I have a thing for tables. You see… my heart skips a beat when I see a naturally-aged wood pedestal table. You know the kind that looks like it was pulled out of a European home after being used for more than a hundred years. The ones that look like the base has been hand-carved by a skilled artisan from a massive tree. They’re rustic and naturally worn and weathered with imperfections from decades of family dinners. The stain is almost all worn away unevenly and the finish is now matte and as smooth as butter from the endless rubbing of arms, bellies, and sock-covered feet. Yes, I have a naturally-aged wood pedestal table crush.
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When I explore store websites for a table with this naturally-aged type of finish, I found a few, but at a cost. Here’s what I found…
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Restoration Hardware
Restoration Hardware uses hundred year old reclaimed wood to create these tables today. They have a few different ones. Some are made of real solid oak or pine timbers pulled from hundred year old buildings in Great Britain and Russia. Their construction, quality, and naturally-aged finishes are absolutely amazing and at $1600-$3000 their prices reflect it.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn makes a table that looks similar, is constructed of some solid poplar wood, and is also priced at a hefty $2000; but if you read the description carefully you’ll see that theirs is also made of MDF and veneers.
After years of refinishing furniture of all types and all ages, I’ve learned that, over time, veneer chips and peels away and MDF warps and bubbles if you get it wet. So it’s surprising to hear that this expensive table is constructed this way.
Regardless, I’m still enamored with the look of both of these Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn tables.
The problem lies with my budget. With one child in college and two others soon on their way, there is no way I could justify spending $2000-$3000 on a single piece of furniture. Especially a table, when I have a perfectly good dining room table and two kitchen islands in the same space.
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Let’s Recreate The Naturally-Aged Finish For Less
One of the most glorious benefits of refinishing furniture is that I’ve learned how to recreate high-end looks from very budget-friendly distressed furniture finds. Such was the case when my friend Janinine was selling this solid wood table at her yard sale this past weekend.
I’ve refinished several pedestal tables over the past few years and have never been tempted to keep them for myself; but what struck me about this particular one was the pedestal base. I could imagine that hefty chunk of wood being carved from a single tree.
So I got to work sanding down the table with my DeWalt rotary sander – my absolute favorite and most necessary tool in the workshop.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I’ve been in love with naturally-aged finishes lately. It’s quickly becoming my trademark finish and I jump at the chance to create it on solid wood furniture. And while it may seem as though it just requires sanding, there’s so much more to it!
Because of this proprietary design finish though, I’ve decided to include the “how-to” in an ebook.
The 19-page ebook includes:
- the very specific type of furniture to look for to create a naturally-aged finish and those to avoid
- how to identify real wood vs. MDF and veneers
- a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this naturally-aged look
- the best protective topcoat for this naturally-aged finish
CLICK HERE to grab this ebook. It is available for immediate download as a pdf.
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I originally planned on refinishing this table to sell, but fell in love with it. I’m sitting at it now as I type this in my kitchen looking out over the pond in my backyard. Not sure how I’ll be able to part with it.
Aaaaaah…
Some people buy artwork and stare at it on their walls… I refinish furniture. It IS the artwork in my home.
So did you enter your email above? Because this naturally-aged re-creation may just show up in my online shop one day and you’ll want to be notified first!
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Naturally-Aged Pedestal Table
For now, you can swoon over the photos of this “naturally-aged” pedestal table. Enjoy…
Remember…
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRI WAYS’ LIBRARY OF FREE eBOOKS
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to products I use myself.
Ok ya got me,… I just have to see your tips and tricks for this finish.. lol….it’s just gorgeous. Not surprised it’s becoming your trademark work.. Thanks for sharing it at #fridaysfurniturefix Vicki always a pleasure!
Beautiful work Vicki. I can only imagine the work that must have gone into stripping that table. But it was so worth it. There is a clarity that shines through in a natural look.
Thank you Danielle. Just added the direct link to Finding Silver Pennies to the end of that post. 🙂