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I’ve always loved the look of the Saarinen tulip tables.  They start at $2000 though, so they’re just a little bit out of my price range.  The Ikea Docksta is a similar style, but you can see in the picture below that it is a bit thicker on the bottom since the base is plastic rather than metal.

Last year, I had to sell my bulky dining table that was a wedding gift from my parents.  It was really a hand-me-down.  My AH-MAZING parents actually drove 12 hours with a trailer full of hand-me-down furniture when my husband and I were first married, so we would have furniture in our first apartment.  All of the furniture that they brought was all that we had for months!  We sat on the floor and watched tv (a hand-me-down), which also sat on the floor!  I know my parents weren’t sentimentally attached to the furniture that they gave us, but the selflessness of them driving all the way to Virginia with it made me hold onto it much longer than I should have.

dining_table

My beloved hand-me-down dining table, which was previously stained oak.

Then, one day I was perusing Craigslist, and I stumbled upon the Docksta for $25!  Normally, I’m a very sentimental person, but that kind of deal was enough for me to let go of my beloved hand-me-down dining table.  I listed it on Craigslist, and it sold immediately.  It was fate, right?!  I picked up my discount Docksta, which was in a rather dirty and scratched state, and I was on my way!  Soap, a magic eraser, and white spray paint helped my little Docksta a bit, but the scratches on the top were pretty deep.  I tried to putty it, but it just made it more obvious.  Currently, I have place mats on the table to help cover my little discount Docksta.

tuliptable

$25 Discount Docksta

The bentwood chairs were also a Craigslist find.  I got them for a steal, and I ended up breaking even by selling my previous table and chairs.  For a cheap thrifty person, that is the best feeling!  Back to the scratched table top… I’ve been thinking of a million ways to fix it.

1. I could sand it down (again), fill the scratches (again), paint it with a high gloss spray paint (again).  Maybe the second time is the charm?

2. All of the above, but use Amy Howard’s Furniture Lacquer spray paint.  I’ve been itching to try this out!  My only concern is that it would highlight the flaws of the table top.

3. I could cover the top with a marble contact paper and pour on an epoxy to get that hard, shiny look.  I took that idea from Batchelor’s Way.  Her DIY marble countertops are SO realistic.

4. I could paint the entire table black or finish it with chalkboard paint, like the picture below.  Let’s be honest though, the dustiness of a chalkboard table would drive me insane while cleaning.

dockstachalk

houzz.com

5. I could top it with a wood veneer.

6. I could replace the old top with something new.  I’ve considered rustic wood, real marble ($$ just kidding), finished MDF board, or plywood.

A big part of my decision also hinges on my bentwood chairs.  I love them, but they are antiques.  The wood is in rough shape.  I’m going to try to condition the wood and possible refinish it.  If that doesn’t help, I MIGHT paint them with a high gloss black… which means I NEED a wood table.  I don’t know why I NEED wood in that case, but I always feel like wood balances color perfectly.

What are your thoughts on the Docksta makeover?  A favorite idea?  Another idea?