What an amazing weekend! It may have been rainy and dreary, but that didn’t stop me from picking up an enormous dining room table to refinish and then later getting outside and visiting the Todd Farm flea market in Rowley, Massachusetts with two of my closest friends.
While there weren’t many outdoor vendors set up, the Barn at Todd Farm was jam-packed with antiques, decor, and refinished furniture. If you’ve never visited Todd Farm, it’s worth the trip – even more so on a sunny day. They’re open every Sunday at 5:00am through November.
I always enjoy seeing what other vendors like myself have created. I examine the types of furniture pieces on sale, their color, finishes, and hardware with a fine-tooth comb. Its’ fun to talk with the vendors who create them too and hear the passion in their voice for the hunt and re-creation process.
So… about that enormous dining room table I picked up. A sweet, older couple posted this gem of table on CraigsList last week. They had been saving it for their children, who were now grown with their own homes, but the kids decided it wasn’t their style.
Hallejula! Because it was just my style! That style being a very chunky solid wood table with amazing, dual pedestals and three leaves (or is it leafs when talking tables?) that needed refinishing.
My first thought when I saw it was… Thanksgiving! Someone out there needs this table. Some young couple just moved into their new home and needs a large dining room table to host Thanksgiving dinner.
So my husband and I made the short trek to pick up this table on Saturday morning. I’m so grateful for his help. We had a running “joke” for years… I could buy whatever I wanted as long as he didn’t have to pick it up. He really hates to shop (make a sad face); but I think he’s finally come around and sees the value in my picking up these well-loved pieces of furniture and what they can become.
The tabletop is just sort of resting on the bases in that photo (above) so it looks a little wonky; but trust me, it’s amazing!
Luckily, on Monday the weather cleared so I spent about three hours sanding. A belt sander probably would have stripped the finish off much quicker and easier, but my DeWalt rotary sander (affiliate link) worked hard and did the job. Underneath that dark stain and layers of gloss polyurethane was gorgeous wood.
Today I worked on staining the bases and tabletop. I considered going with a similar dark stain – it’s a popular color with Pottery Barn and I do love it; but opted for something different.
You’ll have to check back in later this week to see the finished table. Remember to connect via email or on Facebook to get that post delivered right to your inbox.
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