Well, I’m going to warn you. I’m revealing this dining set, but it’s not going to be a post full of staged, beautiful photographs. It’s just not possible right now. The prettiest shot you’re going to get is of one chair.
Here’s the full set. In my basement workshop. Such as it is. Embarassing. The fluorescent lighting and band saw in the background really add to the look, don’t they? I can hardly stand it! I’m ready to clear out my entire dining room and move this all upstairs just to get some proper beauty shots.
So sorry! The set is pretty, though, isn’t it? I was so tempted to swap it out with my dining room set and sell the one I have. I think I’m at peace with selling this one, though.
Here’s how it looked before…this is the Craig’s List picture. So sorry again!
I painted the entire set in Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint in Old White, distressed the chairs and table base and then finished them in a clear coat of wax. I stripped the top and refinished it in dark walnut with a coat of dark wax. The seats are upholstered in antique European grain sacks. Oh, it pained me to cut them up, but they really “make” the set in my mind.
The chair before…
…and just to add insult to injury, here’s a horrible picture of my gorgeous tile. It’s grouted and dry and delicious. We had the chandelier hung this weekend and that looks great, too. Next up is bead board and paint.
I’m taking the set to sell at the Lucketts Fair on May 21-22, if you’re interested!
Pam, my “picker” from Tennessee is coming this evening with a truck loaded with goodies for me. Have I mentioned how much I love Pam?
75 Responses
The dining room set is gorgeous – I'm jealous of your fluorescent basement workshop :)!
No staging needed to see how gorgeous this is. It's even better than I imagined.
You did a lovely job on the table. I'm curious why you didn't run the fabric the same way on all the chairs.
LOVE your tile! What is it called? Where did you purchase? Can't wait to see your finished bathroom!
Marian it's perfectly Miss Mustardized even without the staging. Your stlye is throughly addicting although I have no place to sell pieces like you, yet. Someone will snatch that up in a heartbeat. Here's to a productive evening.
Your basement looks like a palace compared to my garage workshop. The set is beautiful! I actually like the variation in the fabric design.
same here…. I'm jealous of your (huge) basement 😉
The set is really lovely! The dark seam on the table top is VERY interesting! Good idea to keep it darker than the top itself.
Also love these awesome chair backs!
Your tiles are really beautiful!
Bathroom tile looks wonderful. Looking forward to the next step.
Table and chairs – great look. Someone is going to be very happy to put them in their home.
Take a deep breath. Drink a glass of water. You are working so hard!
– Joy
As always, lovely! And the bathroom is looking great too.
totally gorgeous! you inspire me every time!!
I'm sitting here with my jaw dropped. My sister just sent me this link because this is MY dining set! Well, not this particular set, but you get my meaning. It was my grandmother's and I have REALLY wanted to redo it, but I've been too scared to do anything with it. I'm afraid I'll mess it up. Would you happen to be planning a detailed post about how you did each step?
I still can't believe my Mimmie's dining set could possibly look this beautiful. : )
It is so beautiful. Good luck at Lucketts here in a few weeks.
Laurel at fabricpaintandglue.blogspot.com
Another fantastic job well done! I like how you chose to run the stripe horizontal and vertical 🙂 You are just so clever. Thanks for the inspiration. How I wish I wasn't chained to this 8 to 5 desk job but if I don't work then I can't paint…….until next time. Keep on paintin'
Beautiful! From God Awful Ugly to amazing! Thanks for sharing!!
You did such a lovely job of the dining set it looks beautiful. looks like you have a lot going on right now
I SOOOO want to do this to my dining room set but I can't convince my husband. I'm going to show him this post with the hope it might change his mind. Lovely pieces. ~Ann
Wow, that is gorgeous! I love it! I've been debating painting my dining set white and distressing. You might have convinced me!
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
oo-la-la! It looks amazing!
OMG! Gorgeous, but you knew I'd think that, didn't you?!(wink, wink) LOVE it!
Ohh my, how I can't wait to see you at Luckett's on the 21st! It looks like I'm going to need to get there first thing in the morning though, I don't think you're stuff will be around for too long! 🙂 Great job on this set!!!
A picker?? I want a picker! Lucky Duck!! Awesome job on the table. It looks fabulous as always.
A-MAY-ZING!
It's oh-so-lovely! Just out of curiosity- why did you put the grain sacks in different directions on the chair?
It looks wonderful!.. an can I say it's nice to know that even you run out of time.. seeing your projects "in the buff" on occasion is refeshing and a bit less depressing to those who struggle to get it all done :).. on that note.. I got my bench done! http://www.domesticanarchy.com/2011/05/romancing-bench.html I did it in the Louis Blue with dark wax.. I LOVE IT!!!!!.. thanks so much for turning me on to it!.. you rock!
Maddie
This turned out so great! I adore grain sack fabric and love how you ran the stripe differently for the two arm chairs…. so smart!
Someone is going to be so excited to get this.
Love the chalk paint finish.
Still need to order some of that!
xx
Alison
BTW… I am a newish follower… you have been such an inspiration! Last week I painted two benches that have been sitting in my garage for a year… and this weekend (on mothers day) I painted the back of a built in book case! Something I've been wanting to do for years, but just was never really inspired to do so! Thanks… can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Wow, the table looks wonderful! I love it so much I wish I lived in Pennsylvania so I could go to this Lucketts place. Again, very very nice work.
Wow!! Truly talented work – who would have imagined that would turn out soo good?! Lots of sanding I imagine?? Very inspirational!! Go you!!
Looks spectacular…makes me want to start stripping and sanding my dining set! Thanks for the inspiration.
wow. just wow. That set turned out GORGEOUS! the dark top is so beautiful next to the distressed white. perfection!
WOW it's amazing!!! I love how you ran the blue stripe "horizontal" on the side chairs and "vertical" for the end chairs.
I didn't even notice your workshop; I could look at your finished projects all day long!
Looks really amazing. Could you explain how exactly you stripped the top and refinished it. Does that mean you re-stained it or painted it? I'm thinking stain, but I'm not sure. I would love to do this to a table I have once I understand exactly what you did. Thanks.
Oh my word… you made those drab chairs look like a million bucks! And that tile in the bathroom… I'm soooo jealous!
The table and chairs turned out beautiful.
By chance how much would that set cost. I'm too far away, but I am interested.
It's gorgeous!!! I love the chalk paint. I just finished my first project with it and I think it turned out pretty great. In fact, just posted about it. Would love for you to come over and check it out when you have a chance!
Such prettiness – even in a basement…at least you have a basement. I would have a very tough time parting with this myself, but then again, your current one is nothing to sneeze at either!
I was wondering…below is the link to my blog that has a photo of a coffee table I picked up. Could you post on there your thoughts on how to finish the top? It's a unique basketweave design, that's why I'm looking for a 2nd opinion.
Thx & so much appreciated! http://kabamfamily.blogspot.com/2011/05/garage-sale-find.html
well, if you wouldn't even have mentioned your work area i wouldn't have even noticed as i was falling in love with this dining set! love the feed sack seats. wishing you much success @ the fair! 🙂
Amy
http://www.likeyesterdayshop.com
Be still my heart! French (blue, even!!!) grain sacks and a creamy french dining set???? Swoon! Sooo beautiful!!!!
Would you trade furniture for someone(me!) to come and fold your laundry and clean your house while you work your CRAZY mad skills!?! 🙂 Great job!
What an amazing difference. It won't last long. Someone will snap this up quickly. ~ Sarah
turned out wonderful! I want it!!! you're going to do great at Luckets! Can't wait to hear about it!
Meg
Gorgeous, as always! Where can I find the chalk paint? Thanks!
The table and tile look GREAT!
-Trish
Wow, I'd never recognize it as the same set. Another project well done!
What a beautiful transformation for the dining room set! And I love the bathroom tiles ~ so pretty!
Can't wait to see that bathroom finished! The tile looks great.Looks as though the worst is over, now just the prettiness to come.
I bow to you…truly, I have no other words. Except that I want to be just like you when I grow up! 🙂
So am I the only one that thinks that workshop staging is simply divine?!? Guess that's because I need one. 🙂
The table and chairs would be wonderful in your dining room! A less formal approach for certain. Love the clean lines! And those backs… oh my. You can keep the legs. I think I'm into backs. 🙂
Donna
Vous êtes la petite fée de la transformation… Bisous
Wow! I love the set it is an amazing transformation. Funny story – I stripped the top of a dresser the other day with my big plan to do it up Miss Mustard Seed Style but it turned out to be MDF with plastic laminate under all the paint! Yikes! At least I had a good laugh about it with my 9 year old daughter.
Bless, Lisa
GORGEOUS! Even in the basement it is to die for… the set sells itself, without gorgeous staged photos. you never cease to amaze me!
Beautiful dining set…now….I love the distressed look. You did a wonderful job. I just ordered some of the Annie Sloan paint today. Should be here tomorrow. Now I can't wait!!
Oh, come on, you know it's a gorgeous transformation! I love it!!! Thanks for inspiring so many of us aspiring creators 🙂
It's gorgeous! Love the touch of the antique grain sack chair cushions, so cool! I have a very similar set — a table and 4 side chairs + 2 armchairs, that I am DYING to paint with the chalk paint. Mine does not have a nice wood top, though, it's got a hideous greenish formica top, so the top will be painted as well.
Now all I need to do is have my lazy bone removed and a MMS-ambition bone tranplanted in its place. Wish it were that easy! Your energy and ambition amaze me …
Best,
Kimberly
Amazing what a little paint & fabric & a TON OF WORK will do! The set is wonderful, lucky fammily that buys this!
Your tile is stunning can't wait to see it all later!
i love the set… what else is new… i love everything you do. : )
I can see why you almost kept it…it is gorgeous!
Wow it's gorgeous!! You do amazing work!
Beautiful once again.I think your readers are all past the piont of staging,what I mean is we wait with antisipation for your work to be shown no matter how it's set up. Although all love the way you stage. Love the tile! 🙂
beauuuutiful!
Absolutely gorgeous! Love the color of the chairs and the burlap for the seats! I have forgotten what your dining room looks like but I'll be its amazing. I might have to go back through and check! Love your style!
Megan
You know, even in the workshop your talent shines through! I think I'd be tempted to keep this set myself and I agree those sacks make the whole set divine!
Wow, looks great , well done!!!!
I HEART that table! Great job! And I need that tile!!! I am redesigning a client's home…this would be perfect!!! Can you let me know where you purchased it?
XO, Meme
BTW, I want to let your readers know I am having a $100,000 giveaway..lol…ok $100…:D I hope you can stop by and sign up!
Thanks MMS for your advice on the coffee table! I hope to link up here with it some day!
I am so inspired. I did a Craigs list table like that, but we painted the top. I am tempted to get back to the client and ask her if I can have it back and strip the top and make it lovely wood again. This turned out gorgeous!
It's gorgeous! I LOVE it!
Hi Marian~ LOVE LOVE LOVE the diningroom set! I know how much work it takes to get it looking as good as you do on all your finished pieces. It will sell fast, I know it!
I have a question for you …., I finished my 12 piece dining room set in Ralph Lauren satin water base paint. I also waxed it with minwax clear paste wax. Previously, I had a dining room set I finished in clear poly, but as it was so much work to do it this way (with all the chair carving, etc) I thought I would try the easier quicker wax finish. But the finish on my table, chairs etc has now gone smeary and gummy feeling. What did I do wrong? Can you help suggest what I shld do now (hope it isn't that I now have to sand/strip and refinish again…bwwwaaaa). I know you are crazy busy but I hope you can pass on some suggestions/help to the problem I now have.
Thanks and take care and best wishes for great weather and turn out for the big sale.
Patty/BC
This is absolutely amazing. Such great vision you have. I would have seen this and passed it by myself. Wish your store was local – I would really have to talk my husband into getting this set =)
Gorgeous! The table top is absolutely stunning.
Don't ever worry about staging…we don't mind seeing your workshop. You create such incredible "afters" and we are thrilled that you share with us.
Pat
Breathtaking, Marion. So pretty. The set has such pretty lines to begin with. I would buy it in a minute if I were closer….
That table and those chairs would shine anywhere you put them!! We can deal with some "real" reveals now and then!! So Pam is bringing you a truckload of goodies……do they all have to be painted?? I hope not for your sake!! Sounds exciting though to open the truck and see all the goodies…..I think I'm jealous!!
Looking forward to seeing what all you will have for the fair, I know it will be wonderful and wish I could be there to snag some of your pretties! Take care, VBg
PS: the tile is scrumptious!!
I think I may have owned a similar set years ago. What was I thinking selling it!
Your bathroom tile is so pretty! Can't wait to see it all come together. It's such a process when you're trying to run a business though. Hang in there!
I am so amazed to find this, as I am NOT a good decorator but desire to be. I was given a table that is too fancy for us, as we are like bulls in a China shop! So what you've done~right down the burlap, is EXACTLY my vision!!!! Maybe keeping the tabletop white though… *THANK YOU!* for this! It will be my first project, every. YIKES! 🙂
Hi, Marian! I finally found a dining room set perfect for our family and will be refinishing it to look something similar to your dining table here. My question: it came with several leaves. Is there a method you use to make sure a leaf matches up with the table when you’re done? You know so many tricks, I thought I would ask before I start this project. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate your help!