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Hello friends! We recently had a table made and added a new rug to our dining room and I love it!
For some time, I’ve wanted to trade out our wood and white dining table that we got off of marketplace a few years ago. I’ve always loved the look of the Arhaus Francis dining table, but the price was just not in our budget. While scrolling through marketplace one day, I saw an ad for a local carpenter who makes custom solid wood farm tables. The price was more what we were looking for, so I reached out.
I was quoted $650 for a 6ft solid pine table and bench set with the turned legs that mimic the ones on the Arhaus table. We ended up selling our old table for $150, the chairs and bench for $200, and an antique pie safe that we scored for free for $350. We also sold the round wood table that used to be in our eat-in kitchen that I refinished for another $200. We simply switched things out for about the same price and ended up with a custom dining table we love.
The table wouldn’t fit well on the 5’x7’ rug I previously had in this space, so I sold that as well and reached out to my favorite rug company, Boutique Rugs. I had found a barely used 8’x10’ Sattley area rug from Boutique Rugs on marketplace for only $50 for our living room a while ago. I loved it so much that I chose to get another one for our dining room.
If you are in the market for a new rug, be sure to check out their great selection of high quality rugs. This one is the Sattley area rug. You can use the code FAF60 at checkout for 60% off!
Overall, I am loving how our dining room looks now. It is a room that is walked through often, since it is at the center of our home,and every time I walk through it I smile.
Thank you for taking the time to read and God bless!
It’s finally time for fall decor! Today I’d like to share with you how I decorated my home this year for fall.
While it may not feel like fall yet in Indiana, many Instagram influencers decorate early in order to provide others with decor inspiration. Hopefully I can give you some ideas for your own fall decor!
Entryway
For my entryway, I used neutral pillows and a throw blanket on my church pew. I also used a pumpkin pillow from Homegoods and a hand-me-down fall wreath. Although it’s so simple, it gives off a cozy, fall vibe as soon as you walk in the door.
Living Room
On the shelf above the sofa, I added my new Pumpkin Patch sign from Hobby Lobby that my little sister got me as a gift. It makes such a great focal point in the room that is unmistakably fall. I added a few Hearth and Hand clearance eucalyptus stems to create the look of a garland and added white pumpkins from Hobby Lobby.
A few black Goodwill candlesticks and a white pitcher filled with more eucalyptus balances out and fills each side of the shelf. I added my new Hey There Pumpkin pillow cover from Three Little Mommas on the couch. Isn’t this pillow cover adorable?!
Dining Room
In the dining room, I created a fall tablescape using a jute runner, thrifted brass candlesticks, more Hobby Lobby white pumpkins, and these orange eucalyptus stems from Joann Fabrics.
I also added this DIY book page banner that I made to my Goodwill-find accordion coat rack.
Coffee Bar
On the coffee bar, I added a black and white buffalo check banner from Target Dollar Spot last year along with other black and white accents.
I added this mini sign from Hobby Lobby and my Rae Dunn pumpkin spice mug to my tiered tray.
Kitchen
I didn’t decorate much for fall in my kitchen but I did switch out my greenery for a few fall stems on this little hook.
All Things Fall
Overall, I decorated pretty simply for fall this year. I decorated earlier than I ever have because 2020 has been a crazy year and I was ready for a change. I’ll be decorating my porch soon and I’ll share that when it’s finished!
Check out my Instagram page @faithandfarmhouse for more fall decor inspiration. I would love for you to give me a follow! Thank you for reading and God bless!
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. All opinions remain my own.
Fall is almost here! While it’s still hot in Indiana, I’m excited for sweater weather and a trip the pumpkin patch! Today I’d like to share with you how I created a budget-friendly, farmhouse fall tablescape.
I wanted to create a simple fall look with a vintage farmhouse feel. I gained ideas off of Pinterest and Instagram and knew I wanted to use antique candlesticks, white pumpkins, and eucalyptus. I planned on using green eucalyptus stems laid flat as a garland, but I changed my mind in the process.
When styling a space, I typically have an idea in mind and then adapt and change as I progress. I think it turns out better when you don’t have a clear picture of the end result. Going into decorating a space without perfection in mind always makes you happier when things are finished.
For my tablescape, I used a clearance jute table runner from Hobby Lobby that my mom gave to me. I was using a black and white buffalo check runner before but I knew that wouldn’t give that vintage look I was hoping for. I was thankful that my mom gave me this one. She’s the best!
I have also been slowly gathering brass candlesticks whenever I find them at my local Goodwill. I came across this set of six antique brass candlesticks for only $2.99! A complete set like this one can cost about $30-$50 at an antique shop, so these were a lucky find!
I placed some fake white pumpkins from Hobby Lobby along the centerpiece. These ones are only $1.80 each (40% off fall decor), so very affordable.
I also found these beautiful rust-colored eucalyptus stems from Joann Fabrics. They were on sale for $1.99 each and I used a 20% off coupon for entering my email online. I used 4 stems placed in an old galvanized container in the center of the table.
For the place settings, I didn’t change what I already had there. I used Rae Dunn plates, buffalo check napkins and white dinner plates from the Dollar Tree. The galvanized chargers are also from Hobby Lobby.
Overall, I’m happy with how my fall tablescape turned out. It was simple and inexpensive and gives off that vintage farmhouse look I was going for. It will be a perfect place to gather with family for dinner on chilly, fall evenings.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and I’ve inspired you in some way today. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive to be beautiful! For more home decor inspiration, be sure to follow me on Instagram @faith.and.farmhouse. God bless!
Are you wanting to give your home a fresh look for summer but don’t know where to start? While there are many ways to decorate for summer, I love to go back to a simple farmhouse-style look after I take down my patriotic decor. Today, I want to share a few of my favorite ways to decorate for summer.
1. Buffalo Check
Black and white buffalo check is one of my favorite prints to decorate with! While it isn’t for everyone, I love to use it throughout the year. I love that it’s so versatile and it gives off that rustic farmhouse feel. I like to use black and white buffalo check with neutrals and greenery during the summer as a way to add dimension. It’s such a fun pattern!
I used these thrifted buffalo check pillows on my church pew.I added black and white buffalo check to my coffee bar.I used a buffalo check table runner and napkins for my table setting.
2. Greenery
I love to add a lot of greenery around the house during summer. It’s the time of year where things outside are naturally green and bringing it inside breathes life into your space. I like to use a mix of real and faux greenery. One of my favorite things to do is clip greenery stems from overgrowth in my backyard and put them in a vase inside as free decor!
Backyard overgrowth makes great decor!Bonus: It’s free!This greenery looks so real and goes 50% off every other week at Hobby Lobby!
3. Lemons
While I didn’t use any lemons in my decor this year, I think it’s such a cute summer decorating idea! The yellow of the lemons brings in the brightness of summertime. These ladies below did a fantastic job using lemons to decorate for summer!
While I love to use whites and neutrals all year, I think they work especially well in the summer. I think neutrals give off an instant cozy vibe and look so bright and inviting. Summer is full of sunny days, so using whites and neutrals brings that brightness inside.
Cozy neutral furniture and white pillows bring in the brightness of summer.I love white furniture and dishes!
I hope I’ve given you some simple ways you can add summer farmhouse style to your home! For more home decor inspiration, please follow me @faith.and.farmhouse on Instagram. Thanks for reading!
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. All opinions remain my own.
I had never refinished a piece of furniture in my life. What I learned was that refinishing an old oak table, though not exactly easy, was well worth the time and effort.
A Thoughtful Gift
This solid, round oak table was where my husband and I sat and ate many meals, some great, others not so much, during our first few years of marriage. It was a hand-me-down table from my parents. They had it sitting around in a garage and knew we needed a place to sit and eat. We didn’t have too many pieces of furniture starting out. My husband was still taking college classes while working full-time and I had just graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and was looking for my first teaching job. Even though it didn’t look the best; the finish was peeling in places and it was stained that orange-ish color that made it look straight from the 90’s, we welcomed this table with thankful hearts.
Time for a Change
We bought our first house together in the spring of 2018. We had just welcomed our little girl into the world and we were ready to stop renting and buy a place of our own. I knew before we even found our home that I wanted something that I could decorate farmhouse-style. I’ve always loved seeing the transformations that Joanna Gaines does to the houses on Fixer Upper and I couldn’t wait to bring that farmhouse feel into our future home. When our offer was accepted on a home with two dining spaces, an eat-in kitchen and a formal dining area, I knew that it wouldn’t be in the budget to buy two new dining tables. I was going to have to update our current dining table in order to get the look I was hoping for. I had never refinished a piece of furniture in my life. What I learned was that refinishing an old oak table, though not exactly easy, was well worth the time and effort.
The hand-me-down oak table in the dining room of our rental home. I hated those green countertops!
Doing Some Research
First off, I started doing my research into how to refinish a table. I knew that I wanted a white base with a dark walnut stained top. I found another blog tutorial online that proved to be very helpful from @makingitinthemountains. Her tutorial online about how she refinished her kitchen table was exactly what I was looking for! I also found a few other tutorials and googled the basics on sanding and staining. With it being a free, secondhand table, I decided to take a shot and refinish it.
Gathering the Supplies
I knew I wanted to stain my tabletop a dark, deep color. After researching different stain colors and brands, I went with Miniwax Dark Walnut stain. What’s great is most of my supplies for this table are available on Amazon, so I didn’t even have to go out for too many supplies. Click on the images featured to purchase on Amazon.
Miniwax Dark Walnut Stain
After reading something about how belt sanders can leave marks, but palm sanders may not leave as many, I went out and bought a palm sander that proved to be very handy (pun intended).
Black + Decker Mouse Detail Sander
I definitely didn’t have the time to sand the entire table, and I knew that chalk paint allows the paint to stick on finished surfaces without sanding. I purchased a can of Rustoleum’s Chalked Paint in Linen White. I love how easy it is to use!
Rustoleum Chalked Paint in Linen White
I used a cheap foam paintbrush that I had lying around so it wouldn’t show too many brushstrokes, but a good, high-quality paintbrush is all you really need.
To seal the top, I bought a can of Miniwax polyurethane. This is the one I used:
Miniwax Polyurethane in Clear Satin
Sanding
The key to sanding is starting with the most abrasive (lowest number) of grits first and then moving onto the finer (higher number) grits. You’ll want to make sure you get off ALL of the original finish. It needs to get down to bare wood in order for the stain not to look blotchy. It took me at least an hour and a half to completely sand the finish off of the top. I probably should have continued to sand a bit longer to smooth out any scratches, but with a young baby and busy evenings, I didn’t have that much time. I’ve read where you can use stripper and scrape the finish off first but I didn’t have the tools and I chose to just try to sand it down. Overall, it worked pretty well!
The Before Photo of the Table
Staining
After completely sanding the top down to bare wood, I applied the liquid stain using a staining sponge to the top in even strokes going with the grain. Make sure you don’t leave too much excess stain piled up and just sitting there. You can also apply the stain with a clean t-shirt or clean cloths. I used the sponge and wiped the excess up with a cloth. I let it dry overnight. I applied a second coat of stain the next day and waited for it to dry overnight as well.
Sealing
After the stain had dried, I used the polyurethane to seal the top. I was advised to go with polyurethane vs. polycrylic by the salesman at Menards, so I went with it! It has held up so far. Be sure to apply a thin coat and not too thick, otherwise you’ll end up with bubbles like I did. I had to sand down a couple spots where it bubbled up before doing a second coat of polycrylic, which was frustrating. After fixing my mistake, I did two more coats of polyurethane. Overall, I did three coats and it still looks great! Because I was teaching at the time and only getting to work during the evening hours while dealing with dinner, bath time, and bedtime, I waited about a week before I painted the base. This allowed time for the polyurethane to really set and seal properly.
Painting
Painting the base white was the easiest part. I purposefully chose to refinish the top before painting the bottom because I knew that I would drip stain. I didn’t want to paint the bottom white until all of the staining was finished. I painted the base with three coats of chalk paint one evening and it only took me about an hour total. The paint was completely dry the next morning!
It is (re)Finished!
I am so happy that I decided to take a leap of faith and refinish a piece of furniture, staining and everything, all by myself. It looks so much better and has more of a farmhouse feel to it now! I see similar orange oak tables all of the time for dirt cheap at Goodwill, garage sales, secondhand shops, etc. If you’re thinking about refinishing a piece of furniture, I say do it! I now have a beautiful, solid wood farmhouse table that didn’t cost much at all! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think or if I can help answer any questions you may have!
Faith and Farmhouse 