My Chevron Table Is Getting A Makeover

Remember the chevron table that I made a back in August?

chevron wood table with painted and distressed finish

I liked the table, but I decided that it just wasn’t right for my little condo. It just looked too busy.

I took the picture below for my own use. I never intended to put it on my blog (obviously, since I didn’t take any time at all to clean up my mess). But I decided to show you anyway just so you can see what I’m talking about. I’m just keeping it real here. And I’d love to try to convince you that I’m usually not this messy, but that would be a lie. 🙂

But you see what I mean, right? It just looks…off. Dirty. Dingy. I’m not sure, really. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

So last night, I dragged the table outside, sanded the whole thing down, and stained it.

I still hated it.

I made the table out of cheap pine, and I really hate the way that pine looks when it’s stained. So after sharing my frustration with Matt, and talking about some different options, he decided for me that the table needed to be yellow. I didn’t want to cover the grain of the wood completely since that’s what creates the chevron pattern, so I decided to do a color wash using yellow paint. And the only yellow paint I could find was craft paint. 🙂

I was working outside in the dark by the light of two bulbs, and after I finished painting the wood, I really liked the effect.

But things tend to look quite a bit different in the light of two bulbs at 11:00pm than they do in the early morning light of the day. I woke up this morning, excited to go out and see my table, and…well…I wasn’t so thrilled. The yellow that looked soft and pretty at night now looked harsh and orangish in the light of day.

Of course, early morning light distorts colors just like the light of two bulbs at 11:00pm does. So I really won’t know how it really looks until I get it inside. But what I did know is that I wanted more wood grain to show, so I grabbed some sandpaper to remove some of the paint and let more of the wood grain show through. You can see in the pictures below that the first two full columns on the left have been sanded.

I really do like the effect, but I’m still not sold on the color. I was hoping for something a bit softer, and a truer yellow. But again, it could just be the early morning light.

And I’m also not sure if I want to paint the strips of wood around the edge of the table, or leave them stained.

Or heck…it’s very possible that by tomorrow, I will have changed my mind again and have a completely different look for this table.

Do you have any suggestions? How would you paint the table?

 

 

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8 Comments

  1. I wouldn’t paint the table at all. I’d stain it. Let the herringbone grain show without putting a color on it. It would be much more versatile that way. I think with the pattern in the grain and a color, there is just too much going on.

  2. It’s really hard to judge the color on the computer…it’s looking flourescent on mine! I love the herringbone pattern and how it looks 3D on the computer. If the current yellow does not work, maybe one of the new colored stains?

  3. I feel your pain! Lol. It’s a beautiful table. Not sure what happened with the yellow but in the pictures it’s definitely needing some tweaks! I have an end table I painted a true blue color and although I love the table, it just doesn’t “go” like I hoped. I’m going to have to rethink it or donate it…it drives me nuts! I hope you find the perfect color or finish. I like the idea of two toned stains..maybe a chocolate and a caramel type color alternated? Have fun with it, whatever you decide! Looking forward to seeing what you do 🙂

  4. I’m pretty sure that if it were me choosing I’d go with a white…maybe more of a pickled look, but no more colors. I think that would be less busy in your room and though maybe a bit matchy….it certainly would create some visual flow.
    I’ll be watching to see what you do tomorrow! 😀

  5. How about painting the chevron portion the same color as your cabinets? Then you could paint the frame of the tabletop the cream color in your bench. I think you’d still be able to see the chevron pattern and it might be a bit less obtrusive. Just a thought…

  6. I like the idea of matching the cabinets or a white, but keeping the wood grain/pattern visible. You can bring in the other colors (from your pillows) with accessories on the table… Love all that wood grain. Good luck.

  7. I would either sell the table and start fresh. Or I would sand it way down to raw wood, use a wood conditioner that will even up the stain when you apply it (great for making soft woods like pine look more like hardwood), then clear coat it. A dark stain might also help minimize the splotchiness that was bothering you. Or, paint it a color you adore, and let the texture of the wood be a subtle chevron pattern in the background.

    And we do expect a followup, Kristi. Since you’re keeping it real and all! Good luck! We know you’ll have success — one way or another!