Today’s Pinterest challenge makes us stop pinning and start doing! After pinning lots of pretty mint tables and home decor, it was time to tackle a minty table makeover of my own!
I capitalized on a few warm spring days and painted my grandmother’s table mint, as planned! She received this table as a wedding gift in the 1950s but gave it to me years and years ago when I was on the hunt for a round nightstand. She was actually using it but moved what was on it to another table so I could have it. Don’t I have the sweetest, most giving grandmother?
I have continuously loved this table over the years, but it had some rust and worn paint so a freshening up was in order. My grandma and I decided mint green would look pretty, and keep the vintage vibe. I had a hard time finding a nice mint green spray paint, though. Some were too apple green, some too sage. I thought I scored with a Liquitex shade, but I’m not entirely sold because it’s a bit duller than I hoped.
How-to:
- First I lightly sanded the table, especially areas with rust, with a fine sandpaper.
- I pushed off the rubber feet and also slid off the brass coiled detail to make painting easier.
- Next I wiped the table down with a damp cloth and let it dry.
- I used Tremclad metal primer (in grey) and gave the whole table an even coat of primer, doing the underside first and then flipping it over to do the top.
- I let the primer dry for 48 hours and then used Liquitex spray paint in chromium oxide green 6 (I have a whole post on the pros and cons of this brand of spray paint), again doing the underside first and then flipping it over to do the top.
- I let the table dry 48 hours before bringing it upstairs and putting the glass top back on.
I usually use the Liquitex over a white base for more vivid colour, but the Tremclad grey was such a light shade of grey it almost looked white. I’m wondering, though, if it did dull the colour, even if I did apply multiple coats of the mint shade. In any case, the paint finish turned out great.
The baseboard heaters seem to pop out at me even more, now that the table is a lighter colour, but painting them all white is on this summer’s to-do list. Even if I’m on the fence on the shade of mint, it does seem to pair really well with the chair, which reads as mint but is a pale green and aqua pattern.
So, what do you think of the new colour?
Love it Tanya! I just linked up my mint stools after you! 🙂 I like the colour with your chair.
Thanks! I love the mint stool you painted – especially how you used three different shades!
Nagyon jó lett. A kedvenc szÃnem! 🙂
Looks great, Tanya. I just knew this was going to be yours even before I clicked over. Mint is your signature and the end product looks great. Is that pretty chair facing the bathroom??
Thanks Julia! The teak chair and table are in a nook, against the wall the guest room shares with the half bathroom. When you're sitting in the chair, you can see the bathroom towels, closet and door to the hall. It's not facing it straight on but it should, because the guest bath is awesomely cute.
How lovely! It is updated and refreshing and totally in keeping with the retro design.
Thanks! It was important to me I pick a colour that kept the 1950s feel. And that my grandma okayed, because this is a sentimental piece. But she was really excited about the mint!
Found you from the YHL link up! The table looks FANTASTIC! I love the color.
Hi Stacey! Thanks for dropping by the townhouse and saying "hi"! So nice to meet you 🙂
Looks so good! And that chair is giving me serious chair envy! What a pair.
Awww, thanks! The chair was a classifieds score that I had reupholstered (this upholstery job was a bit out of my league). It ended up being a bit more money than I hoped, but now it's one of my favorite pieces. It needs a little teak oil though . . .
Wow, what a difference! I love that your Grandma agreed on the color! 🙂
I was nervous to ask, thinking she might think it's a bad idea. Even though she's given me the table, I still think of it as hers and didn't want her feeling like I ruined a special item. But she was so enthusiastic!
I honestly love the color and the cute little table.
Thanks!
It looks fantastic- especially with the chair. You know that something pairs well, when they each make the other look better than each on their own. It is a perfect compliment to the chair. I'm infatuated with that chair! So, lovely. I'm on the hunt for a reasonable (read: cheap) mid-century upholstered chair- preferably in poor condition since I want to reupholster it too.just love how well your table came out.
Thanks so much!Place a want ad with a photo of what you'd like on kijiji or a similar online classifieds. That's how I found this one!
Just discovered your blog from the Pinterest challenge, and I loved taking the house tour! Everything looks so clean and has just the right amount of color. This mint table is perfect.
Thanks for stopping by the townhouse! So nice to meet you 🙂
Love the mint table! What a great makeover. Your chair is adorable. That fabric is to die for!
Thanks! Funnily enough, I hated this fabric at first but the woman at the fabric store practically made me take a swatch home and once I brought it home I realized it was the perfect choice. I'm so thankful she was so adamant!
Super cute! You guys choose the perfect color.
Thanks! I can't wait to show my grandma the finished table!
Stunning Tanya! I admit I cocked my head a litte in confusion at your new love affair with mint. Whadda beauty! I'm coveting your teak chair too. I love the townhouse! This is my favorite blog.Mari
Thanks for your kind words, Mari :)I am loving mint because it looks so nice with turquoise. But it's a lot harder to find the right shade of mint than I thought! I don't think anything will ever replace turquoise as my favorite colour.
Tanya, the table looks wonderful. OMG though, THAT CHAIR.
Thanks so much! The chair is comfy too. Really, really comfy. But you should see the sad "before": http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2010/12/hejda-ikea-chair.html
Ahhhh! That table is gorgeous! And it looks so much better in mint than it did in black. Nice work. 🙂
You think? I'm happy to hear that. I was on the fence at first, but it's since grown on me. I think maybe I just needed to get used to the change because it's been black since the 50s! Not that I've been around that long, lol, but it's been black all my life.
You did an amazing job, it looks amazing !If you like DIY projects, I am sure you'd like this : http://shop.moorbi.com/pallet-chair-project-upcycle-it-design
Very cool, thanks!