As many of you know, I’ve been spending some time remodeling the dining table and chairs set that I bought off of Craigslist. If you missed the progress posts, you can venture here, here, here and here to see the entire tranformation. Whew! This one has taken me awhile. I always overestimate how quickly I’ll get a project done. Er, is it underestimate since I’m referring to time? Whatever. Anyway…
The Annie Sloan Paris Grey chalk paint did not disappoint! So here’s the before:
Once again, ignore the way-too-small and kind-of ugly rug.
And the after!!
Sometimes it’s hard to judge how much you’ll like something when you’re only half way done. But I really love the final product! I didn’t put a centerpiece on table because I wanted to table itself to shine!
Let’s focus on the fabric:
And the extra double layer of padding makes a big difference too. Before- so flat and lame:
My big butt needs some cushion!
The AS clear wax acts as a furniture sealer/protector, as well as a primer for the AS dark wax. The clear wax is kind of a necessity if you want to use the dark wax to create an aged antique look. I didn’t want the whole surface to be darker, so I used the dark wax very lightly in a nonchalant, brush here and brush there kind of way.
Much better, don’t ya think?
I think it’s important to reflect back and get the true total on big projects like this, including the sale of our first dining set. So the whole breakdown on this shindig is:
- Table and 6 chairs: $125
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Clear and Dark Waxes: $88 (I told you it wasn’t cheap!)
- Fabric- 2 yds at 50% off: $50.00
- Extra chair padding- 3 yds at $7 each: $21.00
- Staples to recover the chairs: $7 (We still have a whole bunch left, and we already owned the staple gun)
- Waxing brush: $5
- Previous dining set sold: ($200.00)
- GRAND TOTAL: $46
Not too bad. We’ve got a new table and 2 more chairs than we had before. Now I like my dining table, a lot!
Update! We’ve added a nice runner and centerpeice to the table. Check out all the photos here, but I’ve included a few for viewing pleasure.
p.s. If you want to see another makeover I’ve done with the Annie Sloan chalk paint, here you’ll find a huge shabby mirror totally madeover to match my dressing room. I submitted my mirror makeover at A Dustbunny Life, and they are looking for other project submissions, so head over and check them out! Let them know that I sent you. I don’t get any compensation for it, they’re just fun chicks and it’s good to help my bloggy friends out 
Do you like the makeover? Or would you have left it brown and white? Have you guys ever used Annie Sloan chalk paint? Or recovered any chairs? When we stapled the fabric on, I could really see how the end was going to look!
I’m partying over at Savvy Southern Style!
Welcome to Drab to Fab! We are doing our best to turn our 60s rancher from drab to fab by dabbling in DIY, crafty projects, design, food, and Whitney likes to throw in a little fashion! All while having as much fun as possible. ;) Share your projects and stories with us; we're glad you're here! 
This looks amazing! I am curious how the top of the table has held up? Did you only seal it with the wax or something else?
Thanks Diann! It has held up very well! I’ve only had a couple small spills on it, and it wiped right off. I first sealed the whole thing with the clear wax, then used a round brush to apply the dark wax very lightly and that’s it. You could seal it again with clear wax if you wanted to though! Glad you stopped by!
Thanks, I have an oak table and I am looking for ideas. I love the way yours turned out. I refinished an antique bedroom set for my daughter using old white Annie Sloan paint, it turned out beautiful. I was just worried about the everyday use that our busy family would bring to the “table” and the durability of the wax.
I pinned your table on pinterest, I hope you don’t mind.
I don’t mind at all, feel free to pin away! I have seen some really pretty dining table transformations where they left the table stained (or stripped and restained/sealed the table) but only painted the chairs, so that could work well for you if you’ve got a big family where the table gets lots of use! You could always start out just painting the chairs and see if you like the two-toned look of them combined with the stained table. I think the Paris Gray paint would look amazing with a table stained in Dark Walnut color. I probably would’ve done that combo to mine had the table not been previously painted.
I love the transformation. I have all the supplies to do my first project with ASCP and now I’m motivated. Where did you get the fabric for the chairs?
Thanks Bertie! I got the fabric at JoAnn Fabrics and it’s made by Waverly. I bought it awhile ago, so I’m not sure if they’d still have it, but good luck!! IF you want, you can send me before and after pics and I’ll do a post about your project!!
Whitney!
You go girl! I love that fabric on the chairs! Now….I’m thinking….why didn’t I think of the dining room for this fabric, too!
Have a great day rock star!
karianne
Thanks Karianne! It’s a gorgeous fabric, that’s for sure!
I’m thinking of doing this to my table also how do you keep it clean without ruining the paint?
Hi Nicole, thanks for visiting my blog! Are you planning on using a dark wax like I did? If so, make sure you use a clear wax before, so the dark wax doesn’t stain your table. And then I’d put 2 coats of clear wax on top of the dark wax to protect it. I haven’t spilled anything on it yet, but to wipe it down after eating is fine. Just don’t “scrub” or the wax can come off. Once the paint dries, it is good to go so you can’t really “ruin” the paint. Just make sure you put a wax over the paint to protect it! If you have anymore questions, let me know. Hope it helps!
Your dining set looks amazing. The colors and fabric work so well together. I have used ASCP on dining/kitchen chairs but the wax keeps coming off onto our clothes, even after buffing (and buffing and buffing). The chairs are not tacky at all – are super smooth. I went to my stockist and she suggested using mineral spirits to wipe off the dark wax. (I used graphite and dark wax because I wanted a “black.”) Anyway, I’m bummed that now I’ll be taking off sheen, color, and personality. Have you noticed any wax transfer? This is after curing for more than a month…
Thank you mrsrenfro for your sweet compliments! I am surprised to hear about the wax coming off on your clothes.
I hate to think you’ll be taking away the look you love. We haven’t had any issues at all with it coming off on us. The process I used was: Paint it, put clear wax on, then very lightly put the dark wax on, then wait a few days, then put another layer of clear wax. Have you put clear wax on over the dark wax?
I painted the graphite and then used the dark wax directly on the paint because I wanted the dark look. I haven’t tried clear wax – I’m afraid of putting on more wax when the issue seems to be too much wax. I’m not really sure what to do now. After reading about oil based poly and the dry time on that… and all the sanding, etc… I’m not sure what the best route will be. I need to devote some time to it, but with 3+4 year olds that devoted time is scarce!
I see what you mean. That is a hard decision! When I bought my paint and wax they told me to put clear wax on before the dark wax to protect the furniture, so I’m wondering if that is part of the reason it’s coming off onto your clothes?? I know you wanted the super dark look though, so that’s why you didn’t do clear first. Have you looked into water based poly? I’d think that would dry a little faster, but not sure how that would affect the wax? Keep me updated!
On a second note, I know you love the super dark look. And I think it can still be achieved by applying the clear first. Feel free to check out the annie sloan mirror I did. I applied the clear first, then the dark, and the pictures show after I wiped off most of the dark. It was MUCH darker when I first applied it. Here is the link: http://drabtofabdesign.com/2012/05/annie-sloan-mirror-makeover/
So I think you can still get that dark look if you sand it, repaint (if needed) then put on the clear, then dark, then clear. It’s a process, but I think it might work.
I really like your new table! Your are doing a great job with the whole site!
Thanks, Kay!!
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My mouth just dropped when I saw this transformation. It looks SO good!!
Aw, thanks Erin!!
I’ve been wanting to re-do my kitchen set and your color
Paris Grey is beautiful… you also did a wonderful job with
your set…
Thanks for posting this
Sandy
Thank you Sandy! I am super happy with the color choice!
Great makeover! The colour and finish of the chalk paint are beautiful, and I love the fabric you used on the cushions. Good idea to add more padding, those original cushions were a bit on the thin side! All that for a grand total of $46 – awesome!
Thanks Kelly! I appreciate your kind words, and yes, the cheap way is always my favorite way!
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Wow wow wow!!! Amazing job and it is beautiful!!!! Love that fabric, that’s for sure too. What’s a burlap rug?
Thanks Marian! A burlap runner is just a table runner made out of burlap…sort of creates a “natural” element.
It looks beautiful and congratulations for having such success with the Annie Sloan paint. Your fabric would work perfectly with yellow/gray design I have going on for our kitchen. I think you did the right thing by painting the table. Completely worth your $45.
I found our dining room table for $20 at a yard sale and gave it a complete makeover for anniversary.
http://www.colortransformedfamily.com/2012/03/14/instant-family-heirloom/
I love what you did with your table!!
I love it! It looks fabulous, the chair fabrics gorgeous! Great work!
Thanks!!
My goodness, it is amazing!!! I LOVE it. The after is so much better! Brown kinda bums me out
And now I really want to try that paint. Enjoy eating on your beautiful table!
Thanks Amber, yeah I just wasn’t feeling it before.
I love the end product!!! The fabric goes so well with the grey you chose. Great job!!!
That is gorgeous! I’m in love with that gray and the fabric goes perfectly! It really couldn’t have turned out any better.
Thanks Stephanie! I just need a burlap runner to contrast with the gray
Wowza!! The grey is lovely! I’ve recovered dining room chairs about a billion times. It’s kind of fun that it’s so easy, because changing the look is easy too. I’ve never done a dining room table before, but I’d like to. On the look out …
I also waaaay underestimate the time it will take me to do a project … I thought I’d finish the kitchen in April. We didn’t even start until May, and now it’s June
.
Haha it’s ok I think we all do that!
Wow! They came out amazing! They look so professionally done too! High five.
virtual high five back at ya!
Whitney it looks SO good! I liked the before but I love love love the after! Perfect choice on fabric too! I really do love it. Want to do mine now?
aw thanks for the compliment!! Bring your set over
Gorgeous! Simply gorgeous! You did a phenomenal job Whitney!! I LOVE it!
Thanks Ashley!
I LOVE the makeover!! Such a lighter, brighter, better feel and look. And that fabric is soooo fab. I have to admit, I did chuckle at the site of the rug … I didn’t even notice it until you mentioned it. hahaha pinning!
thanks Karah! Yeah, that rug is gone. It was gross. Yay for a pin!
PS-YAY for finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy getting your posts in my feed!!! This is the first time you have come through! Normally I have to go over and check your page to see if you posted anything new. I’m so happy!
I’m so happy about this too!
Wow, Whitney! It looks uh-mazing! I love the transformation! I have always wanted to try AS paint, but I never wanted to make the investment. I always just stuck to Behr from HD, but you might be bringing me over to the dark {aka more expensive hehe} side!
And I hope your chair recovering process went well. When I did our dining room chairs, I thought my hands were never going to return to normal. There were so many staples and layers of fabric to remove…grrrrrrrr.
But anywhooooo, awesome job! You definitely made the right choice!
The chair recovering process wasn’t too bad, just making sure the design was centered was the toughest part!
It looks great! Awesome job. Amazing.
Oh my gosh Whitney that is beautiful. I LOVE it. The color and fabric you chose is perfect! Makes me want to go and buy some chaulk paint : )
Thank you Mandy!
Whitney the dining room set is fabulous!!…you did such a terrific job!…I just love, love the fabric design and colors….and to think that it basically cost you $46 is amazing!!
I’m a cheapo!!
Oh, it is so, so lovely! What an incredible update! I think it’s a huge upgrade! I don’t know what your plans are for the rest of the space (aside from opening up that wall, right?), but I think a little bit of contrast would really make the dining set pop.
And I’m finally here on time because you showed up in my reader! yay!
yay! I’m so glad it’s fixed now! Yes, I think some contrast is just what this space needs!
I love it with my whole heart! The shade of the paint, the fabric, all of it. It looks a million, billion times better!!
I think so too!!
Your table & chairs are beautiful! I loveee that fabric and things it works so well with the paint color (I love how the finish looks). You make me want to try chalk paint out!
Thanks Kristen!
Looks fantastic! Love that fabric!! It’s such a change from before! Congrats on finishing it and getting such a great deal!
Your set came out so pretty. Who doesn’t love a bargain that comes out this well!!
Have seen a lot about the Anne Sloan paint recently. Where did you buy it?
Thanks, Kristine. Bargains are my best friend. I bought it from a woman in NC who was recommended to me by Shirley at Housepitality Design. http://www.fauxworksstudio.com is the website with the AS supples. Her name is Barbara! Feel free to email me if you need her contact number!
Beautiful! It looks great in your dining room; it was worth all the hard work!
Thanks Kelly!