Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Cover Up Those Ugly Legs !!!

With the absence of my Christmas tree, the living room is feeling a bit bare.  I actually moved a small side table into the kitchen to make room for the tree and decided I liked it better in there. Now, I am left with a blank space... darn:)  Lucky for me I recently received this side table below as a freebie.




It's not terrible.  The style didn't mesh with my own but I certainly saw potential... and it was free ;)
Much to your surprise I'm sure, I decided to paint it black.  It has been too cold here to spray paint so I had to dust the old paint brush off and I gave it 2 coats of Behr satin black.  I stopped at the legs because I knew I would be covering them.  While that was drying, I measured the length from the floor to where I wanted my cover to start.




I used a drop cloth for the skirt.  I just folded it in half on the ground.




I measured off my cut with a pencil.  I took my measurement and added 3" for the hem and 1" for the allowance at the top.  After that was cut, I ironed the hem on one side 3" up. 



To secure it I used my hot glue gun.... so professional, I know!! It works great on this canvas though.




I then turned it around to the front side and marked off 2" up from the hem with a pencil.  I used a thick black grosgrain to form a line around the bottom and secured it with the hot glue as well.

Now  I was ready for my next step.  I put a gather in the top part of my fabric using my gathering foot.  There are other ways to make gathers but this is by far the fastest.  These are the tools I used on the next part.




Staple gun and cardboard tack strip that you can find at Joann's or Hobby Lobby.
I placed my now gathered fabric right side down and facing up on the side of my table.  You line your tack strip up where you want you skirt to start and staple to the wood.




Now the back side...



My corners...



I also wrapped a small piece around the back on each side.




Now I stood my table up and let the skirt fall.




Now my final step was to add some cute hardware from Hobby Lobby and put it in it's new home.  What do you think?  This is a cheap and easy solution to any table with unsightly legs.  I love how it softens the look up a bit.  Here's a few more shots...






















Thanks so much girls for all of your sweet comments on my New York post.  I appreciate them more than you know!!

~Whitney
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49 comments:

  1. Cute! Ans I love the lamp and shade on top. That was a great table for a freebie.

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  2. Love that pretty little skirt!

    Great job! :)

    Rachelle

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  3. That little skirted table is just TOO CUTE! I love your lamp too!

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  4. what a great idea!! i love the table:) y'all are full of wonderful ideas! keep them coming!!

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  5. Oh my gosh - so much better that way! It looks stunning!

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  6. Ya'll have to know when I see that you have a new post I get soo excited! I am always in awe. Lovely table!

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  7. I adore this transformation - the stripe at the bottom just MAKES it for me!

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  8. LOVE that little skirt!

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  9. This is really cute. And I agree with Dawn--the stripe definitely makes it!

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  10. What a beautiful free table it is and was. Love the skirt and like everyone else said, the stripe makes it.

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  11. You did a wonderful job!! It looks like a fabulous party dress!! :-)

    xoxo
    Jane

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  12. You are the best, Whitney! I love the look. But I think I like it best because it would be a great place to shove the toys under to hide!
    Kudos!

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  13. Well first of all...I LOVE everything you girls do...but this is my FAVORITE so far. What a clever idea...and its so freeeegin CUTE! I have gotten so much inspiration from you girls...Thank You!

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  14. OH wow! That is beautiful! I need to find out now how to get freebie furniture! LOL :) Great job!

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  15. Very nice! I love the black and that stripe! Just perfect! Hugs!

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  16. Ummm...I might have been given that EXACT table 2 years ago and it still doesn't have a space. That is until now!!! L.O.V.E it! Hello new night stand in my guest bedroom, LOL! To think I almost spent $$$ on one the other day! Thanks for the GREAT idea ~ and my hubby thanks you for the $$$ you just saved us ;)

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  17. Well, aren't you a smarty pants?! I love it!

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  18. You really do have a great blog here. I have a blog myself which brings inspiration and guidance to people all around the world. Life is hard enough, and I hope my site can contribute anything positive to someone's day.

    I'd like to exchange links with you to help spread some traffic around between each other. Please let me know if this is possible. Until then, keep up the good work.

    Jason
    TheWISDOMWALL.com

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  19. very sheek! I love the contrast in the skirt and black cabinet. But I am a little torn about covering the flowers! I guess that would have a better look in a bed romm huh? But....nicely done! YOU ARE WOMAN!

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  20. that's a really cute and unique idea! I like it! BRAVO!

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  21. I love that you show how to do it..I really learn a lot from your projects!

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  22. Great idea! I had slipcovers made for my sofa and 2 chairs out of drop cloths. They have lasted forever.

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  23. I have this same table! I bought it at Pier One, and it wasn't cheap! lol I absolutely adore it! It brought a tiny tear to my eye to see it altered so, but I must admit it does look quite nice redone :)

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  24. that's pretty cool. i have a sewing maching cabinet that i bet i could do the same kind of thing to so it wouldn't look so obvious.

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  25. Very sharp looking...lovin' the band around the bottom! You once again have done a fabulous job :)

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  26. Very cute! Where do you come up with such cute pieces for free? I obviously need better friends.

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  27. I'm so loving it! I do have to agree with Anabelle...I. LOVED. this table when it was at Pier 1. I have the coordinating mirror...and it's in my living room. This new redo is great...and I love those ruffles and the black stripe at the bottom!

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  28. What a great idea!!!

    FYI-I'm highlighting your blog on my show today 12pm EST! http://bit.ly/7BxxHw

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  29. I love how your table turned out! It gives me inspiration to cover very ugly piano bench legs and I think this summer I'm painting my old upright piano black. It's got great detail and you've inspired me to chic it up a bit. The bench was horribly plain next to it but now I see how the two can merge!

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  30. A skirted table! I never would have thought of doing that!! So cute, I love it.

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  31. Now that is just too cute for words! You girls rule;)

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  32. It looks great, but I liked it before too.

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  33. I thought you were talking about MY legs...This is SUPER CUTE! :)

    Jennie Esplin

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  34. It is super!! I love it and it's so easy.

    Ruth

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  35. I love it! I have the perfect table to give that treatment. I guess I have a weekend project now :)

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  36. I love it - that's looks great - so elegant!!

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  37. FABULOUS! I just may work over my side table next to my couch. You both do such wonderful things, this blog is one of my favorites for sure! Keep it up.

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  38. Whitney - when I paint furniture, I find the tops of tables and such stay sticky for a long time. Any tips on painting furniture, or prepping or finishing a surface that will have things on it?
    Julie, ADayInTheWife.com

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  39. oh that is so nifty :D what an awesome idea, you did a good job.

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  40. Cute! I like the addition of the grosgrain ribbon.

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  41. How adorable! I will have to remember this for the future.

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  42. That table's downright sassy now. :)

    Thanks for linking up to SNS!
    FJ Donna

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  43. Great job, love the black trim, totally makes the piece for me!

    Regards, Lynea

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  44. What a great idea for taking a nice table and turning it into a fabulous table!!

    Kat :)

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