Reclaimed Wood Tabletop {Plus Porch Makeover!}

I'm so excited to share with you my reclaimed wood tabletop AND porch makeover! Round 2 of American Crafter (Kid-themed projects) was really tough. My goodness, people did some cute, creative and complicated things! I was lucky to land among the top 6 contestants, but it was a close one!

I found out on Monday and I was pretty stumped as to what my Spring-themed project should be for Round 3. My hubby worked from home that day, so I was able to sneak away to my favorite thrift shops and retail stores for inspiration, but I returned home no closer to an idea. And, then, as I was driving down my street, I saw our neighbors had discarded two large (6-foot by 4-foot) sections of fencing. I hurried home and demanded asked kindly that my hubs go snag them for me.

And, because he's such a nice guy, he obliged.

(But, because he's not one to be ordered around, he waited 30 full minutes to do it! Oh, the anxiety!)

Lucky for us, he was successful! And, that abandoned fencing was the root of this porch makeover. 

Our porch has always been the neglected space in our home. As newlyweds (and living in a rental), we purchased an inexpensive metal and frosted glass outdoor table from Home Depot. It made the trip to this current home and was placed on our porch. We haven't visited with it much, since. The big problem is it always looks dirty, even after I give it a good wipedown (which, let's face it, isn't that often). The frosted glass is just icky. Yes, I said icky. 

For my AC challenge, I decided to make a new top for my icky table using the found (and, therefore reclaimed by me) wood planks. My inspiration was this reclaimed wood table from Restoration Hardware. I love the mix of worn and imperfect wood and sleek metal.

Of course, I couldn't JUST make a new tabletop, no, I had to give my drab and neglected back porch a fresh, new look to go with the new table. Spring has official sprung on that little 16x12 foot section of concrete. 

Mason Jar/Recycled Glass Vase Tutorial HERE
Happy, Yellow Art Tutorial HERE

TODAY I'll show you how I took an icky, frosted glass-topped table and turned it into a not-at-all-icky wood-topped table.

And, you'll try not to judge me for the ickiness of my "before" photo. Right??

(okay, you can judge me a little.)

Here's how I got'er done (oh geez, who invited the Texan?):

Got it?

Oh, you want details? Okay.

I started with my fence pieces. On Tuesday, while the hubs was at the office, I spent my little one's entire nap hammering out rusty nails and taking apart the fence.

I got half way done.

Then the hubs got home and finished the task for me.

It took him 9.3 minutes. To finish the entire second half.

Proving that I could have, instead, spent my daughter's nap watching Khloe and Lamar doing...whatever it is Khloe and Lamar do, and, I would have only been 9.3 minutes behind schedule.

Lesson learned.

After the planks were nail free, I aligned them just so and my hubby chopped off 12 inches from their length with his circular saw. My 40-inch, square table is now a 60x42-inch, rectangular table. In case those sorts of details excite you.

We then removed the frosted glass insert and replaced it with three wood planks, that we bolted to the inner lip of the table. To those support pieces, we were able to nail in our planks (from underneath, to hide the nail heads).

I then gave it a very good sanding, stained it with Dark Walnut and coated it with two layers of glossy, outdoor-approved polyurethane.

Not only does our new table look great, we can seat two extra people!

So, who wants to come over for a patio-warming party?? ;-)

Update: Yay, I won Season 4 of American Crafter! Such an honor!

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