Balustrade coffee table.
Curvy legs aren't just sexy on people! When you add beautiful, curvaceous legs to a coffee table, it's bound to get second looks! And this beauty of a table sure deserves the stares!
Custom made for a customer who dreamt of a balustrade coffee table but didn't wish to spend $2000+ for this Restoration Hardware-inspired beauty. So, I made her dream happen for significantly less.
Surprisingly, the biggest challenge of this build was sourcing the balustrades for the legs. I wasn't able to find a supplier or anyone locally with a lathe who would be willing to turn wood to make these balustrades. I did have the option to purchase from the USA, but not only was shipping going to cost more than the balustrades themselves (!!!), I was given a completion deadline and it was going to take a bit too long to order from across the border. However, luck was on my side as I managed to obtain these from a local fellow furniture-builder-momma who had once purchased these for the same exact building project but had since changed plans and was now selling them! Score!
To kick off this project, I built the top out of 2x6 lumber. I attached each piece using pocket screws on the underside of the table. As you can see in the photo below, I don't own a fancy pocket hole jig (yes, I know, this fact is unbelievable considering all the building/wood working I do!) so I had to be resourceful with my standard tools. They seem to serve me well.
The next step was a decent sanding of the table top.
Once the top was complete, I worked on the bottom "shelf" of the table; I attached 1x6 pine boards to a 2x4 frame, and for extra support, I added cross braces on the underside.
Then, I screwed on the table feet.
After the top and table bottom were built, I filled in all the joints, cracks, spaces, and knots with wood filler, and gave both a final sanding with super fine sanding paper, taking care to round off all the edges and corners. The surfaces turned out beautifully, smooth as a baby's bottom!
The next step was to build the table legs; I added squares cut from 2x6 lumber to the bottom and top of each balustrade.
Finally, it was time to stain! One coat of a medium walnut stain was enough to obtain the colour the customer had requested.
After the stain, I applied three coats of satin polyurethane for protection. I preferred to do this step prior to assembling the table pieces together because I had easy access to all the surfaces. Once the polyurethane was dry and I was happy with the finish, I assembled the table. First, I attached the legs to the table bottom...
...and then connected the legs with 2x4s, which would serve as a support frame for the table top. I stained and applied polyurethane to the new frame pieces.
Next, I attached the table top. Once the table top was securely in place, I flipped the table over and added cross braces on the underside of the table top for extra support. The last step was to stain and polyurethane these two pieces of wood.
And that's that! This project is complete!
What makes this table so unique is the legs, of course! Without these thick, curvy beauties, this coffee table would be just another plain piece of furniture.
Made entirely out of solid wood, this table is sturdy (especially with the additional cross beams I installed underneath the top and bottom surfaces). So go ahead, have a party and use it as a stage for your dance-off! This puppy will not crack under pressure.
Although I personally prefer modern industrial pieces, I really do love this table. Different stain and/or painting options allow it to pair with various decor styles; whether you love some country charm, traditional, or cottage decor, this table is the perfect centre piece finished all in one stain as I had done here. Painting the legs and bottom section of the table in white or light grey (with perhaps a slight distressing on the edges), while staining the top in dark walnut changes its look and makes it perfect for shabby chic, eclectic, or even modern interiors. If a rectangular table doesn't fit your bill, it can easily be built in a square shape.
I'm so thrilled with how this table turned out. Another successful build under the belt :).
