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Table Staining Preview Teaser

I've been so busy working on my dining room. I feel like I have done so much work on it, and it's finally coming together! I am so excited. I have redone my entire dining room for less than $100, which makes me feel so proud! I've also redone my stepsons room for less than $30, we got my stepdaughter a new to us bed for less than $20, all thanks to Craigslist and garage sales (and a little elbow grease). I am actually becoming quite obsessed with it.

So, I used a product to stain the top of the dining table called General Finishes Gel Stain.

General Finishes Gel Stains

I chose gel stain mainly because I read reviews that it was super easy to use and it didn't smell the place up. I can safely say these reviews were spot on!

The stain was the consistancy of chocolate pudding (and even looked like it!) so it didn't splatter. It also didn't require a brush and perfect application. I read some instructions from bloggers who instructed us to use a men's athletic sock to apply. We tried that and I didn't like it, so I finished it using a sponge brush, which worked like a charm. I got a small container that cost less than $10, as well as the top coat, which was also less than $10. Both went on with a sponge brush. I started last Monday night, and applied one coat per night. I applied three coats, then let the table dry for 4 days. I applied two top coats, one per night, and allowed those both to dry 24 hours.

This table still has one more round of painting and a round of glazing to go, but here is the top before...


And here is the small preview of the after...


Oh. My. Gaw. I have been staring at it all week. I bought these cheap dollar store placemats that are gold (never thought I would like GOLD!) but it looks amazing on the dark wood and with the rest of the room. I can tell you RIGHT now, you will not come to my house and put a wet drink or hot plate on my table ever again without a coaster or placemat. Consider yourself "Monica Gellared."

I feel like I am also using decorating as an excuse NOT to work out. Like, if I am working on something, I don't have to work out. It's wrong, I know. But what I've realized is that I have made a gazillion (and one) excuses for not having time to work out, yet somehow I've redone several pieces of furniture and make curtains, so, I'm thinking the excuses are a bit ridic.

This house is a rental, so there are some things about it that are not of our choosing. For example, none of the rooms have ceiling fans. Yet, for some reason, the dining room had one. I knew that was not the place a ceiling fan was needed, so I was looking for a light fixture I could put there instead, so I could move the fan to our room. My mother in law gave me this light fixture on our trip to Roswell. It's a nice piece, just not the style I wanted. So, here is another before and after you might like...

Before, with brass and light wood...



And after, with an ivory and oil rubbed bronze finish...


Ah. Better. Have a good night!

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