Cold Weathered Wood Coffee Table

How to Create a Weathered Wood Look on any surface.

This post originally appeared in January 2013. Due to severe computer problems, it is being recycled!

The weather here is Sunny and Clear but COLD!  (Well, I guess cold is relative), But anything below 50 is cold to me.  I thought I would use the clear skies to get this “Free to Me” table done in the beautiful weather.  Just in time for Paris Flea Market.

The top of this table was seriously loved by its previous owners, two small children.  I just needed a good sanding to smooth it out, and it was good to go.  Here we are with “le before”:

I used Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paints products. They are 100% Natural, Clay Based Paints.  The colors are rich and varied, and you can use the all-natural products hem in so many ways. There are no latex, acrylic, or plastic compounds in DIY Paint. It is the only Clay Based paint on the market, which makes it a stand-alone in Clay and Chalk Type Paints. The clay holds up to nine times more pigment than any other comparable brand, so you use far less paint.

I wanted an industrial look but warmed up with the base.  I started with a base coat of Gravel Road, which was good to the last drop.  Literally.  If you just add a little water when you get to the bottom of the can, you can get every last drop out, and I did!

After this dried, I covered the next layer with a thin coat of DIY Paint in Letter Press Grey.  Since it was so dry and clear, this dried very quickly too.  My next step was where the weathered wood begins.

I used a clear glaze medium, about 1 cup.  I added 1 drop of DIY Dark Patina and about 4 drops of DIY Paint in Little Black Dress. I thoroughly stirred the mixture, then brushed it on in sections, and went back over it by “taking it off” with a cheesecloth scrunched up like a pompom.

When the glaze was complete, I spritzed the top of the table with water with THIS continuous Mister Sprayer. You get atomized drops and a much better look than big drops of water.   This produced the water stains look.  This took about an hour to dry.  This creates the “weathered wood look”.

I finished the piece by sealing it with one coat of DIY Paint Big Top and finished with DIY Paint Clear Wax for extra durability, when you add Clear Wax over the Big Top, it creates a water-tight finish.  You can spill soda, etc. on it and it will just pool up.

The base of the table I painted in one of my favorite DIY Paint Colors,  DIY Paint Cake Batter.  I sanded the final coat with 320 grit and 220 grit for distressing.  I sealed the base with DIY Paint Clear Wax.  DIY Paint Clear wax is 100% Natural Bees Wax so it is wonderful for your dried hands and cuticles too!

This table sold quickly!

The combinations on this look are endless. If you have Grey Skies where you live, make the cold weather nice by creating my Cold Weathered Wood Finish with DIY Paint. If you try this, I would love to know! Leave a comment or send me an email, I love hearing from you!

41 Comments

  1. Deb Owen

    This table is gorgeous Karen!! I love that top…perfection!

    Reply
  2. Jill Flory

    That is awesome! I love the weathered look. I’m pinning this to my ‘fine furniture’ board so I can find it quickly when I have a piece that needs this technique! and you have no idea what cold is – it’s been about 9 degrees the past couple mornings and it doesn’t get up to freezing.

    Reply
  3. Cheryl

    You are truly an artist! I hope to be as good as you one day! And you have certainly inspired my junking trips. Stuff seems to find me and I never come home with the empty car that I started with! The garage is overflowing as is the back deck so I am off to sign the lease on my first space in an antique mall. As much as I lvoe it, I can’t keep it all!! lol

    Reply
  4. cassie

    that is SO cool! love the color combo and finish! happy 2013!!

    Reply
  5. Nina

    Love it, as usual you work miracles. I still haven’t repainted my dresser in which the dark wax did not cooperate. Soon I hope.

    Reply
  6. Shelly Andrade

    absolutely fabulous!! can I order directly from them?

    Reply
  7. Hetty

    Love it Karen! Happy 2013!

    Reply
  8. Suzan

    What a great job ( as always my friend )
    Happy New Year – can’t wait to see what dumpster diving treasures you come up with this year!
    XXX

    Reply
  9. Amy

    This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

    What a beautiful finish you’ve created Karen! You really are so talented! That table will be gone in no time!

    Reply
  11. Bliss

    It turned out nice. And you know… there are more of *them* then there are of *us*. Them is the people who don’t paint or refurbish furniture, they go buy it from the people like *us*.

    Bliss

    Reply
  12. Jamie

    Wow! This table turned out wonderfully! I gotta do this to my table. Thanks for the inspiration 😉 I’m a new follower!

    Reply
  13. Jesse

    Oh my gosh you’re absolutely right, it’s FREEZING out…… waking up to 30 degrees is SICK. Great table by the way!

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank

      I love the way your table turned out . . . the weathered look of the top is something I’ve been wanting to learn to do. Thank you for sharing your technique. Patti

      Reply
  14. Jackie

    The table turned out great! I have little ones who have “loved” some of our furniture a little too much. I may have to try this. Visiting from TT&J Wrap Party. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Anneke at This, That and Life

    Wow! I can’t believe that baby was FREE! Nice!!! I’ve never heard of spraying water like that ~ I’ll have to give it a try sometime, because the table turned out GREAT! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Diana

    I love the lines of this table , it turned out perfect! Take more pics of the Paris Flea Market, I always enjoy them.

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Diana. I will definitely be taking more pictures at my favorite place!

      Reply
  17. cassie

    pretty! i love that color on the top!

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thanks Cassie! This was one of those projects I seriously considered keeping myself. I love my old Coffee Table, maybe it just needs a new finish!

      Reply
  18. Rayana

    Love all your work! Another great transformation.

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Rayana, that is very sweet.

      Reply
  19. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline

    You are soooo awesome ~ I love every project you do! Thank you so much for sharing at this week’s Project Inspire{d} ~ pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • GTC

      Mary Beth, that is very sweet. Thank you so much for such a sweet comment.

      Reply
  20. Hetty

    This table is so beautiful, thanks for giving us all the details how to achieve this look!

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Hetty! You should definitely try this, it is not hard at all.

      Reply
  21. Kim

    This a beautiful project! It is definitely worth reposting, regardless of the reason! I am not a talented refinisher, so I am always in awe of these pretty transformations! Just lovely!

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Kim. I had so much fun with this project.

      Reply
  22. Angela

    Awesome, just awesome!

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you Angela!! You are the master, I am taking that as seriously high praise!!

      Reply
      • Angela

        Awww. You are too sweet! Thank you for your kind words! Your work and creativity amaze me every time! xo

        Reply
  23. Heather

    I love this finish and your entire table! Pinned and sheduled it on fb! ~ Heather

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Heather and thank you for the pin!

      Reply
  24. Debbie

    I’m with you, I freeze at anything under 50! This table is amazing, love the finish 🙂 Pinned!
    Debbie

    Reply
    • GTC

      Debbie I am glad I am not the only one! My husband makes fun of me because he says I would never last an hour in a New York winter (where he is from). He is right, and that is why we live here instead of there! Thanks so much for the Pin!

      Reply
  25. Breanna

    Love the look of the top!

    Reply
  26. Ann Marie

    I love seeing your projects. This table is just beautiful. I haven’t attempted anything like this before, but you give me inspiration and hope. Thanks. By the way, I saw your link at 594 Main link party. Ann Marie @ Iris Abbey

    Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you so much Ann Marie! When I see your work, I feel like you give me inspiration! You should definitely try the table, it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it was. Thank you for coming by from 504 Main!

      Reply
    • GTC

      Thank you for your sweet comment on my Coffee Table Wood Grain post

      Reply

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