In my attempts to lighten things up in a sea of dark brown furniture, I decided to paint the top of my coffee table the same shade of Sea Salt that is in my kitchen. But I was feeling very lazy and rebellious on this particular day…..
Prime? Sand? Pffft. That is so the good girl way of doing things, and remember…I was feeling naughty.
Besides, I’ve painted wood before without priming it first and it turned out just fine. See? Isn’t it looking good? None of this silly sanding and priming necessary!
Now to add just a little bit of distressing. Uh….oops. Hmmm. This isn’t exactly the level of distressing I had in mind.
Hmmm. So this is why you have to sand and (at the very least) prime first, eh?
Haven’t you always wondered if you could be the lucky one who could get away with NOT priming? Well….here’s your answer for you! The funny thing is that I wasn’t even mad or frustrated about this. I’ve been doing this sort of thing long enough that I really do know better. I think I just needed to prove it experimentally for myself.
So with my experiment complete, this is what my coffee table currently looks like.
It’s definitely distressed!
I will paint it again when I find the time to sand, prime, and THEN paint :).
In the meantime, I’m just enjoying it mistakes and all!
The table runner (which really needs to be ironed, but I think we’ve solidly established here that I’m lazy) is from my sponsor, Timeless Settings Home Decor. The Nest pillow is from Stacie Ann’s etsy shop.
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Oh, I did the same thing last summer. I too should have known better and paid for it by having to strip the entire table…
It looks kind cool like that though!
Theresa
LOL…this is so something I would do! Love you for posting it 🙂 I actually don't think it looks that bad…maybe you're onto something?
Don't you just hate finding out that you should have primed firs? It is so frustrating. I personally really like it just the way it is. I think you did a great job.
http://itsybitsypaper.blogspot.com
LOL you're a doll.
Have a wonderful week-end
Kathy 🙂
I just spent a pleasant hour perusing your blog for the first time. So fun! And for the record, I even think your "mistake" up there looks pretty good once you've accessorized it :). I also suffer from impatientpainteritis. It may be incurable, but it looks like I'm in great company at least :).
that is the epitome of a beautiful disaster! 🙂 The sea salt white table would have looked fabulous, i have no doubt, but I LOVE how it turned out with the two tones! Thank you for sharing your lesson learned with the rest of us 🙂
and call me crazy, but this actually gets me excited for a few painting projects I'll be working on this summer. One of which is a wooden play-kitchen my Father built that I have so many sweet childhood memories with…waiting anxiously for when they bring it from Washinton this summer!! 🙂 When we get it I may be emailing you for some tips 😉
Beth when I read the title I though Oh No and now I see what I envisioned actually happened, Bummer I am so sorry. Live and learn and thanks for posting, I think you will save many a Diyer from doing the same. Love your attitude and how you are using it anyway!! KS
This had me cracking up – sorry 🙂 I would never know to prime first so this would have definitely happened to me. Well, for now it adds character, right? 😉 (I've been thinking of painting my pine bed frame white eventually, so this really was helpful to me).
Haha! This was so great to see. I have TOTALLY been there and done that. Sometimes shortcuts work out and sometimes they don't. LOL. It looks great right now with your pretty runner on the table…oh so distressed 🙂
OMG Beth, what a hot mess you had on your hands. Don't you hate when you do something you know darn well you should not? You think perhaps a miracle will happen and you will be the lucky one. I am glad you shrugged it off. I have had many of disasters too, and I love to share them. Can't take this stuff too seriously!
Right now, it's working for you til you get around to it.
You are HILARIOUS! Love the fact that you'll show your boo-boo's….and I think a bunch of us have had that same gaffe! However, you've come up with a good in-between look. The table runner's pretty! Happy Fall Ya'll from Houston!
You are a girl after my own corner-cutting heart. Well, it was worth a try!
Prime? Definitely. Sand? Totally unnecessary. If you get the right primer (and I think it was Centsational Girl who blogged about which primer to use on a given project so you don't have to sand), you just paint it on.
That's the only way I'm going to be able to refinish our dining set (clear coat oak from 1998). The turned legs and spindles on the chair would have me crying after doing just one otherwise!
So been there. But I sanded and primmed, then some cleaning agent fell on it while I was sick and sat for 24 hours and brought all the paint up, I was so sad…
Your table looks fabulous!!!!
Oh, I love this! This makes me smile and feel SO MUCH better. I have this same issue with wanting to skip the primer. It is great to see WHY it is important! Thanks for sharing your mishap- I think it will encourage me to prime first!
LoL. That was awesome!
Usually my eyes don't get big to pictures online, but for some reason when I saw the first "distressing" photo, I was impressed with widening eyes! 😀
Thanks for reminders why we are supposed to follow at least some instructions in life!
Oh friend… I have totally done this!!! Now, I'm a priming fool. LOL It actually looks neat though!
This is the best blog I have come across all day! You are so funny and you kinda remind me of ME! HAHA Thanks for the laugh.
That is a good lesson! I just painted my vanity and because it was already painted did not sand/prime. Hope it is alright.
Great mistake, looks pretty!
I have given up on paintbrush type of paint. I only do spray. It looks better, is faster and I don't have any peeling issues. I still always have peeling issues if I prime. Especially on tabletops and surfaces that have a lot of use.
I second what Jo said…..looks like it was supposed to be that way!
Hey, you're going to start a new trend: reverse distressing! I think it looks pretty.
hehe, that amused me! i'm liking the two toned look for now.
Hahahaha that is hilarious! I would've been so frustrated! But it looks great!!
I hate sanding too! I must say, I think it looks good like that. I really like the baskets you have underneath. Another good project!
way to role with the punches.
Well, that answers THAT question!! Thanks for sharing the stops and starts in decorating!! 🙂
Hello
oh what a shame it has not been the result you expected qe? I see why you've been looking ultimamanete many Americans blog and see authentic hands that paint and paint their furniture and I wonder … are artists I could not I have some frames that I painted white and I have them under the bed and the result is that much notice are painted and not as over-the jejejej. Of course even if you do not like the result placed in the room but the set as your whole house is asobroso and cozy. Thanks for your advice to perhaps one day my picture to send you photos so you can see my house which is still much smaller than yours and more ugly but what we have.
Many kisses.
Wow, thanks for the heads up! lol I'm waaay to scared to tackle a project like that!
I actually really like the look right now! It's cool how you left it like that! Once you're ready to finish it, it will be something different! Love change!!!
xoxo
Yeah I do usually prime everything. Sometimes even two light coats. But I am lazy about the sanding first. I do not skip the proper washing first. And a real painter pro taught me that you do not have to sand in between coats (unless you have to remove drips and such), sanding in between coats is just meant to give the paint something to hold on too, but if you follow up with your coats pretty quick the paint will not have set yet and not be hardened out, so the new coat has something to hold on to.
I kind of like your table this way. Reminds me of some of MissMustardSeed's pieces with the light bottom and dark top. But that was not what you were going for, I guess.
At least you made me laugh. So I'd say that it was all definitely worth it.
I must say that I totally loved this post. Thank you for sharing your non-sanding-priming woes!
OMG, I actually gasped so loudly when I saw the first "distressed" picture that I scared my cats, who jumped off the bed and ran from the room! I wasn't expecting that pic, to say the least …
Thank you so much for keeping it real, but if that had happened to me, I'd still be screaming! I've never NOT sanded and primed a piece of furniture I've painted, because most of the refinishing I've done was on pieces I later sold in my booth at an antique mall. I have a mahogany bed that is to die for that I am going to paint white, and was just looking at it the other day wondering "Do I really need to sand this thing? …" so I am taking your post as a sign that YES, I do!
Your table actually looks pretty darned good with the dark top and white skirt and legs, and if I were you, I'd seriously think about leaving it that way. I really like the runner on top, it adds a nice graphic element.
Anyhow, off to locate my cats now!
Best,
Kimberly
Too funny!! I'm thinkin' how fun it must have been to pull all that paint off . . . you are great. 🙂
Oh my gosh!!! I am so sorry Beth, but I just laughed my tail off! I am under a ton of stress right now, and this just made me crack up! I am sorry you had to go through it, but oh my… that picture of it peeling off is just too funny. I really don't mean to laugh at your little "issue" you have going on, but oh how I needed it!
Hilarious! Lazy + Rebellious = not a good day to do any kind of remodeling refinishing reupholstering or painting of any sort!! 🙂
Now I don't feel so bad. I was trying to get an ottoman covered recently and was in a major rush. It turned out horrible. But at least you have the guts to blog about it!
That's distressing, all right! 🙂
~ * ♥ * ~
I actually really like your coffee table just the way it turned out Beth! It's something a little different; I think it looks great!
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
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I just seriously laughed out loud at your distressed comment! 🙂 I am glad this happens to all of us and you have to live with the mistakes for awhile – makes us all human – thanks for sharing the painting gone wrong – but honestly with the runner, I don't think it looks that bad!
Your post made me laught too, and not because of what it did, but how you used it the way it was (for now, right?) and threw a runner on and candles and took the picture! No shame, huh?? Love it
The legs look awesome and it does look distressed! Thanks for sharing
Andrea
Oh no! Yikes! Well, thank you for informing the rest of us. "Mistakes" are just as useful as perfect project tutorials! Maybe even more useful!
Jen
Hahaha! I can't tell you how many times I have done that – and still do! I keep thinking that maybe, just maybe, this time it will be okay without all the prep work….
By the way, I really like it how it is now.
Danielle
You crack me up!
I have to vote with some of the others, I like it this way 🙂 and I love your site. So glad I found you and can follow your adventures.
TOO Funny, as a faux finisher, do you know how many times we don't want to use primer???? So when we do stuff for ourselves, we NEVER do. Love the table!
Oooh, you rebel, you! ; ) I hate the sanding, so I do prime but I use that Kilz 123 which is says you can avoid sanding. I've only used it the one time, but I like the way it worked, so I plan on going the same route on a child size table and chairs set. I also have to get better about putting a finish on top, but I can never seem to find the wipe on poly.
Love your runner and I have that same pillow, Beth! Ha! Great minds decorate alike! : )
Oooh I so appreciate this post! And I can completely get the whole "bad decorating attitude"…like I'm "too cool" for priming or something. geez. I'll learn someday!
That cracked me up! But seriously, I've always wanted to try taking the easy way out too. Thanks for showing me what would happen if I did. ;P
LOL, thanks for keeping it real! Sometimes I think I'm the only one who does stuff like that.
Oh no! I hate it when that happens. (work, flop, more work to undo previous work which is more work than the original work, work some more.) It happens to me a lot! Well, live and learn.
Oh, Beth! Glad you didn't get upset…lesson learned, I suppose. I like the way it is for the time being, too…making lemonade from lemons!
Thankfully I have a HandyMan who insists on doing all the painting around here but I know I would be a Non-Primer-Tryer if I could hahaha :0)
I've been tempted many times not to prime. Thanks for the experiment.
This answers my question about priming!! lol!
I thought the runner was from Timeless Settings…I have it, too. I have been ordering like crazy from them since you first introduced them as a sponsor. I LOVE their things! Thanks! 🙂
XO,
Jane
Very funny post! I kind of like the way it looks now. I'm with you on ironing a runner…. not a chance for me either. 🙂
Have a great day.
Pam
I learned the priming lesson the hard way too! It was a bookcase and sadly it couldn't be saved. Sniff. Love the sea salt color though. Just painted my office that color.
that photo made me really laugh out loud (lol'ing fo' real!). totally hilarious, but at least it looks like it was supposed to be that way once you dressed it. too funny, beth.
I'm going to agree that I like the way it looks this way! I'm a fan of dark furniture, (shame shame in this day apparently!) but I think this looks perfect this way. Sometimes the best projects are a result of huge mistakes. 🙂
beth – you seriously make me laugh! but honestly i kind of like the way it turned out afterwards! i don't know what it looked like before but i like the dark top/linen runner/light bottom. very french looking!
Didnt mean to, but I laughed a little;) ONLY because this is something I would do. After the top was coming off, I thought…maybe you can leave the top brown & the rest painted & the last picture shows that you CAN! A least for now, I think it still looks beautiful!
Beth, I'm thinking you may be initiating a new trend!! We have a product here called ESP. It takes away the need to sand, and is very easy to use. I still prime though.
Hugs,
Lisa x
PS – thanks for showing what happens if I don't prime – I've been tempted more than once to skip it.
That is sooo something I would do! But, I still would've been mad after my wasting of time!
I too, agree…love the lighter legs with the darker top!
juliesfreshperspectives.blogspot.com
Hee Hee! Too funny! We've all been there. And it never ends well. It still looks great. Love the table runner! Thanks for sharing.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…. that is hilarious… I so would of done the same as you, then hit myself for being so lazy and not taking the time. HOWEVER, I actually love the end result. So yeah, to being naughty! winks-jen
Too funny – I always try to get away with skipping steps on things. It looks great even though it wasn't what you originally wanted!
oh my goodness – hilarious! seriously! I am SOO with you on not wanting to prime and sometimes I do sneak it (especially with spray paint) and most times it works out fine…especially since we want a distressed look and don't REALLY care if it chips – but this is a little more than a chip…it was more like a facial peel. Awesome awesome! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
http://www.northerncottage.blogspot.com
Hi Beth~ I actually like the results you ended up with. Nicely distressed table. What a great table too, I love the claw feet.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
Heehee….the edges look so nice and birchy! Don't hate me…but I like the dark top with the lighter legs.
: )
Julie M.
ps Cute pillow!
Oh, I was going to hop on over and say "you really must prime first!", but I see experience has been the best teacher :(. At least you have the real deal for distressing.
Beth,
You crack me up!! I am seriously laughing out loud! That is soooo something I would do!
But hey, it's looking pretty good with the runner and candles on it.
You go girl!
xoxo
Traci
Love it. Been there, done that. Sandpaper is my BFF always. Can't wait to see the real reveal. At least you're honest!
I needed that laugh…sorry! What a funny post, and that's exactly how I learn – trial and error! Hope you find time to complete this project soon
i'm sorry but that cracked me up…at the same time i can totally relate. i recently spent a larger amount of money on paint/primer in one so i wouldn't have to do all the steps. it was worth the $80 as far as i'm concerned.
Yep- been there – done that! It's good when you can laugh about it 🙂
I had to LOL at that pic of your "distressing". This is why I don't paint. I have no patience to sand and prime before I paint and everything would be like this.