Monday, February 10, 2014

Stenciled-Table Top


Whenever I pass my daughter's room, I see her on the floor.  Whether she's painting her nails, using her laptop, or doing homework, she ignores her fully-functioning desk and opts to sit on the floor.  No matter how many times I suggest sitting in a chair or warn her of future back problems, she'd rather plant her derriere somewhere else.  So, as a healthy compromise, I decided to create a table that she could do her normal activities on.


I created the table top by using a large-wooden board, from an unfinished project I'd been storing in the garage.


The vinyl decals didn't appeal to my daughter.  We had a few other ideas in mind, but nothing concrete.  Then a few days later I was contacted by Royal Stencil Designs and asked to review one of their stencils.  I was really excited to work with Royal Design Studios.

But, I have never stenciled before.  With so many beautiful designs, the hardest part of the project was choosing a pattern.  So I left it all up to my daughter!  She narrowed her choices down to the Small Spanish Lace stencil.

To get started we began by removing the vinyl decals.

They left a raised-sticky residue which needed to be sanded smooth.  After the surface was clean, I painted the table top with a few coats of leftover white paint.

I began stenciling the next day!  Once I had it level and taped down, I started stenciling in the middle and worked my way out. My daughter's been on a bit of a gold kick lately.  She chose the gold stencil creme simply because of its beautiful-metallic sheen.   
The process was longer than I expected because I chose to use a stencil brush; the same results can be achieved using a roller.

With my husband's help, I attached the furniture leg brackets to the corners of the board, then screwed the legs in place.

Purchased from our local Home Depot.

I was on a mission to finish the table before my daughter returned home from school, so I could surprise her with it set up in her room.


Now she has a comfortable spot to do her nails while sitting on the floor.



or browse the internet



It's the perfect space saver, because it slides under her bed when she's through.



I lightly sanded the top of the table to give it a distressed look.  Then I sealed it with polycrylic to give it a protective coat.

My daughter loves it and that's all that matters in my world!


**No financial compensation was received, however I did receive a stencil to review.  All opinions are my own.

55 comments:

  1. I love it!! And it is functional.for hwr needs, which makes you such a good mum!!:)
    xo
    Ozana

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  2. Absolutely a darling Brandi! your daughter must be ecstatic! love the pattern you chose too dear!

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  3. It's beautiful! What a darling table. I'll bet that thing ends up being handy and lurking about for years.

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  4. What a fantastic idea! It looks amazing. My girls were always either on the floor or sprawled across their beds despite having great work areas!! Go figure.

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  5. A labor of love and I hope she loved it! I think it's great that you can hide this under the bed when it isn't in use. Fab and Functional!

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  6. Oh my Brandi, I want one of these for myself! What a great idea and so true - my daughter does everything on the floor. It turned out fabulously!!!! Jane

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  7. OMG so cute! What a lucky girl. I'm sure she'll use it a ton!

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  8. Your daughter and my daughter are just alike. I can't pay my girl to sit at a table, she would rather sit on the floor. Lol! That table is so cute and such a great idea! I know your daughter is enjoying it!

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  9. What a cute idea, Brandi! Wish I had one of those when my youngest was still at home. Like your daughter, she did everything while sitting on the floor!

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  10. Adorable, so perfect. My daughter also does this, always on the floor. I may have to make her one too!

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  11. Tell your daughter that I was her as a kid! I don't recall a day spent doing homework at a desk or a table. I was always on the floor (mostly) and maybe on the couch. And yes, I heard about humps in my future back and everything, but I just never liked sitting in those straight back chairs. So, I get it. lol

    Now, Mom, I love what you've done. This low desk/table is fantastic. I love the stencil and the colors you both chose. Are you sure your background isn't interior design?

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  12. I love the design your daughter chose; very feminine and pretty. One would not know that you've never stenciled before! Superb job! I love it! I also love that it can be stowed under her bed when not in use. Also, I envision her having friends over and gathering around her favourite table painting nails, laughing, and having fun. She has a really cool mom! Awesome job lady!

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  13. I love how this turned out, Brandi! The pattern is perfect and I love the gold! How neat that it slides under her bed when not in use too. Great job!

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  14. That turned out beautifully Brandi! what a great idea and a gorgeous stencil.

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  15. Beautiful. You inspire me to want to be creative. Great job!

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  16. I love it so creative and it turned out so good. I am loving that gold

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  17. Duh! lol What a simple a beautiful solution to teenagers that insist on sitting on the floor. My daughter does the same thing. :) Brandi, you do some amazing work and come up with very creative projects. Thank you! :D

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  18. Such a good idea, I think my oldest granddaughter would love it too!

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  19. That is a beautiful table. I use to do the same thing when I was younger and could have used a table like that. Now I am too old to sit on the floor. HA! HA!

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  20. love this little table. i love the stencil you chose too!

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  21. This is beautiful

    www.Islandchic77.com

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  22. This table is so cute and such a good idea! And both of my daughters are on the floor writing/coloring right now, haha. Maybe I need to make them a table like this!

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  23. Such a sweet gift and lovely stencil!!

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  24. I love how pretty AND practical this is! Just lovely

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  25. What a pretty, pretty table! I applaud your daughter for being able to paint her nails from the position of sitting on the floor! NO WAY I could pull that off! She must possess great agility!

    Beautiful DIY project!!!

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  26. I love the way this turned out! I think you just inspired me to do my next project. I have a board just sitting out in my garage similar length and I never thought to do something with stencil. I could use a new laptop area since most of my time I'm on my kitchen counter,

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  27. Beautiful! What a thoughtful gift Brandi.

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  28. You are truly the "BOMB" !! I love how this project looks.. you make everything look so simple.. I'm sure your daughter lit up the room with her smile when she saw it.. Great Job!!

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  29. Too stinkin' cute. I love that it's close to ground level for her.

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  30. What a fantastic idea (especially in repurposing!!) Thank you again for stopping by my blog Brandi xo

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  31. Wow, what a great idea! Pinned it. :)

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  32. That is so sweet that you didn't fight your daughter, you gave her something that works with how she already lives. I love that! It's adorable and girly. :) That's awesome that it can slide away when it's not needed too!

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  33. What a nice surprise for her Brandi! It turned out beautifully! xo Kristin

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  34. Beautiful and functional. I still prefer the floor to a chair many times and would love a table like this :).

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  35. Corner brackets!? I didn't know HD sold those. Lady, you are my hero. What an awesome project. And I love that it lives under her bed. Bonus!
    The Other Marian

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  36. Brandi,

    Absolutely a fantastic idea!

    Kisses

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  37. adorable! and a good alternative to sitting on the floor for sure.

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  38. You did a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing this project :)

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  39. What an absolutely adorable and super-clever idea, Brandi! So sweet of you to totally involve her and then to finish it up as a surprise. I don't know what it is about kids and teens and the floor. All part of that "indestructible and invincible" attitude, I guess.

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  40. LOVE!!!!!! Absolutely LOVE! Great job Brandi!

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  41. Thank you for the comment on my profile .I love your diys so inspiring and well done, officially following you GFC #968.
    Hope you can follow back doll.
    www.fashionnfreedom.blogspot.com

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  42. Your photos are amazing!!! In love with your blog!!

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  43. I love the table you made for you daughter. I want to start tackling more DIY Projects.

    Sonya
    Saving Everyday With Sonya K

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  44. Wow Brandi, you are so creative. I've been browsing your blog and amazed by what I see. This table looks incredible, and the amount of work...

    Your blog is an inspiring one, and I'm going to make sure I get all your posts, I already signed up to get them on my email.

    Cheers and have a very nice week.

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  45. I loved the original wood board and at first was like... "NOOOOO"! However, you really transformed this piece and I love the detail and pattern you used for it.

    Great work Brandi! You are so clever.

    Thanks for sharing and for linking this post to the SHINE Blog Hop).

    Wishing you a wonderful day.
    xoxo

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  46. I love this idea! I'm so glad you shared, and I love your creativity with just a wooden board. Pinning!

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  47. Hi Brandi, thanks for your visit and for the sweet comment that you left me! So I have come to know your blog and I found your beautiful works. The table you've created for your daughter I loved it: nice and functional, fantastic the idea to hide it under the bed when not in use! A hug from Italy. Paola from http://ilpaeseincantato.blogspot.it

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