End Table Makeover

Well, technically it's a media cabinet, but we have always used it as an end table.
This end table was from my husband's Grandmother home.  

It was in rough shape when we got it.  It was right before I started blogging - literally (and I shared the makeover of everything we inherited in my fifth post - yes my actual fifth post ever).  I had just finished completely stripping and sanding down a big dresser that we also inherited which took me a full day to sand.  I remember hand sanding the top of this and anywhere on it that needed it and then just adding stain to the damaged areas. 

Here is a closeup of the top (after the first time I fixed it up).  It has bothered me for a while now that is was such a blotchy finish. I think I had just run out of steam after working on the big dresser.  The idea of sanding down another entire piece made me a little sick at the time.  Lol
 I decided to give this piece a new life this past weekend.

I ordered myself a new color (well, new to me) of chalk paint - Louis Blue.
I am in the process of infusing some color into our finished basement.  

These are the drapes I made for my basement. 

 I found my color inspiration for this furniture directly from the fabric.  

This time I completely sanded the top using an electric hand sander.

I painted the outside Louis Blue and the inside Old White.

I wasn't taking any chances this time and used a pre-stain wood conditioner on the top before staining.

I love how beautiful the top looks now.  I stained it in a combination of pecan and mahogany - which is what I had in the house already (only a touch of mahogany to make it a bit darker).

The hardware is the same, although it looks ten times better now that you can actually see it.

I used a little Paris Gray to bring out the details and then used a clear wax followed by a dark wax.

I am in love with this now.  The transformation was so dramatic that my husband and kids couldn't figure out where this piece of furniture was in the house prior to the transformation.  It was so dark and blah they never even noticed it.  

It looks so good that I decided it works even better on the other side of the room.

I can't wait to hear what you think!!

Here's another look at the before and after.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Sharing with Savvy Southern Style