jbiller79 Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 So I inherited a table that my grandfather made his sister in the 80’s. It’s a drop leaf trestle table made out of pine. It’s special to me because my grandfather died 25 years ago and he always wanted me to help in the shop and learn but I was a kid and always too busy. I want to keep it for myself and put in our kitchen but it’s a little outdated and I am not a fan of the design. Any ideas to change it a little without messing up the original piece. I thought about staining it as dark as I could get it and then make curly maple wedges that go into the stringer. Also making benches to go with it. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 I is a heavy looking piece. You could lightene it up some by cutting openings in the legs - patterns likes hearts anything you want. could do this above and below the stretcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbiller79 Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 I was thinking about cutting the middle part out of each leg and making it an hour glass shape. Making a new stretcher altogether. Not sure. Just throwing ideas around. I think even a more modern stain color would make the piece look better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocko Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 Color change would be a huge change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Ragatz Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 At the risk of committing sacrilege on a woodworking forum, I'll suggest you consider painting part of the table. I've seen some nice looking tables with a wood finish top and white, gray or gray-green legs/aprons or bases. It makes for a lighter/brighter look, while maintaining the wood look on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 As Ronn said, cutouts to lighten it, or leave it heavy but add carvings. In a piece like that, I like a dark stain or paint on the base, with a natural wood top. Going that route, I would trim some stock to reduce the curviness of the trestle legs and stretcher to something a bit more subtle. Go ahead in confidence with whatever you decide, grandpa would be proud that you salvaged his work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocko Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 20 minutes ago, G Ragatz said: At the risk of committing sacrilege on a woodworking forum, I'll suggest you consider painting part of the table. I've seen some nice looking tables with a wood finish top and white, gray or gray-green legs/aprons or bases. It makes for a lighter/brighter look, while maintaining the wood look on top. An espresso or walnut top with a white chalk pair would look very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbiller79 Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 I thought about doing the table in a dark, dark stain. The benches I make will have the dark top and painted base. Not sure how that would look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 What I would do is remove the middle bulge from both of the legs. Create an even curve that goes in from top to bottom on each side of each leg. I'd do the same on the stretcher underneath. I like the curly maple wedge idea and the painted base with wood top as well. Another option is a diluted paint. I've done this before on pine where i mixed paint 50/50 with water and it ended up looking like an old fashioned whitewash. (I chose white but i suppose any color would work) The wood grain still showed through but it still had a feel of paint. Kind of the best of both worlds. Shou Sugi Ban is all the rage right now. Could be a consideration as well, though it's not without it's major risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbiller79 Posted October 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Chestnut wins! That’s what I decided to do. Got it all laid out. Gonna cut it out and sand this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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