Bistro Table Top in Chalk Paint

BISTRO TABLE TOP by Sea Dean

Its nice to do something different after an intense 30 days being creative. I set my theme as birds and nests. I produced some good saleable pieces and a few that still need some work. However, I now have a backlog of furniture pieces to refinish, some I’ve been working on during the challenge, but they need finishing, others are just waiting in my imagination.

One piece just needs varnishing; it is table top for a wine barrel that I’m repurposing into a bistro table. It used to be an ugly gloss brown. First I coated it with light taupe and added a faux wood look in brown. I wasn't keen on the look, so set it aside for inspiration. During the challenge I gave it a couple of coats of Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Primitive. I wanted it to be more decorative, so I went through all my stencils and chose a leafy pattern. I taped the stencil down and stippled it with a brush lightly coated with Folk Art Home Decor Chalk in Castle. I wanted the effect to be a bit rough looking so I was pleased that the slightly too fluid chalk paint had created indistinct edges.

When my chalk furniture involves a table top I always finish with varnish rather than wax to give extra durability. I will probably do this in satin.