The first of my two DIY studio work tables is finished. Here’s how it turned out…
It’s green! I had originally wanted to paint it a light yellow, but it looked awful with the floor. So I gathered up some craft and art acrylic paints that I had in yellows and greens, and just started mixing them into the quart of yellow paint I had purchased until I ended up with a color that I liked. And I do love the bright, cheerful green against that clean white table top!
So when I left off the other day, the base of the table looked like this…
If you missed the building process, you can find the details here…
After making the table top, I thought it still needed a little something to give it a finished look. After all, this table is for my studio, which I want to look nice and pretty when it’s finished. If these were tables for my (future) workshop where I’ll be using my saws and other tools, I wouldn’t be worried about it being pretty. Of course, I also wouldn’t waste money on laminate for a workshop table top where I’d be using saws and other tools.
So to give the table a finished look, I simply added some cabinet trim along the bottom edge of the shelf…
I also wrapped the trim around the bottom of the legs…
I attached all of the trim with wood glue and 18-gauge 1.5-inch nails.
And if you’re concerned about me banging my legs into those trimmed out corners, don’t be. The table top extends so far past the base (about six inches on each side), that my feet and legs never get close enough to those corners for me to scrape a leg on the corners. 🙂
After the trim was attached, I filled all of the nail holes on the whole table with wood filler, then sanded everything smooth and followed up with a coat of primer and two coats of paint.
The table top is 60 inches (5 feet) square, and the bottom shelf is just over 4 feet square. When selecting the casters, I was stuck with the red 5-inch casters as my only choice because those were the only ones available in the quantity I needed with the style of locking mechanism that I liked. Now I’m glad those were the only ones available, because I love those red casters! 😀
As soon as I get the second table built, I’ll be adding adhesive measuring tapes to the top edges of the table tops, but I want it to be one continuous length (i.e., measuring from 0 to 120 inches over two tables) of measuring tape rather than two separate lengths (i.e., measuring from 0 to 60 inches on each table). So I’ll need the other table completed before I can add those.
But for now, I’m just thrilled to have one table finished with a large work surface for fun projects! And now I’m hoping that the second table will go much faster. It should now that I know what I’m doing and have figured out the process.
Update:
The second table is finished! If you’d like to see the two tables, and how they clamp together to form one HUGE workroom table, you find that here…
59 Comments
Cate
August 30, 2019 at 10:11 amBeautiful!!! Great work, Kristi! You are amazing!
Brenda Fuqua
August 30, 2019 at 12:01 pmLove the table Kristi. It is perfect with the wallpaper.
You never cease to amaze.
Shari
August 30, 2019 at 6:09 pmI love it! Beautiful color and the top looks great!
Teresa K
August 30, 2019 at 10:16 amLove the table!
Trish
August 30, 2019 at 10:21 amI am “green” with envy. This table is awesome. And I seriously do love that green! I’m glad you’re back into things and having fun. I’ve missed seeing you in my inbox regularly. 🙂
Peggy Clark
August 30, 2019 at 10:35 amTrish I totally agree with your entire comment
Sheila F.
August 30, 2019 at 11:07 amLove this and the pop of red is an unexpected (and pretty) surprise! How did you fill the little gap on the top. (Where you added the trim boards) Did the wood filler work?
terrillr
August 30, 2019 at 10:23 amI LOVE the green! I wish I had room for one table that size.
Sharon C
August 30, 2019 at 7:53 pmLove the table, love the green color, love the red wheels! It’s perfect for your studio.
Patti Buser
August 30, 2019 at 10:25 amThe red casters are so Louboutin!!!! 😘
Christine
August 30, 2019 at 10:26 amThat looks awesome! It should provide the perfect workspace for lots of projects!
Winnie
August 30, 2019 at 10:28 amGreat table! But I must ask…did you miss painting a bit of trim on the right window (near the sill)?
Betsy
August 30, 2019 at 10:58 amThere are still visible nail holes, so she hasn’t completed that window yet.
Jana
August 30, 2019 at 11:25 amLight and airy! Have you thought about linking the tables with, eg, a hook an’ eye? Just in case you want to move them as an unit.
Jayne Finkbohner
August 30, 2019 at 10:29 amAbsolutely a great beautiful table to do all your projects. Love your table!
Kelly
August 30, 2019 at 10:38 amLove it! Will be so awesome to have that much table space for any craft or DIY project.
Barbara H.
August 30, 2019 at 10:40 amLove the green and the red casters – great job!
Karen
August 30, 2019 at 10:41 amThe colour combo looks great with your wallpaper – as if you’ve planned this all along 🙂 I keep my fingers crossed for you to build the 2nd table asap before you start using the first one for other projects, as I can imagine that it is very tempting right now! Have a great weekend!
Marcia Greene
August 30, 2019 at 10:49 amGorgeous yummy green
Sandy Mcallister
August 30, 2019 at 10:50 amKrist Love the table I love the size, the colors, the trim and I love the wheels. Just the right touch and I too am envious of your space and happy for you.
hugs
Jane
August 30, 2019 at 10:51 amThat’s a wonderful table, Kristi! Ive been thinking of making a medium sized table to do picture framing on. How difficult would it be to add another shelf to this table? Thanks for all the inspiration!
Eileen
August 30, 2019 at 11:16 amYowzers!!! Gorgeous table color with that sexy pop of color on the wheels. I have to say that that wallpaper is close to being my favorite of anything that you have done. Just wonderful!!
Mary
August 30, 2019 at 11:18 amI love this room and happen to be a big fan of green!! I’m a new follower. I was wondering if I could get the name of the wallpaper. It is lovely!
Becky J
August 30, 2019 at 1:00 pmShe created the wallpaper! It’s a Kristie original 😍
Mary
August 30, 2019 at 1:39 pmOMG that’s amazing! I’m in awe.
Sheryl
August 31, 2019 at 9:54 amLook at her archives and from the menu under shop. I do believe you can order her paper for yourself. It is from a website that will print a design of your own!
Angie
August 30, 2019 at 11:19 amLOVE!!
Kathy Kellie
August 30, 2019 at 11:37 amLove the hint of red on the wheels. Well, the whole project actually. Something like this with a few tweaks would be good in my sewing room. Nice work.
Sandra Anderson
August 30, 2019 at 11:46 amLove it!!!!!
Andrea
August 30, 2019 at 11:46 amThe table looks AMAZING!!! I love it! I love the color! It goes beautifully with the wall paper.
Linda
August 30, 2019 at 11:54 amOh, I love the green and the red caster’s are the cat’s meow! Just hope you don’t have trouble mixing up paint (to match) for your second table 😋 Can’t wait for second table to be done.
Olivia S.
August 30, 2019 at 11:58 amI love the “green” table. I am trying to picture it as yellow (not) and agree with everyone that believes the green was perfect color to go with your wallpaper (besides green is my favorite color). I can’t wait to see the final reveal of the studio/workshop.
Then we go to your bedroom/bathroom addition.
Michele
August 30, 2019 at 12:10 pmA great table! I love the red casters too. They give a modern kind of industrial feel to the table which is a great contrast to how carefully and elegantly you have finished the rest of the table. Also, glad you extended the table top so far from the legs. Smart move. I also like the way that the green is similar to the green in your lovely wallpaper. For me, the little things count – a lot!
janice J dinse
August 30, 2019 at 12:23 pmThe green is beautiful and matches the wallpaper. Love how you finished the bottom with the molding and the top with the wood around the laminate. Great job. Are those wheels rubber? They look like it and they will be quiet and smooth if they are.
Christine Czarnecki
August 30, 2019 at 12:26 pmyWhen I look at this deceptively simple work table, I think about what a right decision you have made in deciding to allow your contractor to do the demo and construction for stage one of your master bedroom/bathroom remodel.
You are an artist. You do a remarkable job of designing and bringing into reality extraordinary pieces of furniture, cabinetry and art work. Your time and talents would not be put to best use to do rough carpentry and demolition.
As I am sure you know, there is a hierarchy of skills in the carpentry trades. Lowest rung is rough carpentry, followed by finish carpentry, cabinet making, and stair carpentry. At least that’s the order my stairing contractor told me when we built our second house! I imagine that the cabinet makers would suggest a different order.
You are in that highest category of carpentry skill. These sorts of skills are the very most expensive, because they require years of practice plus artistic talent, not brute strength
It is true joy to see you use your astonishing talent and skills for this finest type of work.
Pam
August 31, 2019 at 2:14 pmI have to agree. To pay for someone to do this quality of work would be prohibitive. THIS is the FUN stuff!!
Charlotte
August 30, 2019 at 12:37 pmI love the table. Great job!!
Maryann Prendergast
August 30, 2019 at 12:51 pmYou are fabulous-your house must be smiling!
Carol Willis-Holden
August 30, 2019 at 12:54 pmTotally and utterly fabulous!!! You always continue to amaze me!
Teckla
August 30, 2019 at 1:03 pmOh, man! I need a bath towel to wipe off the drool!!! I’ve dreamed about a sewing/crafting studio all my life, I think! Very unlikely that will ever happen–I’m 72 and a widow–in the renting stage as home maintenance is now beyond me. But you do give me hope and inspiration that I can maybe make some dedicated space in my little duplex for that purpose! Those tables are to die for! I love my rickety cutting table and leave it up all the time because it’s the right height to do all sorts of projects on. And the green is perfect! Goes with the wall paper so well! Yea, Kristi; can’t wait to see what you do next!
Michelle
August 30, 2019 at 1:05 pmI have a question! You often do these custom mixed paint colors: how do you ensure you’ll have enough to finish a project? Are you just very good at estimating? I’d be stuck worrying that I hadn’t mixed enough and would run out halfway through and my second mixed batch wouldn’t quite match…
Val from UK
August 30, 2019 at 2:36 pmYour question brought memories back 🙂 The first time I mixed paints was during my daughter’s bedroom renovation. I wanted to paint the back of a recess with open shelves the same colour as the drapes. Mixed together 8 samples and would never be able to repeat the process. Yes, I was worried too, paint the recess by brush, as a roller would use more paint, and at the end carefully packed the little remaining paint for touching, if necessary later on. Nowadays I would just go to a diy store, where they mix paints. I am in the UK but we have Valspar paint mixing – an American brand, which we used recently, and they are brilliant. They perfectly matched the paint (another brand) we started with but the store didn’t have enough of it and we didn’t have time to wait for delivery. They can use anything as a sample – painted piece of cardboard, fabric, some other object.
Cathy in WV
August 30, 2019 at 1:06 pmMy dining table has a locking mechanism on the two main panels so, when I take out the leaves, I can lock the table together. Will you be using something like that to keep your table together when you’re using them as one unit? It looks beautiful!! I know you’re going to enjoy many happy hours with your tables.
MissElaineous
August 30, 2019 at 2:24 pmSWOOOON!
Judy
August 30, 2019 at 2:49 pmOh my! Love this! This room would just make me grin from ear to ear every day if it was in my home. Great work, Kristi!
Sharon W
August 30, 2019 at 2:54 pmThese are the best projects. Don’t waste your time or energy doing demo. 😍
Marianne in Mo.
August 30, 2019 at 4:26 pmSo exciting! Love that you are motivated again, I can “hear” it in your posts. The table is stupendous, and my favorite color to boot! I love that you thought to dress it up with trim, although I don’t think it was needed; the table is just as nice without. I would consider latches to lock the tables together. My dining table has some that are just like a window sash latch, if you need an idea. They are strong and lock the table in place so the gap is tight. I bet the shelf underneath will be a favorite spot for your kitty to lounge! Curious to know, how is the desk working for you? Are you happy with it? Anything you would do differently on it?
Mary Ellen
August 30, 2019 at 5:09 pmLove your work table and the colors, wow!
jan
August 30, 2019 at 5:32 pmwow! love the green! and I like the trim you added. Wish you lived near me.
Sewducky
August 30, 2019 at 5:46 pmTo my untrained eye it seems that the green might be close to “Celery Stalk” by Behr….was playing with colors for a potential project and thought you picked that color vs your own mix at first.
Sherry
August 31, 2019 at 4:43 amHave you thought about what your first project will be using those awesome tables?
You could put the zero to 60 tape in the existing table and 61-120 on the next one. The main idea of having 2 smaller rather than one huge table was the flexibility of being able to use them separately so having a continuous measuring tape would rather defeat the purpose.
Margie
August 31, 2019 at 8:12 amAs usual, great job! I’m looking for something to recover my sewing table and I think white laminate will work for me either that or one of the counter paint kits. I love your white with the green and those wild wheels!!
Deb
August 31, 2019 at 5:32 pmAbsolutely love this! I could see you making covered stowaway pads for when you sew draperies and the like.
Jason
September 2, 2019 at 1:36 amSo I was thinking to myself where in the room will the work tables go,looked back for plans. 1st off Wow remember back when this was your garage! I’ve just seen your ig stories and seen you’ve installed your black lights and it made me remember something you said about your hallway “That it made you smile when you came into the room”well you must be absolutely giddy about this room and it’s not even finished yet! Well done Xx
cyd
September 2, 2019 at 10:18 amPerfection!
designdreamer
September 2, 2019 at 11:58 amLooks great!
YOU look great in your new picture! Going to check Addicted2Keto for updates.
Katie
September 2, 2019 at 9:02 pmIs there a lip on the top of your table from the decorative trim? From previous pictures, the edges looked raised.
Kristi
September 2, 2019 at 10:59 pmThere’s no lip, but the trim around the edges is a slightly different color, so that may make it look like there’s a lip.
Kelli
September 9, 2019 at 10:17 amThat looks fabulous, Kristi!! You really are the paint queen. I was always worried to paint furniture because of the stickiness that is so easily achieved. Thank you for giving me the confidence to give it a go!
I have a question. I know you use latex paint a lot because of the availability and color options. Do you ever use wax on the furniture? I have a piece that I wish was just a tad bit darker and I’ve debated on using a dark wax to help with that, but I’m worried. If I do a light sand, it’ll lighten the color even more, but will it then “take” the wax? I worked hard on this piece and just don’t want to mess it up. Your help would be SO appreciated! Keep up the fantastic work!