After moving into our downsized house, we discovered our square dining table was too large for the kitchen. Our daughter had a round table that was too small for her growing family. So, we swapped tables. After removing the leaf, the new-to-us round table provided enough room to walk through the kitchen. You can see the table in several photos in the Kitchen Remodel series.
After adding a bench along the half-wall, it got a bit crowded around the table. The new pantry also contributed to the smaller space. The addition of these structures in the kitchen resulted in less room for a table. We began searching online for another, even smaller table, one with a diameter of about 36 inches.
During one of our frequent visits to the Habitat for Humanity Restore, we found a small table with a metal pedestal base. It was 30 inches in diameter and had a blue top. It was also only $10.00, so we bought it.
We donated the swapped table and chairs, bought a tablecloth to cover the blue top on our bargain table, and two new chairs to match the kitchen. We were set, at least for a while.
After using the ‘downsized’ table for several months, we realized it was a bit too small.
With three adults and two grandkids seated around it, the plates were a tight fit.
It was also crowded when it was just the two of us.
We also wanted to do something with the blue top, but we weren’t sure what that would look like.
Since the table was functional and we could use the table purchased for the sun porch when we had guests, the ‘table project’ was low on our project list.
This is a picture without the tablecloth. It’s a bit too small for anything other than settings for two.
It’s the perfect size for a bar, which is probably where it lived in its previous life.
On one of our many trips to the new Menards store for our patio project, we found a top for our table while searching for something else.
Does that happen to you, too?
The tabletop is B-grade, edge-glued pine, sanded smooth, and the perfect size–1” by 36”. And it was less than $50.00!
We were excited. We picked through their stock and bought the best one.
Unfortunately, we had to put off working on the new tabletop. The patio project was at the top of our list. It needed to be completed before the autumn leaves started to turn. And drop in the area we were working in.
Getting Started
A week after completing the patio, we began working on the new tabletop.
After giving it a once-over with extra-fine sandpaper, we went to work staining it. As much as possible, we use the extra supplies from previous projects. The extra gray stain from the Barn Door project worked perfectly!
Once the stain was dry, we gave it a light sanding and put on some wipe-on poly.
We also darkened the pedestal with Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic in Flat Soft Iron spray paint.
Once both the new top and the pedestal were completed, we secured them to the original top using eight screws.
The entire project took only a couple of days.
We now have enough room to be comfortable at the table, and still have space to walk around in the kitchen.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance writer specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at peggystaver.com. Photos were taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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