Dining room table

The table has now been out of our house for nearly 2 weeks. Very frustrating. I just had to sand and paint it now didn't I. What a silly thing to do. We're now paying for my haste in starting the table when the weather was really not ready for painting. Luckily David has been out there today masking off the table top from the legs and then painting the table. He's managed two coats so far. I've only taken photos after the first coat, but it looks good so far. And the best thing is when its finally finished it will be all ours and the change of table will have cost us next to nothing.

A little present

I decided that since my maternity leave is coming to an end I have to finish a ton of jobs I've wanted to do over the last year. But let's face it who has time to do anything with a new baby!!
So since I'm now down to 10 days until I'm due back at school these projects are calling my name. Since its school holidays and the kids are able to entertain Hamish for a little while I thought I would start sanding our dining room table.
I got under the house and found the electric sander, some sanding paper and of course the extension cord and then needed to take the legs off the enormously heavy table so that we could get it outside. Josh was a wonderful help with that. It's so nice having another man in the house. Not quite as strong as Dave yet but stronger than me. Yay.
With the table top on top of a trestle table outside I started sanding. The stupid table kept moving as I sanded so I had to sand around the edges. I wonder if I'm the only one who gets a sore hand while sanding with the vibrating sander in their hand. AND it was taking forever.
I called Dave of course and asked him to bring some courser sand paper home. He is only around the corner from Bunnings at his new office. He dropped everything to get his crazy wife the sand paper she needed to get the job done. Tomorrow I'll be sanding and sanding and then laquering or staining the top and painting the legs. I might even do the coffee table. We'll see how keen I am after tomorrow though.
Poor hubby only got home from work at 8 pm. A very long day. But he came home with a present for little me. My own little sander. Thankyou honey. You're the best.
These are some inspiration photos I took from Freedom Furniture a little French furniture store. I'm not sure what the colour of the wood is yet under the old stain. When the stain has been sanded then I'll decide on what colour to go with.

The Craftroom Cupboard first coat

I finally had a little time to paint after getting the painting supplies I needed. Hamish was being a good boy and actually slept when I had some energy. This doesn't happen that often. Isabella was also wanting to help but was prepared to draw for the hour it took me to paint the first coat of paint on the cupboard as long as she could paint afterwards. First I painted over the dents that had been filled and spots I didn't think the roller would get into. Then I rolled away to my hearts content. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. Isn't that always the way! An hour all up.
This is after only one coat. The only problem was the awful paint smell in the house for a good day after. Dave put an onion in the room to help with the smell. I'd never heard of this. It seemed to work. He put half an onion in a bowl of water.
Afterwards I took Isabella outside to do magic water painting. She loved it! Very cheap clean fun that entertains for hours. All the kids have loved painting with water.

Progress

Dave my love decided that I should paint the top. I must admit I wasn't going to. But if it is painted it'll be much cleaner and I'll actually be able to put stuff on the top if I choose to. I'm very grateful for his cleaning and dusting of my furniture. I love you honey!! And yes my dear husband is very tall. 6'5" in fact! So although he makes my cupboard look small it's really not!

Ready to paint

I finally chose a colour for the new cupboard Dave got for me(freebie). I wanted a bluey grey. I searched the net for colour ideas, but of course the colour names here aren't the same. In the end I decided to stop being so indecisive and just chose one. I think I'll be very happy and if not its just paint isn't it. I also got some black paint to finish off the beautiful old school cupboard. Before and after pics and posts to come soon.
Weekends at Bunnings are always crazy. But so glad we finally made it.