Custom Painted Checkers-Themed 1/2 Table
Hey folks! Got a new project fresh from GadgetSponge Garage. Recently, I picked up a table top from an estate sale. It was rather large, so I decided to chop it in half and make two tables. This is the first one of the two. Because of being up against a wall, I faced the back legs to the forward position so the table would sit flush against the wall. I also created a custom backboard to go across the piece to give it a finished look and something to stop anything on top from sliding all the way to the wall.
I hope you like it!
![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e34a9874227b63a9ce6f4e1/t/5e34ba84a3201379df263ea4/1403750302053/1000w/CheckersTable1.jpg)
The old table legs I picked while junking in Arkansas. The were original mostly antique white but had seen some other colors (and lots of knocks, knicks, and abuse). I knew they would be fantastic for the distressing I was going to do on top of all that! The table top was originally a brown toned finish. I belt sanded the top finish off since it was kind of chippy. I wanted a fresh start to what I had planned.
![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e34a9874227b63a9ce6f4e1/t/5e34ba84a3201379df263ea6/1403750535963/1000w/CheckersTable2.jpg)
The main paint I used was Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the Florence color. The orange was the Arles Orange in her line. I really had no preference as far as manufacturer, I just knew these colors fairly well and wanted them specifically since the colors work so well together and really take well to distressing and dark wax.
![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e34a9874227b63a9ce6f4e1/t/5e34ba84a3201379df263ea8/1403750608303/1000w/CheckersTable3.jpg)
On top I first started with the orange (2 coats) and then two coats of the Florence blue (2 coats). The masking off of the squares was NO FUN, but I knew what I wanted to pull off and got it done.
The fun thing about this table is it can serve as a game table just as easily as it can serve as a hall table with the checker pattern just being seen as a decorative pattern.
![](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e34a9874227b63a9ce6f4e1/t/5e34ba84a3201379df263eaa/1403750764313/1000w/CheckersTable4.jpg)