Well, it took us 3+ weeks, but our 12 foot long DIYed living room console table is officially finished!
Before I get into any more pics of the final piece in place, let me back up a bit and recap some of the most recent constructions steps that got us there (since the last time you saw our console table it was stained but still topless). As you know, we had to turn to Plan B for the top since the pallets didn’t play nice (more on that here) so after lots of driving around town in search or something reclaimed that we could use (where sadly nothing was the right width or available in enough bulk) Plan B ended up being “buy new wood and make it look old.” Hence this pile in my basement:
After trying out a few different combinations of boards on the floor of Home Depot, I discovered that I could achieve a near-perfect width by placing four 1 x 4″ boards (in plain whitewood) sandwiched between two 1 x 2″ boards (in poplar). This arrangement, by total accident, ended up looking great since the poplar 1 x 2″s around the perimeter inadvertently added a nice border that would match the 1 x 2″ poplar framing that I used on the front of the bookshelves. Score.
Since we wanted to lay the boards on top in a staggered almost brick-like pattern, I cut all of my 1 x 4″ boards into two-foot lengths to start.
The next step was to distress each of the boards to make them look more aged and less straight-from-Home-Depot. This process, as well as staining them, is a whole story in itself so we’re going to do a follow-up post with an avalanche of details (it’ll have some video, which I have yet to edit – so that’s why you’re getting this reveal post first). But here’s a glimpse of the whole distressing process to tide you over (it involved a variety of things from hammering dents and dropping a bag of screws to making line imprints and roughing things up with pointy objects).
Once I had distressed all 27 pieces of wood (yep, over two dozen) Sherry worked her stain magic on them. Again, we’ll get into this more in a follow up post full of details (yup, there’s some staining video to edit too) but it basically involved doing a variation of applications using Minwax’s Dark Walnut and Ebony stains (some light, some dark, some mixed, etc). We ended up with a bunch of boards that looked aged and kinda beat up, like they were collected from a few different sources – instead of just purchased at the home improvement store a week ago looking all shiny and new.
Then it was time to attach them together to create one big solid tabletop – well, actually three tabletop pieces (two long ends and one small “puzzle” piece that would cover our hidden storage compartment in the middle, which can be lifted out). After doing some math, we decided to stagger the boards by four inches so that when it came to the open part in the middle there would be a small lip on each edge for the puzzle piece to rest on when it’s closed so it all looks flush (I promise this will make more sense once you see the final pics at the bottom of the post). The point is, my first few cuts looked something like this.
To attach the boards, I again used my beloved Kreg Jig to screw holes that would tightly join each piece to the one beside it.
After joining the end boards, I drilled the rest of the holes and continued screwing them together, one-by-one. It probably took me about 40 minutes to create each of the two long sides of the wood countertop (and then about twenty to build the smaller “puzzle piece” cover for the storage space in the middle).
Here’s what one side looked like when it was mostly complete (it was still missing the 1 x 2″ poplar border around the edge). You can see how I tried to vary the color on adjacent boards so the change in tone looked intentional and added lots of nice texture and character.
Once the second side was done I double checked everything by placing the tabletops on the console bases – making sure that my measurements were still accurate and I didn’t need to make any adjustments before attaching the poplar 1 x 2″s around the perimeter. Luckily, all was good. Big phew.
Let’s fast forward (past attaching side borders and screwing four staggered boards together to create the middle puzzle piece) and show you our final step before putting the whole darn thing together: touch-up staining and poly-ing. We realized that it would help to stain some of the cut ends and part of the middle storage piece so that no raw wood would be seen. Once dried, Sherry applied a coat of Safecoat Acrlacq polyurethane over everything that was stained to seal it all in and protect our beloved console baby (and our beloved real baby since Safecoat is non-toxic and water-based so it doesn’t off gas like regular oil-based poly does (read more about staining and sealing the consoles here).
Oh and before I forget, do you see the white fabric around the middle console piece in the pic above? That was just an extra sheet that we had which Sherry stapled neatly around the entire wooden frame to create a nice little fabric compartment so nothing that we attempt to store can slyly slip behind the sofa. Then those two baskets that you see stacked on the chair (that we also already owned) can be contained inside the fabric “box” for storing everything from board games and books to remotes and other stuff that you might want to put on a coffee table (since we have an ottoman instead). More pics of that in a minute.
After that last bit of staining and sealing (and a few days of drying) everything was finally ready to come back into the living room. We brought things in one-by-one (bases first, then the tops) and after we had everything lined up the way we wanted it, I drilled a few screws up through the bottom of the two bases on the ends to secure the wood tops in place. And with that, our nearly 12 foot console (with a hidden middle storage compartment and some sweet bookcase-sides for even more stash space) was officially complete.
Maybe we’re biased because it’s our creation, but we’re both convinced that it came out even better than we had imagined. In fact, we think the DIY distressed wood top looks way better in the space than the grey-ish pallets would have (we’re the first to admit that the room has enough gray going on already). Hallelujah for happy accidents.
It also made us really happy that we opted for a rustic warm wood look with lots of imperfections and character (since the room was beginning to skew a little more modern than we had intended). It definitely brings some much needed balance to the overall vibe (especially once we add a heftier TV stand and some table lamps to finish things off).
Oh, but I can’t forget to show you how the hidden storage compartment turned out in the middle. It’s my favorite feature, probably because it makes me feel like James Bond. Can you spot the removable puzzle piece there in the pic below?
Clearly it’s not 100% disguised, but when you’re looking at the console as a whole it doesn’t scream at you (just scroll a few up a few photos to see what I mean) since it’s flush and the ends are still staggered instead of being cut into a big obvious removable rectangle. Once we’ve actually got some stuff on the table (lamps, a lacquer box or two, some books, etc) we think it’ll call even less attention to itself. We were just proud to get such a snug fit without making it difficult to remove (miraculously it slides right out and drops easily back in).
Speaking of which, I did end up drilling a small oblong hole (about 4 John fingers / 5 Sherry fingers wide) to make lifting it out as simple as possible. Three cheers for the sanding bits on my Dremel (Sherry got me a Dremel Trio for Father’s Day last year) which helped me make the hole even and smooth. I was nervous to puncture my took-three-weeks-to-make-it creation, but it all worked out in the end.
When lifted out completely, we gain access to those two storage baskets that I mentioned a while back (we’ll eventually fill them with more games, maybe some DVDs, not-often-used remotes, and who knows what else). Oh and you can see below what I meant by staggering the boards to leave a lip for the puzzle piece to rest on for a nice flush look:
We don’t expect to use that storage on a daily basis, so for the most part it’ll maintain its secret identity as one solid piece except once or twice a week when we dig in there for a movie or a game or something.
Of course we still have to put the darn thing to use – aka add some table lamps to the top, store some items on the shelves on each side, and generally load that baby up with function and a little form (maybe a ceramic animal for the wife). But to give you a sense of what it might look like, here are our two bedside lamps playing stand-in for a minute. It reminds us why the 16.5″ width is perfect for us – it’s wide enough to fit a chunky table lamp without having to worry about knocking our heads into them (since we’re both guilty of over-exaggerated laughing spells during particularly funny moments of Modern Family).
And no reveal post is complete without – say it with me – a budget breakdown. So here it is:
- Wood (white wood & poplar from Home Depot) – $98
- Screws & Tools – $0 (already owned everything)
- White sheet – $0 (already owned)
- 2 storage baskets for middle compartment – $0 (already owned)
- Minwax Ebony Stain – $4
- Minwax Dark Walnut Stain – $0 (already owned)
- Safecoat Acrylacq Sealant – $0 (already owned)
- Cheap paintbrushes for staining – $2
- TOTAL: $104
Clearly wood was our biggest budget hog, but for a nearly 12 foot piece of furniture made from solid wood, we can’t really complain about the just over $100 price tag. Especially since this extremely similar piece from West Elm goes for $379 – and we would’ve needed to buy THREE of them, to the tune of $1,137. Yowsa.
So another big thanks to Ana White for inspiring the design and giving me the confidence to tackle it myself (with the help of my stain slingin’ wifey). Did anyone else out there complete any builds this week? Who’s still in the basement/garage/shed/workroom finishing something up? Speaking of finishing up, I have some videos to edit and a big post to write about our wood distressing technique, so here’s hoping I can get that up in a day or two. In the meantime I’ll leave you with this shot of our new “old” boards before we screwed them all together to make the console top. Is it weird that it gets me all hot and bothered? Whatever, my wife likes leopard heels and I like distressed lumber.
Psst- Wanna see all the past steps that went into building this beast of a console table? Here’s the first post, the second one, and the third one.
UPDATE: CHECK OUT THE ACCESSORIZED CONSOLE TABLE HERE.
That is amazing. I love it. Love the whole room.
Wow! Form, function, and can we add fabulous!?! Great job guys, just what the room needed to de-modernize a bit.
PS – Love Burger in the backround of the 4th to last pic. What does he see out there? Too cute!
How funny is that? He jumps up and stretches like that all the time. Such a weirdo.
xo,
s
It looks amazing!! I LOVE the hidden storage-great job once again guys!
Big props to you guys on this project. I had doubts at about the midpoint, but you guys did a really fantastic job. Kudos.
On another note, I gotta say how much it cracks me up every time you mention “offgas.” First, it pokes at my inner young boy. Second, it makes me concerned for those millions of people who were exposed to offgassing poly and other substrates. I imagine they (and their offspring) all have webbed feet, 6 toes, elf ears, or some other radiation-like mutations. :)
This just made me crack up laughing, which I desperately needed today. My made a gorgeous bookshelf but used a coating on it that stank to high heavens (though it doesn’t anymore – and it wasn’t allowed in living space until it stopped). So what made me laugh so hard? I have two toes on each foot that are stuck together and jokes were made growing up about my pointy (not so much anymore) ears. It made me feel better to know that I likely can’t get much more mutated from it.
Hahahahahahah. I love it.
Sherry!!
Come on… I gave you a super a compliment and made a funny joke. Brotha can’t get some acknowledgment?
Oh Bob, thanks for the complement. You know you’re my secret favorite.
xo,
s
Incredible! Simply incredible! Love the distressed wood. I think the whole room benefits from the contrast of sleek and modern sectional and the “old” wood. Is anyone else dying to see what you will come up with for the entertainment unit? I’m beginning to think that there’s nothing you can’t do!
Twas a lot of work for sure. I’ve enjoyed a lot of your stuff, but this one. Well…………. NOT. Just my opinion and I know you look for them. Looks for all the world like a play tunnel for your dog or baby.
Very very impressive, John!! And, an aside, I also looove Modern Family!
That baby will be around for a LONGGGG time!! I wonder where Clara’s kids will put it in their home?
It is really beautiful, enjoy it!
Bravo! Wonderful effort and result! When it comes time to style, I say go “round” in this more angular part of the room and to balance your mirror and ottoman. How about a big, round, deep bowl filled with fresh fruit? You could use the same adhesive that museums use to keep fragile items in place. Then there would be no worries when Clara (or you guys) reaches for a snack!
Well done, it looks amazing. You’re a modest guy John, but this is an impressive feat!
AWESOME! You have way more skills then most!
Wow you guys amaze me, I love it! One question: Are those Sue Pillows I spy on Karl?
Those are fake-os. Haha. Eventually I want to sew Sue pillows but for now I just drape her over other pillows I already have. Just to imagine it…
xo,
s
I kept thinking the same thing!
Sherry- I REALLY could swear at one point (maybe about 6-mo ago), that West Elm carried a throw pillow that was nearly identical to Sue. When you introduced Sue, I went to send you the links for their pillows, but to no avail… it was gone. :( At least you can make your own though!!!
I really appreciate that you’ve just draped Sue over the other pillows because I do the same thing! I found some great napkins at World Market four weeks ago… and they’re still neatly draped (read not made into actual pillows). Eventually…
I LOVE it! You guys just helped me out with two projects-
1) you gave me more ideas on what to use to distress our coffee table…we are messing it up and restaining it so it doesn’t look so store bought (even though we got it third-hand for freeeeee!)
2) You just convinced me that I NEED to build my husband a new tv stand for his birthday. Everything I’ve found is so pricey and not exactly what I want..but that means I need to start now since his birthday is in three weeks ;)
WOW!!!!! You could literally have a new career right there. It looks fantastic…and like something you would pay 20 times as much for at anthropologie. I am impressed, and agree that it balances the room, taking away from the modern look, and giving it a more varied, eclectic feel.
Looks great.
I have to admit, I could never imagine the storage part of it in my head until I saw it. Great idea.
I love the look of the top! Great Job!
It’s gorgeous! I want one!
Your photos are like Where’s Waldo, but with Burger. Love that he is jumping at the window on his back legs in one of those shots. His (sometimes weird? ha!) presence really makes your photos fun!
He decided to get up and stretch at the exact moment I took the shot. We cracked up later when we noticed him. What a ham.
xo,
s
I LOVE it!!! It turned out amazing!
Looks great, guys!
i literally squealed when i saw the title of this post that it was finished! it looks so so good. i can’t believe you guys diy’ed this!
This is by far my favorite project of yours to date. It’s gorgeous! John, are you for hire by chance? :)
your best DIY project!!! Looks AMAZING!!!!
I want one of these in my house……it looks so great! And I love the weathered look on top. And house genious is the removable part!
I’m so excited to see your finished piece! The puzzle opening top is great! The size and the functionality of it is awesome – you did a really good job. And in your space it looks really good, but I honestly cannot wait to see it accessorized… because I have to admit the rustic look doesn’t totally mesh with the vibe I’m getting from the rest of the room. Yet.
I have no doubt you will tie it all together – and I’ll be sitting on pins and needles as you show us all how you do it!
Good job! Thanks for showing us your process!!!!
That is so impressive… no wonder you are full time bloggers this is awesome to the max!
You guys should start making and selling custom furniture–what a great deal and a great craftsmanship!
Looks spectacular. So, I have a question for you. When you were using your Kreg to attach the table top pieces together side-by-side, did you have any problems with the piece you were joining sliding up and making the surface slightly uneven? I get this problem a lot with my Kreg and don’t have clamps big enough to keep it from happening. Any thoughts on that?
Yeah it was something I had to be mindful of. In most cases I laud both pieces flat on the floor and stepped on them to keep them flush while screwing them in. My clamps aren’t big enough either, so I had to improvise. Haha.
-John
I had two thoughts as I read this… (1) the table looks AMAZING and really adds another layer to the space, and (2) your living room is huge! You keep adding furniture and it still never looks full, even though they’re pretty large pieces. I feel inspired :-)
It looks great! Can’t wait to see it with your new lamps.
WOw!! You did an awesome job John! Looks great – cant wait to see it once it has all the homey stuff on it.
SOOO impressed by how great it looks – even more impressed with the $100 price tag!! Keep up the amazing work J&S!
Well done! I really like it. It makes me wish we didn’t live in an apartment so we could build cool furniture, too. I just can’t see living with a saw in my dining room for a few weeks, though! haha
Looks great – must be nice to have such a handy husband!
It looks great! I love the little storage part!
I spy Banana-grams in your little hideout in the console. LOVE this game! I play it all the time with friends and family. So personal question here, who wins at Banana-grams more often? ;)
Me! But John would say he does. We’re pretty well matched competitors so it’s usually a toss up. Haha.
xo,
s
Your last “hot and bothered” picture would make a great desktop background. Show us the giant resolution photo?
Haha it would. Too bad we only have the low-res web version (we can’t save all our pics big or our computers would explode). Oh well, next time. It might inspire John to build something else so I’m down with a lumber screensaver. Haha.
xo,
s
I can imagine kids sitting on top of it later – using the couch as a footstool – this is exactly how my brothers once completely destroyed a brand new couch in 4 years. Terrible, but tons of fun!!
How brilliantly genius is that storage in the center?!! How much fun my son would have had hiding stuff from me there — back in the day. Congrats on an awesome project.
Gratuitous Phil quote fer ya: “I love Westerns … that’s my favorite type of movie – that and anything set against the backdrop of competitive cheerleading.”
Hahahaha, another good one. Keep ’em coming folks.
xo,
s
It looks AMAZING, great job. :)
Love it! I’m in the middle of making some wall book racks for my friend’s kids and a counter-height table. Love that Kreg Jig! I was able to piece together my tabletop from scraps because I could edge join all the pieces.
I am OBSESSED with this piece! Definitely on my list of DIY projects in the near future. It’s just so beautiful!
Awesome! That console looks like a million bucks, not $100! And by the way in answer to your question, “Did anyone else out there complete any builds this week?”
Um…no.
We live our dyi dreams vicariously through you!
Well done John. AMAZING! I have put my husband on the plane, he should arrive at your place in a couple of days for a workshop on how to build stuff. Look out for him…
I’ll keep an eye out for him. Haha.
-John
AH-mazing! I love love LOVE this walnut stain… and the way you staggered the boards for the top, just beautiful.
It was worth the wait!!
Well done! It looks so great and really works well in your space. You guys always make me want to whip out some tools and build something. Seriously. I can only hope that I would be as successful.
Now for my serious question: Does this console have a name?
Sometimes I call it The Beast. And sometimes Sherry calls it beauty.
-John
That’s A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
I’m speechless!
WOW-WEEEE!!! That’s frickin’ awesome!! Great job John….it looks amazing =)
That hidden storage? GENIUS. No words. xoxo Shelli
Looks fantastic. Can’t wait to see it dressed too.