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My first building project ever. Thanks Ana!

March 9, 2011 |

33 Comments

posted by amberhibbs

About This Project

I made this table using Ana's design for the Farmhouse Table and the original from Restoration Hardware. I put the stretcher supports back on the outside and added the extensions.

I also switched out the 2x6 top for 2x8s and attached them all from the bottom; I didn't want to deal with concealing screws on the table surface. The switch meant the boards on the sides are attached only on the innermost 3 inches. I drilled up through the 2x4 aprons and used 3 1/2 inch screws every six inches to make sure they were secure.

It's enormous and seats 12 if needed.

Blog Link:

I blogged all the details.

From Plan (new):

Farmhouse Table

Estimated Cost:

$160 using free recycled stain and a ton of screws

Estimated Time Investment:

Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)

Required Skill Level:

Beginner

Type of Wood:

I used pine for the legs and #2 douglas fir boards for the top because they're cheaper and have more character than #1 boards

Finish Used:

I sanded it until I was pretty sure the risk of splinters was eliminated, but it was far from perfectly smooth. After pre-stain conditioner, it got a coat of Minwax Red Chestnut. The result was a little too red so my mom saved the day with a coat of Minwax Provincial and sealed it with wax. It's a tough finish and I'm not taking any special care of it. The goal is for it to look like it's really old, not pristine, so I make a point of not using place mats or protecting the surface.

dining table, first project, wedding gift

33 Comments

clips

What a stunning first project!

Amber, I'm totally blown away by your table! It is just stunning! And for a first project, wow!

posted by Ana White | on Wed, 2011-03-09 23:18

Love it!

We're hoping to make this soon....I love how yours turned out!

posted by Sarah R (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-03-16 22:57

Ends

Amazing. How did you adjust the plans so that you could push a chair in to the ends? That is exactly how I want mine to turn out.

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-03-23 23:14

clips

Chair ends

I shortened up the side boards so that the board across the end was 9" in from the edge of the main table and 16" in from the edge of the extension. So 18 total inches shorter than the overall of the main table (which in my case equates to a 78 inches from the outside edge of the legs or a 75 inch side board for a 96" table. To have the chair fit under it would be more like 32 total shorter than the table if you don't do the extension. I think you almost have to do the extension to go that far in from the end, but you might just be able to move the legs in. I wanted to be able to adjust the table size a little since mine was so big so I went for it.

posted by amberhibbs | on Thu, 2011-03-31 06:50

wax?

What kind of wax did you use? Thanks!

posted by Ariel (not verified) | on Sat, 2011-03-26 20:06

clips

Sorry for the delay.

Minwax Paste Finishing Wax

posted by amberhibbs | on Mon, 2011-04-04 21:25

Love!

Your table looks beautiful! Great job!

posted by Brook (not verified) | on Mon, 2011-03-28 14:00

clips

(No subject)

posted by Denise's designs | on Wed, 2011-03-30 14:11

How is this holding out?

I was just curious to know that with some time past...is this holding up?

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-03-31 23:02

clips

Very well

I don't take care of it at all, including putting rather warm serving dishes directly on the surface and doing other projects on top of it. I want it to look like it's been in my house for 100 years, but as of now it looks just like it did the day I finished it. Guess I'll have to keep working on the distressing.

posted by amberhibbs | on Fri, 2011-04-01 08:43

Next time

If you don't mind a suggestion, before you do any stain distress it
1. lay a few 10-16 penny nails then smack then a couple times
2. take some cans and drop them (through them) at the table
3. heat up a metal skillet and seer the table
4. take an area or 2 and tap in pins, just the tip at a angle. when stained it will be darker and look like termite holes
5. stab it with a knife 10-20 Times
6. leave a glass of ice water on it over night
Be creative try things out on a small sample piece. May I suggest my favorite a tourch >8-)

Q: did you rip a 1/8 inch or so off the edge of all the boards or did you leave the rounded corner?

posted by Tony (not verified) | on Tue, 2012-08-07 02:33

Material?

Beautiful table! Just wondering where you bought your wood? Thanks for sharing!

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Sat, 2011-04-02 21:03

clips

Orange

We drive a small SUV so getting all the 8 foot boards 15 or so miles to our house was interesting.

posted by amberhibbs | on Fri, 2011-04-15 06:54

Farmhouse table

Your table is beautiful and I like how you extended the ends of the table. How did you attach the breadboard ends without the frame underneath? Thanks, Spencer

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-04-21 10:33

Breadboard Ends

Beautiful table. I am preparing to build my own! I have the same question as the gentleman above...how did you attach the breadboard ends without the frame underneath. Thanks, Jodi

posted by Scrappyjo1973 (not verified) | on Thu, 2011-05-19 01:20

clips

Breadboard ends

I worked out a cantilever system similar to the one in the original table from Restoration Hardware. I have a full explanation (with diagrams) here.

posted by amberhibbs | on Thu, 2011-05-19 07:07

clips

Wow, cannot believe...

Wow, cannot believe this is your first build! Beautiful! I'm about to build a similar (although much smaller) version of this. LOVE the breadboards the way you did them.

posted by ferbit | on Sun, 2011-09-04 18:51

Your first build?! Gorgeous!

That table is stunning! You did a fantastic job. What species of wood did you use?

I think I'm going to have to do something similar. Adding this to my growing list of projects to build. LOL

posted by Cindy from Indiana (not verified) | on Sat, 2011-10-15 11:14

clips

Wood types.

The base is yellow pine and the top is #2 douglas fir.

posted by amberhibbs | on Sat, 2011-10-15 19:07

Thanks, Amber!

Thanks, Amber! It looks great!

posted by Cindy from Indiana (not verified) | on Sun, 2011-10-16 09:02

Farm table

Did you use 'green' fir wood for this table or kiln dried? If green, did you have a problem with sap leaking, or craking in the wood?

posted by Dana Marie (not verified) | on Wed, 2011-10-26 21:22

clips

Fir

It was the stuff they sell as Home Depot in the construction lumber section which I assume is klin dried. There was no sap, etc. I did have one board that warped a bit after a couple of months that I want to replace (other people don't seem to notice, but I can tell).

posted by amberhibbs | on Thu, 2011-10-27 08:17

Chairs

I love your table and my husband already has a top ready to go (He started a table 23years ago, we have white pine from a lumber specialty store... we since have changed our minds on the base)I like your base better than the trestle we had planned.
My question is where do I find affordable seating, but good quality?
Thanks so much for sharing your table with the multitude. :)

Debbie

posted by Debbie (not verified) | on Tue, 2011-12-06 09:57

clips

Affordable seating.

I found mine on craigslist. In general I only shop at 2nd hand stores for furniture. I like things with a little more character than I can find in my budget new. I also recommend curbside if you're okay with mismatched set. It's not for everyone, but I like it as long as you can find a collection with a similar feel.

posted by amberhibbs | on Tue, 2011-12-06 10:26

clips

Chairs

Ana has some plans for chairs. Chairs are something of an advanced topic because they need to withstand a lot of stress.

You might also check your local habitat for humanity restore. There's a lot of cool stuff at our local store, furniture included.

posted by claydowling | on Tue, 2011-12-06 13:59

clips

Great job Table looks nice.

posted by VonJ | on Tue, 2012-01-31 22:16

Plans

Wondering if you could send me the plans for this table? It is beautiful! I have been looking for the perfect table since we moved into our farm house 3.5 years ago! Thanks!

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Mon, 2012-02-20 11:48

clips

Plans

The plans are very similar to Ana's original ones, but I did make a few minor changes. I'd be happy to send you plans with the changes I made. I would need your email address though. :)

posted by amberhibbs | on Fri, 2012-02-24 10:15

Plans

I would love to see the plans as well.
Thanks

posted by Guest (not verified) | on Fri, 2012-02-24 16:24

clips

PLANS!!!

I wrote a full post with all the changes I made to the original plans. You can find it here.

http://germanjellosalad.blogspot.com/2012/02/adjustments-to-ana-whites-f...

posted by amberhibbs | on Sat, 2012-02-25 11:26

clips

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