Thursday, February 23, 2012

French Butterfly Extension Dining Table

This is up there with my all time favourite projects I've done (the other being my sideboard).  I've just finished a beautiful French style dining table. It's got such a lovely butterfly extension mechanism. It's so smooth and clever (once an engineer, always an engineer). 


Photo overload but you'll have to excuse me  - I'm that excited by this transformation.
and extended for comparison
 Lovely cabriole legs and curved apron.
The table comes with 4 chairs that I've painted in a soft limed white and upholstered in a divine damask material. This material is very high end upholstery material that retails for $220 a metre. It will wear extremely well.
I've already had about 8 people ask to buy the chairs when I styled my white desk with one and listed it on eBay.
Beautiful carved details on the table and chairs.
  and extended it will seat 8 people easily.
A close up of the beautiful wood. I stripped the old varnish off completely, re-stained it and have top coated it will a Porters Paint sealer.  It is beautifully smooth now and much less shiny. 
The table may already be sold - one of my friends has been waiting with bated breath for me to finish this and she came this afternoon and loves it. While she was here another neighbour popped in and said if my friend didn't buy it she would or another lady in our street would. Very funny.


Here it is before. The wood was very shiny and lacquered. It was also quite reddish (which this photo doesn't show that well)  The chairs had pale yellow material which had little flowers on it. Much more chic now.

The photos of the finished dining table are all in a corner of our master bedroom.  The afternoon sunlight streams in so it is a bit difficult to get good photos (and I still can't find my Canon camera charger so still using my iPhone).  

I have been told by my husband not to buy any more tables as I really don't have any where suitable to do them up. I can't do them in the carport as dust would get on the sealer/varnish and our access to our lounge room is too difficult for tables so I actually painted, stained and top-coated this in our bedroom (there's a door into the carport from the bedroom as it would have been onto a verandah originally) and so we've been sleeping with this massive thing in our room all week.   

Just more proof I need a workshop, I say.

If anyone is interested in the table, please let me know as my friend may not end up buying it.

cheers 
Fiona



I'm so excited to be showing this off at these parties:
Elizabeth and CoHouse Party, Restore Interiors, It's overflowing
Scrappy Happy Thursdays
Show Me extraordinary
Adventures of a DIY Mom
French Country Cottage
Redoux
MMS Furniture Friday
The Shabby nest
Meg and Mum's
DIY by Design
Between naps on the Porch
Boogie Board Cottage
 

26 comments:

  1. Whow Whow Whow great job Fiona. Did you strip the table top with a sander or paint stripper. What a big job, but how rewarding. Sandy xx

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  2. wow! that turned out so beautifully! i love the fabric on the chairs!

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    1. thanks Cassie - I was thinking of doing a drop sheet and then remembered I had these squares from an upholstery sample book. very happy.

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  3. Wow!! What a difference!! That turned out beautifully and I love the fabric you chose for the chairs! I can see why you love it so much :-)

    Rachel
    www.suiterevival.com

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  4. I love, love, love this table and chairs. I love the curvy legs and the dark wood on white look. I'd love for you to share this at my link party. It runs Tues-Sat.
    Rachel
    http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/2012/02/terrific-tuesdays-3.html

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    1. thanks Rachel - linked up now. I love the table also, can you believe it passed in at auction the first week i saw it but i got it the second week!

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  5. It truly is gorgeous Fiona! No wonder you're excited. My dining table was shiny and red like that also. It may look "polished" and in good condition, but I think it can look quite obnoxious and dated. You've done an awesome job! My Saturday Splendour Party is still open if you'd like to share :)

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    1. thanks Meg - I agree. I prefer a much more "matt" look. still have to do my own table but i think i'll get it professionally dip stripped as edges will be too difficult to do myself.

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  6. What a stunning transformation, Fiona! You have been blessed a gift, girlie! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  7. What a stunning after. It turned out so wonderful...loving the seat cushion details, the fabric and print. I've done a somewhat similar makeover myself so I know how much work went into it. Very nice!

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    1. Thanks Sherry, I love restoring tables but there's always a point where i get all stressed that it's not going to turn out nicely. I'm learning to work through that though!
      cheers Fiona

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  8. Very nice restyle I love the fabric choice too :)

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    1. thanks Vicki, just saw your upholstery on your blog. looks amazing. will go back and read it properly later! you're amazing!
      cheers Fiona

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    1. thanks Kirby - the material was an absolute score! I was going to make cushions from it but love it on these chairs.
      cheers Fiona

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous! I've redone my own table and it is no easy feat! I'm your newest follower and I'd love it if you linked up to my little party: http://www.nutmegplace.com/2012/02/show-off-saturday-3.html

    Hope to see you there!

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    1. thanks Meg - i'll link up on the weekend!
      cheers Fiona

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  11. Nicely done, Fiona! I was just talking with my daughter about doing her dining table {my old one} in white with a dark stained finish. I'll have to show her your pictures.

    visiting from Winter Blues Wed.! : )

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    1. Thanks Kathy, very nice of you to comment. Would love to see your photos once you’ve finished it. Gosh I love doing up tables although my husband has banned me as I have no where suitable to do them and did this one in our bedroom....LOL. He’s a patient man!
      Cheers Fiona

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  12. Fiona, just gorgeous work. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Wow! That's an amazing transformation. I love French style furniture. Thanks for linking to my party.

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  14. love your table and chairs, the fabric looks beautiful with the chairs!
    LAUREN

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  15. Hi Fiona, Is the table sold yet? Am interested in buying in and would love to look at it - Please email me at adelynkoh@gmail.com.

    Thanks!

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  16. Foud your site surfing for extension dining tables. This is the best thing I've ever seen!! Totally inspired to make my own as I can't find a nice/affordable extension dining table.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com