How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table

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How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

I’ve been working on my workshop (craft-slash-office space) for some time. I knew that I wanted to paint the main work table, but I could NOT decide what color or style. Stained top? Painted legs? Plain white? Something fun? It’s been a major stumbling block for moving forward on this room. That and the jigsaw puzzle of figuring out that plus everything else — walls, other furniture, slipcovers…

Well, as you know, I finally decided (thanks to the inspiration from Pinterest and this book), to keep the walls white. Then I decided to refinish the wood buffet (still in progress). Which meant, yay, I could paint the table. I knew I wanted the top to be white to aid in photography for the blog, but I also wanted something fun since the rest of the decisions so far have been pretty staid. But what?

Kathy of Petticoat Junktion to the rescue!!

I was reading her amazing blog, and saw this adorable grain-sack inspired table:

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

Isn’t that swwony? I mean, who could resist with the cute turquoise paint and the vintage quilts and chenille. I emailed Karen immediately and asked her if I could copy her for my table, and she graciously said yes (and also said I could share a picture or two of hers here so you could see — thank you, Kathy!!).

This is how I did it. First I had to pick a color. True to form, this was agonizing and took a long time. Here’s just a few of the samples I tried (some new, some from my stash)

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

I’m glad I held out until I found the exact vintage-y blue-y green-y color I was looking for. The legs are Aloe (SW 6464) and the top is Steamed Milk (SW 7554).

I drug the table outside, sanded the top some and stained it dark walnut to give it some age before I painted. The top got a coat of primer and two coats of white, and the legs just got two coats of green since they had been primed and painted white by the previous owner.

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

Once the paint was dry I distressed it, then brought it inside to do the stripe. I used the same basic technique that Kathy did, shown here:

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

I used plain masking tape to tape off the center stripe, because that’s what I had on hand, so I cut in against the tape when I painted my center stripe. Then, like Kathy, I hand-painted the thin stripes with a tiny little brush. I used the tape as a guide to keep them straight. They’re definitely hand painted (read, wobbly) and I love them.

I distressed the stripe, too, just a bit, then polyed the whole thing. Three coats, and I buffed in between. I don’t usually bother with multiple coats or buffing, but with a table that will get hard use I thought it would be worth it.

My work table is a repurposed kitchen table that I got for $40 at a garage sale. It’s a standard 3′ x 5′ table, and I thought a 3″ stripe seemed about right. The skinny stripes are small, maybe 1/4″ wide? And the width of the tape apart from the main stripe. You’ll notice Kathy did two skinny stripes on her table, and it looks great. I did mine from memory and only put one. I actually like Kathy’s version better, but it’s already polyed so I’m going to call it good and be happy!

Hereโ€™s a side-by-side of the before and after:

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

Whew! Now on to the next project.

Iโ€™m completely in love with the whole thing. Too bad itโ€™s usually covered with works in progress!

Hereโ€™s a few more pictures:

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table via www.simplecreativehome.com

Do you all struggle as much as I do with making decisions? It seems so effortless for most people!

Thank you again, Kathy, for letting me share your great work and copy your idea!




Comments

29 responses to “How to Make a Grain Sack Striped Workshop Table”

  1. Angela, Your table is awesome! Thanks for the shout out to me ๐Ÿ™‚ It is really hard sometimes to get the right shade of paint isn’t it!. I think you made a good choice. Have a great week.

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you, Kathy!! I’m so glad to have found you so I can be inspired by your genius! ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Angela~

  2. Oh my gosh…I love that color and it is very hard to get that color exact. I have an octagon wood side table that was my great grand mother’s. I envisioned it painted like your table…but could not get the color right. It was either too blue or too green…I am going to try it this summer. I will post and show you….so excited! Thanks for having such a comfy little blog….I love it and have added it to my listings. BlogLovin is one of them…. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Oh, thanks, Susie!! That’s so sweet. I did kind of agonize over the color, and I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have an awful lot of sample paints that are all almost about the same color. So I’m really really not very good at picking! But I do love this Aloe color. If you try it, let me know! Of course it will look totally different for you in your house, but it’s a good starting place anyway! Thanks for visiting! ~Angela~

  3. This is so cute! I think I may want to do this on my dining room table top but I’m not sure if it would look good. I sure wish you lived close enough to come give me some advice! Thank you so much for sharing and blessings to you, Patti@OldThingsNew

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Haha! I would love to come over and give advice, Patricia! I wish I lived closer, too. But you have such pretty things on your blog, I can’t believe you’d need anyone’s advice! I’m so glad you stopped by. ~Angela~

  4. Such a pretty, pretty table! You did a lovely job transforming it!

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you so much, Lisa! ~Angela~

  5. So pretty!

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thanks, SJ! ๐Ÿ™‚ That means a lot coming from you. ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Angela~

  6. So pretty- I love the color and the grainsack stripe is such a cute touch!

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you, Hayley! I almost didn’t add the stripe but it just seemed to need it at the end. Thanks for visiting! ~Angela~

  7. I love the grain sack look and you’ve done such a lovely job with it on this sweet little table. thanks for sharing.Fiona

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you, Fiona! And thanks for stopping by, too! ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Angela~

  8. Love this! I love the color you chose too! I am sharing! xoxo

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you so much, Cheryl!! ~Angela~

  9. This table is so lovely! Lovely color and the grainsack design is perferctly adorable. ๐Ÿ™‚ I want to do this to my drop leaf table now!

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Gosh, Sherry, thank you!! I bet a drop-leaf table would look great with a grainsack stripe! ~Angela~

  10. Casey Tepichin Avatar
    Casey Tepichin

    What kind of poly did you use? Thanks in advance:)

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Casey, I always use the water-based Polycrylic from Minwax in clear gloss. It’s in the blue/green can. Hope that helps! ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Angela~

  11. It is FABULOUS. I love the color that you choose. Your table turned out great and you should really be proud of the result. Great match of painting job and table style!

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Thank you so much, Rose!!! I’m touched! I went through soooo many colors to find this one, I’m glad I found the one I did. Thanks for visting! ~Angela~

  12. World’s cutest table award goes to this beauty! Sharing on my FB page today and of course had to pin!Have a festive 4th!Kelly

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Awwww, Kelly, that’s the sweetest thing ever! You made my day! Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Angela~

  13. I keep on coming back to this table. I so love this look! And the color also. I think I am going to feature you this week. It’s just a perfectly summer table.

    1. Angela Avatar
      Angela

      Awww, Rose, you’re too nice to me! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. ~Angela~

  14. I just found your blog and it is sure beautiful. I Googled Kwanzan Cherry Tree and your lovely photos of this tree initially drew me in.This table is so pretty! I love it. And oh yes, I can take too much time making decisions often. Then other times I can be very spontaneous (usually when fun is part of the equation that I have to make the decision about) I’ve always had to tame that perfectionistic (afraid to make a boo boo) side of myself which I think also keeps me from making decions in a quicker manner sometimes.It’s nice to meet you Angela!Lee Ann

    1. Hi Lee Ann! It’s nice to meet you, too! I’m glad you stopped by! ~Angela~

  15. […] Wouldn’t ย you love to finish up your work and clear off your desk for the weekend to see this? Gorgeous grainsack desk by The Cottage Magpie. […]

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