Are you a thrifter? Grab my free tips! Click Here!

My Little Red Table

September 03, 2013

This post may contain affiliate links.
I painted a curbside find and added a little bit of fabric to make it really stand out.

Check out my results!

A little red table with fabric under glass and a rooster lamp in the kitchen

When it comes to the home décor game, I would classify myself as more of a decorator, than a DIYer. 

Yes, I absolutely do things myself.

I've written about many of my projects on the blog as a matter of fact, and honestly, there is not one room in my house that has been spared of my efforts.

When I can't find what I want in the store, I often make it.

I am not, however, an expert in anything. 

I'm an amateur seamstress, an unskilled furniture painter, a do it my way gardener and an I don't have time for directions crafter.

I don't really care about the process, I just want the room decorated in a certain manner and I do whatever is required to get it there. 

I do things in a way that makes sense to me and gets the job done fast.

Of course, for the many years I was feathering my nest in this way, it was fine. 

I had no one to answer to and when friends toured my home, no one ever asked me, "but how exactly did you do it?"

Blogging has changed all of that. 

I still don't really care how I get a job done, but now I have to explain it, photograph it and back it up sometimes with the why.

Since I am not an expert, and frankly I don't care to be, this isn't always easy. 

For example, I pulled this lovely little table out of the trash and painted it red and plopped it in my kitchen.

I did it a few years ago, long before blogging, so I do not have a before picture.

It was just an ugly, white table at the curb.

The top was actually laying on the ground next to it. 

Garbage.

Why would I want a picture of garbage?

It had great bones, so I screwed the top back on (or hubby did~ outsource when you can, I say!) and painted it red.

It is tucked against a wall in a hallway of my kitchen so its demure size was perfect, but I didn't want it to take up anymore visual space than necessary, so I matched the wall.

It almost fades away and that's the point.

Red table with red and green fabric under glass and lemons on top

I had some pretty fabric left from a reupholstering job in my living room (also outsourced) so I cut it to fit the table top, had a piece of glass cut to protect it.

Fabric can transform in the most magical ways. I use it a lot.


10 Easy Ways To Decorate Your Home With Fabric


But the easiest way was definitely on this little guy.

I just measured, cut and placed it under the glass...and I can swap it out with my mood!
A red painted table with rooster lamp, lemons in a bowl and small red ceramic chicken on bottom shelf

The table legs and top molding detail were so sweet and popped with the color. 

It definitely had some life left in it.

I did not sand the table, I did not seal the table.

I'm not sure if I should have, but it seems to be holding up just fine.

The corner of a red painted table with glass top

I picked up the rooster lamp at a garage sale for five bucks, sprayed it bronze and added a lampshade. 

The bowl of fruit and the hen are on the table now, but those accessories get swapped out with my mood and the season.

The lemons are my feeble attempt to hold on to summer for just a little longer!

Also, you can't kill a lemon.

A little red table with fabric under glass and a rooster lamp in the kitchen

Did I refinish the table, repaint the table or refurbish the table?

I actually have no idea, since I am not that familiar with the DIY lingo. You can see my dilemma here. All I know is that I certainly transformed the table.

Is it better than when I picked it up?

Yes, for me it is and I guess in the end, no matter what I technically did to it, that's all that really matters!

Do you DIY?

DIY Skirted Upholstered Chair in the kitchen


White kitchen hood with Love banner and red wreath on it
Kim Signature


Post a Comment | 28 Comments

Hey~ before you go, let me know what you think!

I love comments and respond to them all.

*Please refer to our privacy policy if you have questions regarding your profile and note that comments with links will not be published.



  1. I love it! The red is really pretty, it definitely adds a pop of color! I'm not the best with DIY's around the house. I think I'm better at craft/paper type DIY's!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen! I do like my red! I like paper crafts, too. I wish I were better at scrapbooking though!

      Delete
  2. I love the red, and you don't need to attach a name to what you did. It looks lovely. The roaster lamp fits on it perfectly.
    Thanks Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patty. Someone on Facebook commented today that the how-to isn't always important. Sometimes, the inspiration is enough! Sounds like you agree! Thanks for popping by!

      Delete
  3. The table and lamp are both great! I would classify myself as a decorator too. I'd like to DIY more often but the fear of doing something that looks terrible always slows me down. Your table is perfect. The method you used is perfect. These days I think we've all seen chalk paint so much that it feels like that's the only way. I've had really good luck with spray paint...even this summer. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stacey...and yes, the chalk paint is all I ever see. I just open whatever can I have handy and slap it on! It's not always vogue, but it is effective. I also love spray paint, super quick and easy transformation, gotta love it! :)

      Delete
  4. Beautiful little red table, wonderful job! Looks great with the decor too! Stopping by from Brooke's Paint Party to say hello, you have an admirer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for popping by, Brenda! I do really like that little redo! :)

      Delete
  5. Hi Kim! Coming over from the Google Circles Hop at The NY Melrose Family. Love what you did with the table! I have three painting projects lined up... just have to find the time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Barb! I can't wait to see what you paint! Time seems to be the main stumbling block for me, too...so many great ideas!

      Delete
  6. Kim - I thought I commented on your table before! I guess I'm losing it.. anyway - it's adorable and I love the rooster lamp! You did a great job, no matter how fast! If it doesn't hold up, it was free... I love it! Julia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha Julia~ I do the exact same thing! I read a post and think how great it is and I'm sure I commented...or did I? Too many blogs and too many great posts I guess! Thanks for coming back, that was sweet! :)

      Delete
  7. What a beautiful table! I'd love for you to link up to The DIY'ers! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-diyers-28.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this I am featuring you tonight at my furniture and paint party!!

    Thank you for linking up
    Brooke
    startathome.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Brooke! I guess "winging it" is okay after all! :) You just made my day!

      Delete
  9. Love your little red table! Red is my favorite color and I use a lot of it in my home. Cute lamp too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manuela, I am a red junkie when it comes to home décor! I think that I may have a problem! Thankfully, I have a very indifferent husband! ;)

      Delete
  10. I love your little red table! Thanks so much for sharing it at the DIY Sunday Showcase this week.
    Cheers to you and yours,
    Therese @ Fresh Idea Studio

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Therese, I really do like it, too! Thanks for the opportunity to show it off! :)

      Delete
  11. Your little red table is so sweet! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by to check it out, Danielle! :)

      Delete
  12. Your table is so pretty ... I love the top of it. I featured it at the Project Inspire{d} link party!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Randi! I am so very flattered! :)

      Delete
  13. What a gorgeous little table! Love the pattern:) Thank you so much for linking this up at the Get Your DIY On Fall Challenge: Spray Paint! We hope to see you come on back over this evening (7pm EST) and bring along a chalkboard project!!
    ~Krista from the happy housie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that fabric, too, Krista! I have it peppered around my house! :)

      Delete
  14. I just found your blog! LOVE YOUR STYLE!!! You are expert!---at making everything look Absolutely Beautimous!!! Cracked me up cause that is the way I decorate too--just do it, get it done, make it look fab! I'm not really Anonymous--just don't have a blog (then I'd be in the same dilemma as you-trying to explain what, why how I did what I did--and I can't take a picture to save my soul!!) Love the way you write-you certainly know how to turn a phrase, make a point and decorate beautifully while making me smile and laugh. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow!! That was some comment~ you just TOTALLY made my day! :) I seriously may have to print this out and put it up on the refrigerator next to the kids' report cards! I am beyond flattered by your words. I wish that you did have a blog so I could really thank you by name...and so I could check out your decorating, as well!! You are right though, the photographing and documenting and how-toing definitely add a whole other dimension to decorating and DIY that I was never used to! At least it makes it interesting~ and I am glad that you are smiling and laughing through the posts. That was really the point all along! So glad you commented and I hope you have a fabulous day! :)

      Delete