• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Categories
    • Furniture
    • All Natural
    • Decor
    • Biz & Blog-Sense
      • Recommended Resources & Tools for Blogging
      • Stock Shop
      • Tips for choosing the right web hosting for your site
      • Link Parties
    • Lifestyle
  • Shop My Style
  • Collaborate
  • Contact

Chalking Up Success! logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Categories
  • Shop
  • Collab
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Categories
    • Shop
    • Collab
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Furniture

    September 19, 2017

    Riviera Maison Inspired Coffee Table Makeover

    Just goes to show, you don't need to have stacks of cash to have a stylish home. This coffee table was found on eBay and cost €15. Some Annie Sloan chalk paint & elbow grease turned it into something really special. This post explains exactly how it was done and over on the blog, there's more inspiration for creating a stylish home on a tight budget. #homedecor #coffeetable #makeover #before&after #anniesloanchalkpaint

    Coffee Table Makeover Stage one – bringing home the bacon!

    One of the first things I was desperate to change in our lounge was our coffee table.  It was the first thing you saw when you entered the room from the hallway and it wasn’t doing our room any favours.

    Flaking veneer, numerous scratches and marks that no attempt at cleaning could remove made for an eyesore that had definitely had its day.

    Sign up for our weekly Newsletter | Receive our free e-book & access to the library
    Just goes to show, you don't need to have stacks of cash to have a stylish home. This coffee table was found on eBay and cost €15. Some Annie Sloan chalk paint & elbow grease turned it into something really special. This post explains exactly how it was done and over on the blog, there's more inspiration for creating a stylish home on a tight budget. #homedecor #coffeetable #makeover #before&after #anniesloanchalkpaint

    The coffee table was a great size though and also had a large shelf underneath which held my numerous home and garden magazines.  I knew any replacement would have to be roughly the same size.

    I had in mind the type of thing I was looking for and set to work scouring the web for possibilities.  It didn’t take me long to realise that the image and quality I had in my head, did not correspond to the amount of money I had to spend.

    front view of the coffee table makever with the brown sofa behind

    There were plenty of cheaper coffee tables I could have bought but in my mind, apart from having no scratches, they looked only a fraction better than the version already sitting in our lounge.  New wood made to look old really didn’t cut the bacon with me.

    One day I spied an advert in the small ads on eBay, offering for sale a solid oak coffee table with turned legs and a little drawer in the front.  It was painted with a dark wood stain but I immediately knew I could do something with it.  Although it didn’t have a shelf, it was exactly the shape and size I was looking for.  What really sold it though was its price tag of €18.

    FREE with our Newsletter!
    For your convenience, this website contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to yourself however, it helps towards the costs of running this blog. Thanks so much for your support of Chalking Up Success! Please read my full disclosure here


    My hubby kindly volunteered to collect the coffee table for me and when he returned he told me the sweetest story.  The coffee table was being sold by an older couple in their attempt to free up some space in their home.

    They explained that it was part of a set of bespoke furniture they had commissioned when they first got married and they were interested to know what we intended to do with it.

    My husband said it was like they were vetting him as to whether he was worthy to take on this obviously cherished piece.  Once the couple found out that we intended to use it in our home (negating their fears that we wanted it for firewood!) they were so happy they sold it for €15!

    A 'before' picture of the Riviera Maison inspired coffee table makeover, dark solid oak with turned legs and a little drawer at the front and no shelf yet.

    How the coffee table looked when we got it home. You can’t see it very well from the picture but the drawer pull on the far left is bent and of course, there’s no shelf.

    Coffee Table Makeover Stage two – Getting the look

    So how did I get the look I wanted? Well, the first thing I do with any piece I buy is to clean the whole thing with soapy water. This also removes any grease (some of which you can’t see but if left, will wreck any finish you apply later).

    Next, I sanded the table top using my handy Bosch electric sander until all the old stain was gone and I was left with the original beautiful light oak.

    Shop the post

    My husband said he could probably make a shelf to go underneath so measurements were taken and off we went to stock up on supplies.
    We ended up having the wood cut to size in the shop which was a great decision since our tool supplies at home leave a lot to be desired!

    The planks were then simply nailed onto a crosspiece of wood to hold them together and the whole lot slotted perfectly into place inside the coffee table frame. It didn’t matter that the new wood didn’t match with the old since it was all going to be painted anyway!

    showing the end view of the coffee table makeover and the shelf underneath

     

    Coffee Table Makeover Stage three – Paintworks

    I decided I would use Annie Sloan chalk paint in ‘old white’ for the bottom of the coffee table and just sand the top and leave that unpainted.

    Now I know Annie Sloan says you can paint over anything with her paint without having to use an undercoat but I haven’t found that to be the case for any of my projects so far.  Maybe paint stains in Germany are stronger or something because whenever I try to cut corners and skip the undercoat stage I always end up with dark stain bleeding through my paint.

    If you want to skip on the undercoating then, by all means, go ahead and try it but my advice to you would be to always use an undercoat first.

    I know using undercoat takes more time but believe me there is nothing more frustrating than seeing that old dark stain seep through your lovely new paint job!

    I usually have to paint at least two layers of undercoat. Between each coat, I do a light sanding with 120-grade sandpaper and a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to remove the dust before starting the next coat.

    Shop the post

    oak coffee table painted in Annie Sloan Old White, top waxed with Annie Sloan clear wax,

    After that, it was time for the good stuff!  Annie Sloan chalk paint is expensive but the good thing is, a little goes a long way.

    The paint lasts even longer if you water it down a little, which I sometimes do, depending on the piece I’m painting.  Don’t add too much water though or you’ll end up with runs all over the place (unless you’re trying to make a wash but that’s another story!).

    I tend to pour a little paint into a jar or other container and add the water to that so I’m not adding water directly to the tin.  Just make sure the opening on the jar or container is big enough for the size of brush you plan to use.

    You use the same process as with the undercoat – two coats of ASCP with a light sanding and wipe down between each coat.

    I painted the first coat with the coffee table turned upside down, the second with the table up the right way.  You would be surprised how often little bits get missed when you just paint with the piece sitting the right way up.

    Coffee Table Makeover Stage four - Weathering

    Looking at the coffee table once the second coat of paint was dry made me rethink how I was going to finish the top.  The colour of the wood didn’t quite suit the new paintwork and I felt it needed to be toned down a little.

    I wanted to create the weathered wood look I had seen on other projects where white wax was used to create the ageing effect.  Thing was, I didn’t have any white wax to hand and was impatient to get the job finished.

    Luckily I still had some chalk paint left over so I decided to mix some of that with the clear wax I had planned to use for the finish.  First up though, I brushed the tabletop with a wire brush in the direction of the grain.  Doing this makes sure the grain is free of wood dust created during the sanding stage and makes room for the whitened wax to really sink in.

    Using a lint-free rag, I rubbed the wax/paint mix into the tabletop in the direction of the grain making sure to get right into all the nooks and crannies, then immediately rubbed it off again with a clean lint-free rag.  The white paint was left behind in the wood grain which gave the table a subtle aged look and made the whole thing come together perfectly.

    how the top of the coffee table looked after adding the white wax for aging, www.chalkingupsuccess.com

    Coffee Table Makeover Stage five – Distressing and Waxing

    I love the shabby chic look but if I’m honest, it has to be a bit more chic than shabby. Subtle distressing I feel gives furniture a homely, lived in look helping it to blend into the home and look as if it’s been there forever. With this in mind, I keep my distressing to corners or the edges of legs and to places which would normally show signs of wear and tear over the years.

    So first up then, I took a piece of coarse sandpaper (usually grade 80 but anything would do in a pinch) and gently rubbed it over the edges of the table legs – less is more here, if you rub too hard you may take off too much and end up spoiling the whole thing. I also rubbed the drawer front along the decorative edges.

    Once I was happy with the amount distressing I took a damp cloth and wiped down the whole coffee table again.

    Normally I would give a tabletop a couple of coats of clear polyurethane varnish to finish and protect the wood from accidental spills. In this case however, as this was not going to be a high traffic piece, I opted for a couple of layers of clear wax instead.

    Lovely white hydrangeas in a wire basket on top of a coffee table upcycled with Annie Sloan Chalki Paint in old white. www.chalkingupsuccess.com

    Annie Sloan’s clear wax is the perfect partner for her chalk paint. Don’t worry though, if you can’t get it in your area and don’t want to buy online, any clear furniture wax will do.

    I used a soft cloth and took the wax directly from the tin, rubbing the wax in and taking up the excess with another soft cloth. I have to mention here, I have seen tutorials on Pinterest where people take a teaspoonful of wax and use it to cover the equivalent of one square meter of wood. I’m sorry, but I have my doubts as to how effective that is going to be in protecting the new paintwork.

    Annie herself uses generous amounts of wax and compares the process to rubbing in moisturiser on your face. By feeling the surface with your hand afterwards you will know whether or not you’ve used enough wax. If you can still feel the dryness of the paint you need to apply more. If the surface feels smooth and silky, it’s enough and you can move onto the next area.

    Once I had the coffee table covered and had wiped off the excess, I left it overnight for the wax to dry and harden (curing). The next morning I used a clean cloth to buff up the wax and the table took on a lovely soft lustre.

    close up of the little drawer at the front of the coffee table

    The little drawer at the front of the coffee table holds a secret. Although it looks like there are three small drawers, there’s actually only one large one.

    One of the iron drawer pulls was bent when we got the table so I knew I would have to replace them. I ended up getting these lovely metal pulls with a Fleur-de-Lys design from Butlers which I felt were perfect for the job. Although I had painted the inside of the drawers I also decided to line them with a pretty paper I found which would provide added protection against scratches.

    www.chalkingupsuccess.com Riviera Maison Inspired Coffee Table Makeover
    www.chalkingupsuccess.com coffee table makeover, Riviera Maison Inspired

    I loved how this coffee table makeover project turned out. It was my first ‘chalking up success’ which also proved that I could get the look I loved without spending a fortune on expensive shop bought items. What do you think?

    You may also like:

    DIY Ladder Makeover - Boutique Style

    Easy bookcase makeover using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

    French Style Chair Makeover Series

    Designer Secrets For A Home You’ll Love!

    How To Turn A Bedroom Into A Calm & Cosy Space

    More Furniture

    • A table waiting to be prepped for chalk paint
      How to prep furniture for chalk paint
    • Summer decorating ideas and home tour 2022
      Easy summer decorating ideas (& Home tour)
    • A person using a marker pen to transfer a pattern onto the front of an Ikea Moppe storage chest.
      Painted Ikea Moppe hack - Creative DIY
    • small porch table and chair. The black granite tabletop holds a basket of fresh lavender and an illuminated twig wreath in the shape of a heart.
      Charming small porch decorating ideas and tips for summer

    Sharing is caring!

    • Share
    • Tweet

    Click the image to sign up to our Newsletter!

    Sign up to our newsletter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    1. Adepoju Grace says

      August 16, 2018 at 8:08 am

      The table looks so beautiful after you have refurbished it.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        August 16, 2018 at 6:54 pm

        Thank you Grace!

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      August 17, 2018 at 12:13 am

      This came out lovely! I’ve been planning to do something similar with our oak coffee table. I absolutely love the Annie Sloan old white with the natural wood! I didn’t realize you could add a bit of water! Thanks for that tip.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        August 26, 2018 at 6:58 pm

        Thanks Jen. It's always best to tip some paint into another container before adding the water, that way the paint doesn't get contaminated. ASCP really does go a long way!

        Reply
    3. Debbie says

      August 17, 2018 at 4:31 am

      This is so nice now!! I love that you added the shelf on the bottom and the paper inside the drawers is so fun!!
      Beautiful!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        August 26, 2018 at 6:55 pm

        Thanks so much Debbie. Yes, the shelf makes a world of difference 🙂

        Reply
    4. Alexandra says

      November 15, 2018 at 3:22 am

      I absolutely love what you have done here! You are very clever - such inspiration for me!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        November 15, 2018 at 6:33 pm

        Thank you Alexandra. I think this project is my favourite of all 🙂

        Reply
    5. Andrea says

      November 15, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      This table looks so much better, lighter after the transformation. I like the liner in the drawer and the shelf on the bottom too. Very nice DIY project. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        November 15, 2018 at 6:37 pm

        You're welcome Andrea. The shelf was an absolute necessity for all my books and mags!

        Reply
    6. Teresa says

      November 15, 2018 at 4:35 pm

      It looks very nice! Will have to try this soon.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        November 15, 2018 at 6:39 pm

        Thanks Teresa. Be warned, you may become addicted 😉

        Reply
    7. CoCo says

      June 05, 2020 at 5:06 pm

      This coffee table looks amazing, Jayne, gosh you did such a great job on everything. I love how you left the woodgrain on the top and then added the chalk paint on the bottom. The drawer liners are beautiful too. I just love it all! Hugs, CoCo

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        June 08, 2020 at 7:52 am

        Thank you so much CoCo, this table is one of my all-time favourites!

        Reply
    8. Danielle says

      June 23, 2021 at 4:53 pm

      What a sweet story about the couple who owned it! It turned out beautifully!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        June 25, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        Yes, it is a lovely story and another reason why I love curating older pieces of furniture for my home!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jayne Westerholt profile image.

    Welcome friend! I'm Jayne, a home, DIY, Lifestyle blogger with a passion for chalk painting furniture, beautiful home decor and creating an organic home.

    More about me →


    The 'Furniture Flip Checklist' is a free mini e-Book in PDF form - 10 things you need to know before buying used furniture for your home - Room planning guide included #freeebook #chalkpainting #furnitureflip #recycle #homedecor #furniturepainting
    FREE with our Newsletter!

    Recent Posts

    • Ideas for creating a beautiful Easter tablescape with floral displays, Easter bunnies, candles and Easter eggs
      Ideas for creating a beautiful Easter tablescape
    • A white ceramic Easter bunny in the kitchen with green plants
      Fresh Spring kitchen decorating ideas
    • Bunny images transferred to fabric without transfer paper
      How to transfer an image onto fabric without transfer paper
    • Easter treat box template: Free Printable
      Easter treat box template: Free Printable

    Image says 'Shop my style'. This button takes you to a dedicated page with my shopping links.

    CLICK THE IMAGE TO VISIT OUR SHOP


    Sign up for our free course

    Declutter Success - Free five day email course from Chalking up success. Includes worksheets and room planners.

    Click to sign-up


    Sign up to our newsletter

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

    Click to Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About Us

    • Privacy Notice
    • Disclosure
    • Terms & Conditions
    • About
    • Imprint

    Resources

    • Subscribe to Newsletter
    • Stock Photography Shop
    • Blogging Resources
    • Furniture Flip e-Book
    • Shop My Style
    • Subscriber Library

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Collaborate
    • FAQ

    Copyright © 2023 ChalkingUpSuccess

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT