One day I was driving down my ally and I noticed a pile of old wood. The woodpile was actually part of a once old beautiful antique walnut dining table possibly from early 1900. The table was in sad shape because it was broken and left in the elements.

Above is how this thing looked when I bought it home. The top part of the table and one side of the turned legs had split into two pieces so if this project was a failure I didn’t lose too much since it was in such bad shape.

I Turned a Broken Dining Table into Coffee Table

The table being doweled and clamped together.

So, I went on to repair and repurpose this piece even though I was a beginner. I had done some minor restoration before, but this required I re-cut the pieces down and reattach the apron using dowels and original screws to attach the top. I had to thoroughly sand off the tacky dark walnut finish that hid the beautiful grain and was so excited to re-stain in special walnut and new poly that brought out the beautiful grain patterns.

My table is definitely not perfect, and I learned what not to do next time. For one don’t assume everything is plumb on an old piece. Had I paid more attention to details, I would have been more accurate.

Saving a Vintage Piece is so Sustainable

Our world needs to be sustainable so I’m a big fan of shopping craigslist or arc thrift stores. You can find the most unique, charming, and well-made pieces compared to cheap pressboard and put-together furniture. My home is 90% vintage, and I love it.

Now that the table is complete, I will be looking for my next vintage piece that needs a new home. And if I do another re-purpose, I will be sure to measure beforehand and buy the correct tools needed.

So off I go looking for my next project. Thank you for visiting.