I got my craft skills and my maniac need to finish what I start as quickly as possible from my mama. Typically, my mom does big crafts like building a glass block wall in her shower and stenciling entire rooms. A few weekends ago, she bought a new wood coffee table, and decided it needed a little spunk. She made that table over in a night’s time.
She was inspired my desk makeover that we did together a few years ago. If you’ve been reading for awhile, you might remember this sucker. We used stain to create the diamond effect. It happened because we bought the table for super cheap partly because of a ring stain in the lower left hand corner of the table… you can still see it a little:
My mom achieved a similar look with a way different process. Here is what she started with:
And here is the end product. Pretty awesome, huh? You might remember the minute by minute updates on C.R.A.F.T. facebook. My mom was loving the comments and likes 🙂 I finally got her on facebook! (The Smith family got caller ID 2 years ago, and my parents don’t do cell phones!) Anywho, I asked my mom to put together a tutorial, and here we are!
Here’s what you need to create this look:
- Fine or medium sandpaper
- Steel wool
- Mouse sander
- Cloths
- Vacuum
- Tungsten oil finish
- Blue painters tape
- Ruler
- Yard stick
- Pencil
- Pickled oak stain
My mom says, “The table needs to have a rough finish with not much sheen. My table was made of pine with a dark finish and lots of distressing. Measure your table and create a diamond that exactly fits. (I goofed up on this.) I thought I had it configured correctly, but I should have laid it all out first. I did this project in my house, but it would have been better to take the mess outside. Not only is TX 100 degrees outside, but I don’t think my neighbors would appreciate power tool rucks in the middle of the night!”
Here are the steps my mom used to give her coffee table the checkerboard look:
1. Create diamond pattern out of thin, stiff cardboard.
2. Use pattern, to lay out your design on the table
3. If you are confident the design will fit, begin in a corner marking lightly with a pencil where the first diamond should go. I marked about 4 diamonds at a time.
4. Then using the blue painters tape to carefully place the tape on the outside edge of the diamond, overlapping the tape.
5. Now, using the steel wool begin roughing up the finish. Next, use the vacuum to pick up the sanding dust.
6. Use the mouse sander and be careful to stay within the blue tape marks. Use the vacuum to get rid of dust so you can see what your doing. Once you begin to see raw wood you can quit and move to next diamond. I constantly wiped with a clean cloth and used my vacuum.
7. Continue this until all diamonds are made.
8. Once your pattern is completed, thoroughly clean the top of the table with a damp cloth. Let it dry completely. This could be the end of the process for you. Just add tung oil and admire! This is the table before any stain or oil…
9. I wanted my diamonds to be a little more subdued so I put pickled oak stain on top of the whole table. I applied this with a clean cloth. I first used some old English and totally screwed up a few diamonds. It was way to dark. I had to go back and re- sand a few diamonds. The pickled oak stain worked great. Next, I used the tung oil.
She loves it, and I do too! What do you think, better after?
Have you ever used steel wool to take paint off in a pattern? It’s certainly less expensive than staining and way less smelly!
Wow, awesome makeover. Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.
Way to upcycle an existing piece of furniture. It looks great, and it is a great way to change things up with just a little bit of elbow grease.
Great looking table love the two tone natural wood, this piece makes a wonderful statement.
My sister approached me on how to complete a coffee table with this technique, I tried explaining it to her, now Ive got a tutorial to share so she can create one on her own, great post thanks for sharing ! Your Mom’s table came out wonderfully!
Looks like it turned out great Jamie! Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight Party. Pinned & shared. Hope to see you again soon.
Great makeover! Very clever. Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
Jamie ~ Just popping by to let you know I have featured you on my Tuesday Treasures post today! I loved this table your mother created. And I love that you two share together! Hope you can join us again this week at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop! Have a wonderful week!
This turned out amazing – you explained the process so well. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
Brilliant, I love it. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature on Monday xo
I love this coffee table and the step by step tutorial you included! Your mother did a fantastic job making it her own. Thanks so much for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Hi Jamie, I love what your Mom did to this coffee table. I’m featuring it this weekend at the DIY Sunday Showcase Party! Hope this puts a smile on her face for all her hard work 🙂
Thank you so much Marie! My mom will be thrilled!
This is AMAZING! Pinning it now! I can not wait to try this. We would love for you to share with us at Party in Your PJs, our weekly link party.
This is great! Thanks for the info. It’s given me a great idea…think I’ll try using a stencil around the edge of my round table. Very cool.
Table is BEAUTIFUL !!!
Very talented & created ladies !!!
I will be sure to keep this in mind when I’m out and about… ; ))
I have a question. I have started this and so far I have measured and taped everything off. I have started sanding though, and I am wondering how you take off the finish without taking off the blue tape and keep your line? Every time I sand near the tape it shreds it away and I am afraid I will not be able to get a straight line. Any suggestions?
I LOVE the outcome of this table! And the method couldn’t be easier. Sold!
Thanks, Donna 🙂 My mama is one smart cookie!
Awesome!! I love diamond patterns….looks so cool~ 🙂
I love the table, it looks amazing, never would have thought of this technique. Kudos!
Karen
This is an awesome idea!! Your mom is BRILLIANT!
ps found this over on a site that scraped your photos, I had to do a google image search to find your post. The blog I found it on is called cosylittlehouses.com. Thought you’d like to know.
This is sooo Neat! I love it!!! Can’t wait to try something similar.
Little nervous to try this but…..
do it! do it! and send me a pic when you’re done 🙂
I LOVE this! Ran to my kitchen to get started on my table….but apparently I’m not smart enough to figure out what size of diamond to make 🙁 any pointers??
My mom had issues with that too. Try to do the math, and then make a stencil and pencil it out on the table to make sure it fits.
hi Jamie, I’ve never used steel wool at all! I absolutely love this project. It’s something I would never have thought of. I found you on Hometalk.
I’m happy you found me 🙂 Steel wool is awesome. You’ll love it!
This is brilliant. I have had a dining room table in my basement for months, while I have been waiting for some inspiration to hit me – It just hit me like a brick…I will be doing this project this week!! THX for the great idea
I’m happy you like it! Good luck!!
Beautiful table and very creative. I’m going to try this one
Oh my this is beautiful!!! Mom did great!
I’d love for you to link up in our Crafty Showcase. It runs from Sat-Thur and then our designers will pick their favorites to be featured on Friday.
Have a super week!
Susie @Bowdabra
http://bowdabrablog.com/2012/07/21/saturday-showcase-craft-projects-11/
Beautiful! I love the pattern and the idea. So original!
Thank you 🙂 My mom is good!
This turned out fantastic! Great job!
This is great!! What a outcome!
This is awesome! I love the diamond pattern.