One of the first few times I visited Darrell's parents' home, we all went to visit his Nana and ate a meal at her maple kitchen table. It was a beautiful but basic table that had these neat leaves that slid out on each end, and she had a special mat that fit the entire table that she would fold up when it was time to eat. It was one of the first pieces of furniture she and her husband had purchased, probably made sometime in the late 1930s. To this day, I can't tell you why, but I immediately liked that table, and Darrell seemed to appreciate it, too.
Several years later, Darrell's Nana passed away. She had cancer at the same time as Darrell, so we didn't even get to see her those last few months. I don't think we specifically asked for it, but a few years after that Darrell's parents gave us her table, as well as a bedroom set. The bedroom set has had a home in either our daughter's room or the guest bedroom ever since, but the table is what holds a special place in my heart.
It came to us rather worn. Sometime in those few years after his Nana passed but before it came to us, the table had been marked, grooved, and just generally worn. Darrell's mom did a quick refinishing job before bringing it to us, but it was done in a hurry, in damp weather. So, the table had just a shadow of it's former beauty. Soon after getting the table, our daughter was born. We talked about refinishing it, but really, what was the point while our kids were small?
Lots of busy days passed, and that table saw all of them. It's where the kids would eat once they so quickly outgrew a high chair. It's one of few places the four of us have ever prayed all together. It's witnessed countles board games over the years, and been privvy to more family discussions than I can count. It's moved with us. It and our dining room furniture was the only furniture on our main floor that our dog didn't chew and our cats didn't scratch. The table and it's four chairs also took on many additional abrasions from our growing kids. All without complaint.
About a year ago, I suddenly had a lot less work to do as my small business was folding. So, I made plans for several projects around the house. The one that I didn't realize would be the biggest was to finally refinish our kitchen table and chairs. I began before the kids were out of school for the summer, and for weeks on end, it was essentially my part time job. I sanded every creviss, using two different power sanders, a dremel, and sand paper by hand when needed. I asked friends for advice, searched online, and visited a local shop to learn about the best product to use for refinishing. I knew that I wanted the maple to show through, but had no idea what product to use.
The local shop I visited recommended Waterlox, with the simple selling point being a great looking finish but a product that you could touch up easily years later without refinishing it all over again. Ahh, but this product would require a lot of coats, four to be exact. And hand sanding between each finish coat.
If ever I've shown a piece of furniture emotion, it's that table. It's the first thing I've promised the kids would be in our will, and I've explained to them in detail how much I expect whichever one gets it to cherish it. I've literally put a piece of me into that table. Which seems fitting, since it is an antique from Darrell's family. Now, it is an integral piece of our story, just one more thread that binds us together. And I have a happy vision of our kids telling their grandchildren about this table someday, of it witnessing many more intimate family moments.
--Before--
--In Process Pics--
--Putting it back together with Darrell's help--
--Finally done--
No comments:
Post a Comment