I bought these matching Queen Anne style end tables at a vintage resale store several years ago for $15 each.  They were unfinished at the time so all I had to do was paint them.  At the time, I painted them white but now that I have changed up my decor I decided to repaint and sell the tables.  They are still in great condition.

The tops of the tables are made of fiberboard which doesn’t make for a very pretty tabletop!  I saw a video online of a technique I wanted to try.  I would love to provide the link for you but try as I might, I can’t find the video again.  It showed you how to create a faux stained wood look using paint and waterbased stain.

First, I applied a basecoat of latex paint in the color of raw wood.  After that dried, I used a water-based stain by Dixie Belle called Voodoo Gel stain in Tobacco Road, brushed on, and then wiped back leaving as much stain as desired. I allowed that to dry for 24 hours.  Then, I used a chip brush and black chalk paint to drybrush the black streaks, twisting and/or spinning my chip brush occasionally to create the appearance of natural woodgrain and knotholes.  I immediately followed that same streak with a clean, dry brush to soften the lines.  You wouldn’t have to use black paint though, you could use any color of brown and probably even more of the same stain color, whatever your preference is.

The edges of the table were trickier to keep the faux woodgrain lines flowing but I think it turned out pretty good for a first attempt at a new technique!

I painted the rest of the table with latex paint in a Sherwin Williams color called Tricorn Black in an eggshell finish.  The hardware was painted with Rustoleum Metallic Soft Gold and dry brushed with black.  I sealed the tables with two coats of polycrylic.

I named these tables after my favorite twins, my dad, and his sister!  Let me know what you think 😊