fantastic! Your and your husband did a wonderful job making all the pieces work together.

Your sunporch look beautiful too and I love the table in there as well.

Glad to hear you're having a great Summer :)

xo,
rue
Curtains in My TreeJuly 22, 2015 at 11:22 AM
The table and benches look very happy married together
RURAL July 22, 2015 at 11:49 AM
I'm blown away that you got "the table of my dreams" for only $30.....sigh. It's gorgeous, and you did an amazing job of redoing it.

Jen
The Polka Dot ClosetJuly 22, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Linda , it is gorgeous and perfect. What a great gathering place and hats off to hubby fabulous job!

Carol
JunkchiccottageJuly 22, 2015 at 2:46 PM
Linda,
This is perfect. Love the paint and re love of all the pieces. How fun to sit for a meal or play games with the family. Great job.
Kris
Mary Ann July 22, 2015 at 3:02 PM
I have just started following your blog... this table is beautiful! Love the benches with it!
Anne's Attic - DesignJuly 22, 2015 at 4:06 PM
Linda your table is wonderful and the color you used is one of my favorite chalk paints. Have a great day. Jo
Pam KesslerJuly 22, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Well, that looks great! Kuddos to making your own benches too. I actually didn't know they had a varnish. I like how they package it in jars rather than the old school cans. It makes it seem neater or something. I'll go check out their contest!
MelanieJuly 22, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Looks fantastic, Linda! I'm assuming to get that streaky, beachy, old look that you simply used a brush to brush on the chalk paint? I would love to do that on one of my tables, but I'm not sure how to achieve that look. I used the Americana Decor paint in white on a side table - using brushes - and it didn't turn out like that at all. It looks pretty much like a full coverage paint.
Patricia @ CorninmyCoffee-potJuly 22, 2015 at 9:35 PM
Linda- this looks fantastic! I love how you pulled it all together- not just the furniture... BUT THE FAMILY!
I'm not real familiar with this paint... But it looks pretty!
Kim July 22, 2015 at 9:37 PM
Fabulous! I love the transformation. $30 bucks? That is the deal of the century.
DianaJuly 22, 2015 at 9:43 PM
Nice job, Linda--I'm hoping to finish my table and enter it into the contest :) I've posted yours on Facebook--
K J DJuly 23, 2015 at 7:25 AM
ahh it looks so nice.... and has already been put to good use.... I see lots of fun times ahead around this table :)

another great project Linda

Karen x
The Boston LadyJuly 23, 2015 at 6:43 PM
Beautiful job Linda! Where can you buy that paint? Ann
BlissJuly 24, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Perfect! As your family has grown the last few years you need that table space, plus all the outdoor & previous tables too!
White Lace and PromisesJuly 24, 2015 at 9:43 PM
$30??? You have got to be kidding! Wow! I am impressed! It looks like a farm table now. Love what you did. The benches add even more character! I've had some thoughts lately about being around the table. I feel a blog post coming on.
handmade by amaliaJuly 25, 2015 at 10:51 AM
This looks great, like the setting for one of those holiday movies where the whole family gathers and the drama begins. Hope you'll make a lot of wonderful memories around that table.
Amalia
xo
Winkel's Crazy IdeasJuly 26, 2015 at 2:27 AM
What a great solution, it looks great! Pam xx
Cathy @ My 1929 CharmerJuly 26, 2015 at 4:27 PM
Looking good, and I've used the paint and like it. I especially like the linen and serenity colors. You made everything go together while looking good...also pat your hubs on the back!
My thrift store addictionJuly 26, 2015 at 7:14 PM
Linda, this is wonderful! I use the Americana paint too, but I haven't tried that shade yet! Next project...;)