It started as a vintage 70s oversized end table that was supposed to have a “shelf” on top (for a lamp or something), but the shelf was missing. Stained dark walnut, wood legs and laminate pressboard top. Not much, but sturdy, and I think it was five bucks at a yard sale. When we moved into 544, we had nothing in the way of furniture, so we got it. I used it as a coffee table for a while, but when we got an actual coffee table (of sorts), it ended up in the basement. After a while, it was pressed into service as a fish tank stand, which it was until we moved. I never got around to filling the holes where the shelf had attached because it didn’t matter; the tank covered them anyway.

When we were cleaning 544, we used it as a table, a stepstool, and a chair because it was virtually the only piece of furniture left over there. When we’d finished, I was going to throw it away, but changed my mind and decided we could use it for something in the gradge. When I couldn’t find a coffee table I liked for Parview, I cleaned it up, stuck wood putty in the holes and brought it inside so I’d have a place for my phone when I was napping. I liked the size, but of course, neither the plastic-y fake wood top, nor the dark walnut finish. Then I had an idea!

I finally found Rustoleum spray stone paint in the Sienna colour I wanted, and bought primer in…well, primer red, and sandable wood filler. I’d got clear coat when I bought the textured paint I ended up using on a planter for the bathroom, so last night, I brought the table out, dug the waxy wood putty out and filled the holes. I rough-sanded the top with 60 grit, then sanded the legs with 80 and then 100. The grain isn’t nice enough to bother staining, but French white paint will look nice, and after a coat of primer and two coats of stone paint, the top looks really cool–I’m impressed! I’m still deciding whether to apply one more coat, or just start clear-coating (probably need at least three), and still need to get paint for the legs, but so far, it’s looking like what I want, and I think this little table may just be around for another 13 years!

EDIT: I ended up clearcoating instead of applying another coat of stone. This is two coats of clearcoat, which stinks to high heaven of toluene, but dries fast. Not sure whether to sand with 220 grit and recoat, or just recoat and leave the texture. This is more true to actual colour than the first photo.