Thrifty Makeover: Demilune Hall Table

April 16, 2019

Thrifty Makeover: Demilune Hall Table

Other shoppers saw a cheap wobbly table. But I saw a treasure! Stop by and see the makeover.

Today's project is a modern-day demilune (or half moon) table. I will give a brief review of repairs and the painting process followed by an alternative to wax to seal the paint.

This second hand table is begging for a makeover.

What you can't see in the photo is how wobbly the table is. So the first step (after cleaning) is to stabilize the table. This can sometimes be challenging with vintage or antique furniture, but usually the modern-day pieces are easier to deconstruct. I was able to very easily unscrew the bottom portion with the legs.

Wobbly furniture? The first step is to deconstruct it.

The legs slid out easily from the grooves of the base.

Wood glue is an easy way to fix a wobbly table.

I applied a generous amount of wood glue to the grooves. I wasn't able to clamp the legs, so I re-assembled the base to the pedestal and then turned it right side up and let gravity do the work.

After the wood glue was dry I applied the first coat of paint.

I chose Chateau Grey for my base coat.

The table looked great with the Chateau Grey, but I wanted something a little lighter for Spring. So I chose Versailles for the second and final coat of paint. I brushed it on thick in places to get good coverage and thinner in other areas in order for the darker base color to peek through. I lightly sanded the edges to give this piece a bit of vintage charm.

The final step is to seal the chalk paint. Normally I use clear wax, but I injured my elbow recently and needed an easier solution than applying wax. I had some hemp oil on-hand that is specially formulated for furniture, so decided to go with that. It works quite well over chalk paint and gives good protection to the paint. And the best part of the process is that it is so easy to apply! First I applied a small amount onto a lint free cloth.

This is one of the easiest ways to seal chalk paint.

Next I rubbed the oil over the chalk paint.

Rub the oil over the chalk paint and then wipe it off 30 minutes later.

Don't skimp on the oil. You'll want to spread it evenly over the paint to get good coverage. It will be wet and shiny at this point. Then let it sit for 30 minutes or so and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. It will be dry to the touch fairly quickly at this point, but it takes about 24 hours to fully cure. I applied a second coat for extra protection. The top coat of hemp oil is not as shiny as wax, but it still has a beautiful luster.