Front Hall Table Reveal

If you like to decorate your home you probably understand when I say that the word 'done' just never applies.  During this past year as I redid our entire main floor, my husband would occasionally ask, "So, are you done in here?"  Which honestly is really surprising since he's been living with me for the last few decades.

So you'll understand when I say that I'm showing you my front hall table but what's on it will probably change several times in the next few weeks!  I never feel like I'm very good at creating table vignettes.  When I look at pictures that I like, I love a lot of 'stuff' on a table, but when I do it, it just looks cluttered to me.

I didn't want the traditional arrangement of a mirror, two lamps and a flower arrangement but I'm not really sure what I want.

Here's the table finished but not stained yet.  If you'd like to see how we built  it click here.

 After Mark had 'finished' the table he told me he had two boards left over.  I reminded him he hadn't added the 'x's' and he laughed and said, "That's what those two boards are for!"   We're a team!  :)

Mark and I put plastic sheeting under the table and also raised it up on blocks of wood so that I could get to the very bottoms of the legs.

I used a sander to sand the table well, rounding off all the corners to make it appear older.  (That weird little green thing in this picture is the hull from some paper whites I had sitting on here - not a bug.)

I first followed the instructions on the Minwax Pre-stain applying a coat all over and waiting 15 minutes before applying my stain.  I used Minwax Gel Stain in Aged Oak.  I applied it with a brush rubbing it in well and following the grain of the wood.  I wore plastic gloves. It took me a good hour to apply all the stain.

You should do this in a well ventilated area as the stain really stinks and will give you a headache if left to accumulate in your house.

I finished it about 3:30pm and let it dry about 24 hrs.  I then lightly sanded the top again with an extra fine grade sand paper.  And it was finished.  The Minwax is a stain and sealer so it's really all you need.

I laughed when I looked at these pictures because if you look closely you'll see accessories change from picture to picture.

It'll probably be different tomorrow.

I got this great mirror at Joss and Main.  I love their website and have ordered several things from them.

The table looks a little small to me after having the bench here for so many years.  But it's really not.  The fun thing about making furniture is you can custom it to fit your space.  The table is 36" high and over 5 ft long.  It's just a big wall.  

I may experiment tomorrow and decorate it more for Christmas.  I just wanted to try things that I already had on it to figure out what I like. 

Also, see the updated version here.

Have a great rest of the week!

Love and blessings!

"Teach me to do Your will for You are My God.  Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of the uprightness."  Psalm 143:10 

I'm linking up with these parties:

Miss Mustard Seed