In last week’s blog, I explained how I applied a faux marble finish to a laminate tabletop. You can read the blog here. Now it is time to work on the shabby chic/farmhouse table base and sides of the table.
Whitewash and Force Age
I gently hand sanded the wood to remove any existing finish. To suit my shabby chic/modern farmhouse decor at the time, I decided to whitewash and force age the wood a bit. I grabbed some leftover white acrylic paint and thinned it with water by 25%. Taking a wide paintbrush, I applied the diluted white paint to all the exposed wood. After letting it soak for a few minutes, I wiped it with a cotton cloth to remove the excess. I repeated this process until I was happy with the coverage. Then allowed the table to dry completely.
Now, to force the look of aging, I lightly sanded any inward or outward angle in the wood. I took my sandpaper and scuffed off some of the paint right at the sharp and rounded edges. I did this to all the angles around the sides and bottom of the table.
Adding Color and Depth to the Shabby Chic/Farmhouse Table Base
Once everything was nicely worn, I felt the color was still a bit stark white for my liking. To help gray it up a bit, I randomly rubbed the side of a pencil led along the grain of the wood. I then smoothed out the markings with a dry cotton cloth. I worked the graphite all over the surface. It settled into all the little cracks in the wood nicely. I used the pencil and cloth to darken all of the bends in the wood as well. Once I was happy with the color, I sealed the wood using wax.
Using Candle Wax to Age and Seal a Shabby Chic/Farmhouse Table Base
You can use a white or colored candle to rub the surface of the wood for an inexpensive low shine sealer. I opted for white. Rub the side of the candle over the wood then use a hair dryer to heat the wax. Keep the dryer moving a few inches away as you rub the candle wax onto the surface. I love the naturally aged look this method produces.
Finished Shabby Chic/Farmhouse Table Base with Faux Marble Top
Once all the exposed wood was sealed with candle wax, I attached the top of the table. I couldn’t be happier with the way this $ 5-yard sale table turned out! Our family has eaten many meals, constructed many projects, and played many games on the octagon faux marble table. It has served us well.
I hope you find this tutorial helpful. Click here to see a detailed video tutorial of this project on the Sawdust and Cornbread YouTube Channel.
~Lora Lea
