Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Before & After: Train Table

Before:
  
   After:
   


I don't have any true 'before' pics because I didn't remember to take them until after I'd already started stripping paint, so the table's pitiful original condition is a bit exaggerated.  What?  Plastic surgeons do it all the time.  At least I didn't photograph it under fluorescent light without any make-up and tell it to frown.

I found the table for $15 at The Salvation Army Store, and a mere 4 months and 20 hours of work later... tada!  The tabletop is cork on one side and chalkboard on the other, and I also lined the drawers with cork because they were cracked on the bottom.  I did spare another Thomas the Train topper that came with it.  Not my favorite, but I'm sure Owen will love it above all else.  

So there you have it.  Wait.  Let me just get turned around here.  There.  Now you can pat me on the back. (wink)(wink)

6 comments:

Rebecca Davenport said...

YEA!!! Good job! Pat Pat. It is very cute and I like the colors you chose. I am off to a yoga classes wish me luck!

Grandma DD said...

Great job!! You are so talented and courageous to tackle such a big job. You must have some of Papa's genes in you! LOL If I had a workshop I would be having fun like this too!! Just wait until I retire. >>>>>>>>> Those are pats on your back. Did you feel them! ;0] Love you all.

Kari Anne said...

You did a great job refinishing it...on top of the great deal you found!! I agree with DD...you must have Papa's genes in you! He would be VERY proud of you too! I like to think that when I do something that reminds me of my dad, that he would be proud of me if he were here... Love yall!

Coach said...

AMEN,I agree, you did an awesome job. It is worth more than a few pats on the back. Congratulations, you are like the characters in the Wizard of Oz. You had enough courage to tackle such a project, the brains to figure out how to do it and the heart to never give up until it was completed. Great job!! I know Owen loves it.

Anonymous said...

Hi there!
Great job! Saw the spotlight on Ohdeedoh.com and it was great timing because I just picked up a used one that is in need of similar rehab...where can I drop it off??? But seriously, would you mind telling me if you stripped the wood of the paint and then re-painted or did you leave it with just the wood? It's hard to tell from the pictures. I know you painted the drawers and the center part. But what about the rest? And, was your table made from solid wood or particle board and wood? Mine seems to be a combination and I wondered how it handled the paint stripper. Thanks so much!!

Shelley & Scott said...

Hi Anon!

Sorry for the late reply - just found your comment! The table was all masonite, and even though I started by using a water-based stripper, an orbital sander actually ended up working the best for getting all the paint off. I originally intended to strip it all bare, but the curved edges proved too hard to strip all the way back down to the wood-toned masonite, so I opted to paint them white. Once I caved, I just got lazy and painted the sides white too! Only the ends of the table are the wood tone now. The only part of the table that didn't take kindly to the stripper was the topper. It swelled up a little, but eventually went almost all the way back to normal. Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me at sds31@charter.net if you have other questions or want to see some better pics.