I don't actually have a before picture of this table! This is what I get like sometimes - I buy something full of ideas of what I want to do with it and jump right in before I've remembered I'm supposed to document it all!  But then that's what I'm really about, the doing rather than the writing about it (as you can probably tell, I am not a writer!).  So I found this little side table or console table in a used furniture store for €15 - It's really nor the usual style I might go for, one that can be easily shabby chic-ed up, but I really liked its details and retro feel. 

I knew I wanted to do a zig zag painted top and add some metallic detail to bring it into a modern era.  I thought of this makeover as just refreshing what was there; the piece is largely the same as I didn't touch the wooden legs other than give them a clean, it's just a little more fresh!

I started by cleaning it with a de-greaser and taking it apart as much as I could to get the best finish.  The little bottom shelf came right apart but I couldn't get the handle off the drawer which made it a little awkward to paint but nothing some masking tape couldn't solve.

After giving the top 3 coats of white chalk paint, the zig zag pattern was achieved using masking tape stuck down in a criss cross pattern - I used three strips of masking tape for each line as I wanted a thick zig zag pattern and started taping them in one direction by hand using a ruler to check that I had an even spacing between them.  After the criss, I taped down the cross, making sure the 'cross' angle was the same as the 'criss' angle to the straight edge otherwise the zig zag pattern wouldn't be even across the rectangle top.

I then used a sharp knife to slice the masking tape so I could gently pull off the parts where I wanted to paint my zig zags.  I used a ruler and knife making sure not to press too hard with the knife as I didn't want to slice through the paint underneath.

Then I painted 2 coats of my green chalk paint, trying to make it a smooth as possible and not get any over the edges which I wanted to leave as the original wood.  Finally I gave the top 3 coats of Fleur clear sealant to help protect it. 

Now this table had a strange while plastic piping down the legs and round the top table edge which I can only assume used to be another colour that has worn off over time.  So, I decided to get out the wonderful rub 'n' buff and use a tiny paint brush and again some masking tape and colour all of this piping antique gold - it was totally the right decision because I love it and it makes this old piece truly polished!

I also used it on the drawer handle and the little metal rods and bolts that support the second bottom shelf.

For the drawer, I painted the whole thing white and just the front the same green as the top, but also added a little detail to the sides by way of a stencil, and dug about in my paper scraps bag (yes I have one) for some paper that I could line the inside of the drawer with.  I just cut a few squares and glued them down, et voila!

I covered the little bottom shelf in some cute vintage key paper (which you may have seen in some of my other makeovers!) which I cut to size just by using the shelf as a template, but it needed a few coats of clear matt sealant just to protect it a little as it is basically tissue paper!  The bolts just popped right through the paper when I was putting it all back together and their new gold look adds a nice touch I think.

I really wasn't sure where I was going to put this little table as it didn't really fit in with the decor of the rest of my house, but I LOVE it so much I have to keep it!  I found it a home in our conservatory, I MADE room for it!  It's got a sort of vintage, plant-table feel, retro and funky but not too out-there, so here it is!  I may not keep it forever and I really do feel it would look much better in a funky 70s style retro apartment but for now I'm not letting go!

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