Gold Harlequin Table ReDo

I just finished this fun table redo and I’m excited to get it up in the living room. I showed you the first phase of this gold harlequin table redo last week with the video post showing how Fusion Gel Stain & Topcoat works. (HERE’S that post) Today, I’m going to show you the finished table and explain how I layered products, (and what I did when I messed up!) with the gold harlequin to create a vintage finish.

Here’s where it started…

The table came in this refinished state. Someone had worked hard removing all the Victorian dated finish from it and gave it a brand new, very orange mahogany finish. That’s the bad news… the good news was I had a clean slate to work from to add a vintage aged personality back into the finish.

I started this project how I always start all my painting projects, I washed the table with Fusion TSP Alternative.

First layer was the Gel Stain & Topcoat in Black, to get rid of the orange. My tip here is to stir the gel stain. A lot! Common mistake when using this product… if not stirred thoroughly, it doesn’t go on smoothly. So, stir and stir.

Fusion Gel Stain & Topcoat is a unique product. It is intended to go over an existing wood finish. It is actually a pigmented topcoat, (think, colored varnish) that you carefully brush on over the existing finish. The color of the topcoat gets deeper with each additional coat of gel stain. For more details on Fusion Gel Stain & Topcoat be sure to check out last week’s video post showing the actual application.

To contrast what will be a highly decorative top, I opted to paint the base of the table in Fusion Mineral Paint color ‘Chateau’, a lovely neutral. Only 2 coats gave full coverage. (I did scuff sand the previously varnished finish and wipe down after washing with the TSP Alternative)

After the first coat of black gel stain dried, it was apparent it was doing exactly what I was hoping for… changing the orange to a deep brown black, but still allowing the wood grain underneath to show through.

On to the next step,

But first, this important message…

The gel stain takes 5 days to cure!

Since my next step was to apply a transfer and ReDesign transfers require a waterbased topcoat, or the solvent in oil based finishes can deteriorate the transfer. That’s why I waited the full 5 days of cure time before applying the transfer, so the solvent based gel stain wouldn’t mess up the transfer going over it.

After curing time was over, I marked the center of the table to place the Gold Harlequin transfer.

Remember, I’m not going for a perfect finish… I’m wanting a very vintage distressed finish with lots of character.

I messed up applying it and ripped some of the diamonds in the application! Instead of crying about it, I embraced it. In fact, ripping it was actually perfect, in an imperfect sort of way…

I continued to try lifting the transfer, still on the plastic sheeting and partially stuck to the table top, a little more in other spots, to create even more distressing in the diamonds. Once it’s stuck down, it is really stuck, so when I lifted the plastic, if part of a diamond was stuck to the table top and I lifted the plastic backing, the thin transfer material would easily tear. Usually, this isn’t a recommended approach, but for this table, I was going for extreme distressing, so it was a good thing.

Next, after sanding with the fine grit side of the sanding sponge, I applied some ‘glaze’ I made with Fusion Tough Coat in matte and ‘Chocolate’ paint. Just using a lint free cloth, I dabbed it on and off, randomly over the tabletop.

I decided the gold harlequin table needed a pretty detail…

Just one flower from the Vintage Botanical transfer placed in the center of the tabletop.

Another 2 coats of Tough Coat over the tabletop, about 4-6 hours apart.

A final wet sanding with Ageing wax using the ultra fine sanding pad, left a smooth-as-butter tabletop! (Here’s a video post I made showing how to wet sand)

Subtle distressing on the painted base part of the table consisted of just simply sanding the raised parts and edges to reveal the dark wood underneath.

Every project I do has an ‘ugly duckling’ stage, and this one for sure did, (that moment when I ripped the Gold Harlequin transfers while I was applying them!) but didn’t it bloom into a pretty ending?! I kinda love it! This vintage beauty is staying… she’s the perfect size and color, (now!) for the living room.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube! I appreciate you reading along.

Here are more posts about redoing something: