A few months back, my friend Sara posted this picture on social media, asking if anyone would like to refinish this table for her, and make it look like the bottom photo.

I responded to her immediately.  In my opinion, she wanted the best of both worlds for this table.  She wanted the top of the table refinished and stained, and she wanted the bottom to be painted.  My favorite kind of project.

What seemed like only minutes after my response that I heard her speeding car and squealing tires pulling into our driveway with her table in tow.  We unloaded the table, carried it to the back porch, and then I saw the real challenge.  Her cute little puppy had done some serious snacking on this old and really great table.

I had my game face on, but my thoughts were on the contrary.  How was I going to fix all this damage?  How could I possible refinish this table to Sara’s dream, her vision?

So the project of Sara’s table, got tabled.

I would visit the table from time to time, looking at it; checking out the chew.  Then I’d walk away.  We did bring it inside after Christmas to keep it protected.  But still, no dice.

Then one day, I was like “enough already.”   So I texted Sara and told her I was starting to work on her table — there was no way of backing out now.

I turned to a new container of wood filler, and got to work.  I spread that filler on so thick to cover up all those chew marks that her puppy snacked on.  And I filled.  And I filled.  And I filled.

I let the wood fill dry.  Then it was time to strip the top of the table down to bare wood.  I used the kind of wood stripper that was safe to use indoors and it worked like a charm.  Love this stuff.

Back out to the porch with the table, and I sanded like there was no tomorrow.  I sanded all that wood fill until the surface was smooth.

I cleaned the entire table well with alcohol, then brought it back inside because it’s still freezing in the northeast.

I stained the top, and already with one coat of stain, the top of the table was looking good.  It took 6 coats of walnut colored stain to get to the shade I thought was best.

I painted a coat of primer on the bottom, then 3 coats of semi-gloss paint.

Finally, I applied 3 coats of a satin finish polyurethane to the top and the table was refinished.

This is my favorite kind of project to work on.  They just don’t make furniture like they used to, and bringing an old piece back to life is so rewarding.

Best part is, Sara is really happy and the table now has the coveted spot in her living room.