Hey there! I've received a number of emails lately asking how I built my dining room table or how I attached the top to the dining room table I already had. So I decided to do a tutorial for all those who asked. I didn't take any pictures when I did it so I took pictures of the under side of the table, which many of you have asked for, and will do my best to explain each step.
As I mentioned in that post, I used pine 2 x 8's. After I distressed the boards, process discussed here, I laid them together evenly and attached wood brackets to keep them all together.
As mentioned, I already had a dining room table, I just didn't like the top, so I removed it and was left with the base. Now, the previous table was also built by me using the table legs that my dad turned himself before he died. I created the apron (sides) with pine 1 x 5's and attached them to the legs with "L" brackets, as pointed out with arrows. To make them a little more stable, I also drilled long screws at an angle into the legs from the apron. As you can see, it is really important to PRE-DRILL your holes as my wood split.
After the base was complete, I placed it over the under side of the top. To secure it to the top, I cut scrap pieces of oak, which is a little stronger, cut them at 45 degree angles and placed them flush against the apron.
I attached it with screws to the table top.
Next, I pre-drilled holes into the end of the brace into the apron, where the arrow is pointing. Then drilled screws into the holes on both ends. Makes sure your screws are short enough to not go through to the other side of the apron, but long enough to go through the brace and into the apron. I think the screws I used were 1 1/2 inches. To also add stability, I drilled holes and inserted screws from the legs, at an angle into the table top, shown with the bottom arrow in the photo below.
Repeat for each side and that's it. I painted the legs and apron white, which worked out great because if you have any gaps between the table and apron, you can fill them in with caulk. It covers a multitude of sins. :)
Flip it over carefully and you are done. I know there is probably a better way to do this but this is what worked for me, some of it I learned from my dad with another table that he built. He had the right wood joinery tools to do this, I don't, so this is the process that I use.
I hope this is helpful to all those asking me how I did it. It really isn't hard, just a little time consuming and really the only tools you need are a miter saw and cordless drill.
Have a Happy Monday!
Diana
Diana
Dear Diana, I love your blog very,very much! It´great!Congratulations!!!Beatriz
ReplyDeleteDiana, I found your blog through Pinterest and I just love it. Thanks so much for this tutorial. I love the idea of woodwork and building my own furniture but it's one of those things that seems so scary and that requires a lot of tools and equipment. This tutorial shows that's not true at all and it's inspired me to give it a try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove the table, thank you for showing us how you did it!
ReplyDeleteI was just showing my husband your table yesterday, and he was wondering if it came with directions! You did such a great job with this...I pinned it immediately. Love your blog, keep those great ideas coming.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to do this. This is the easiet table tutorial I've seen!
ReplyDeleteSOOOO very thankful you provided this tutorial! This is on my project to-do list as I have a table that I want to change the top of (it's oval and I want a rectangle/farmhouse top). I just wasn't quite sure how to use the old legs for the new table. Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved your table!!!
ReplyDeleteBobi
http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com
What color is the paint in your dining room? It looks different than the Manchester Tan that I thought it was? I like the color:-)
ReplyDeleteThis table is BEAUTIFUL!! I'm soo impressed and want my husband to do this ASAP!! I have a table that I don't like the top and this would be the perfect solution! Question for you, did you apply anything to seal the wood on the top of the table?
ReplyDeleteI do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was
ReplyDeletegreat. I don't know who you are but definitely you're going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!
My blog :: cost of building your own home
This is fabulous. I would like a rustic table without paying the price. My husband is very handy, and I know he could do this!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful!!!!! You have a gorgeous home!!!! I hVe fallen in love with your dark paint color around your white cabinets!!!!! Do you happen to have the name of that paint? We have white cabinets and that is exactly what I'm looking for!! Thanks!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAbby :)
I love your blog. I stumbled upon it through a pin on Pinterest & I just love it! Your house is beautiful! You definitely gained a new follower : )
ReplyDeletekaitlinleighs.blogspot.com
Hi, new to your blog and you are amazingly fantastic, seriously all the projects I've looked at so far are like on my "I really wanted to do that" list. Thank you for the inspiration and the pictures to show my husband what I am talking about that I want him to do for me ha.
ReplyDeleteI'm a hobbyist woodworker and my wife showed me your table (with a request to build one like it). After looking at all of what you do, I'm impressed. I also think you could really benefit from a Kreg pocket hold jig. If you don't know what that is, just google it. I would look at the Kreg Jig Jr (on ebay for less than $40 shipped). This will allow you to but wood up to each other and attach with screws and some wood glue rather than complex joints and such that us woodworkers seem to think we need. ~Jarod
ReplyDeleteKreg pocket hole jig, not "hold". Proof reading schmoof reading.
DeleteDid you stain the tabletop or distress it in some way to get that color?
ReplyDeleteThis is the table top a friend is making for me,please tell me the color and kind of stain you used for the top. Love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing table...it was wonderful before but love the after even, more! Thanks for sharing your tutorial! I did "pin" this, hope that was okay!
ReplyDeleteHi, I love your dining room table! After looking at the price tags on dining tables in stores, I am thinking this is a much better alternative with a lot more style! I noticed that your table seats about 6. I was wondering if you could tell me what size you thought would be best to seat somewhere between 8 people and 12 people? On other websites, I've seen it mentioned to use about 24" width per person and 24" in room to back the chair up from the edge of the table, and therefore that a 8' x 4' table would be able to seat 10-12 people, but looking at your table, I'm not sure if that's a good estimate. Please let me know your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI am currently making this tabletop with my dad! He came up for a visit to see the home my husband and I are buying, and decided yesterday we'd build a table. We bought the 2x8's at Lowes - we found 10' for $6, so we asked them to cut 3 in half and we used 5 of the 5' lengths to create a table the perfect size for the new dining room. Yesterday we sanded and stained them "dark walnut" by minwax. Today we'll sand and assemble the top. My husband and I will hunt for the perfect base at yard sales tomorrow morning (Sunday) and thrift stores throughout town if we don't find what we want at the yard sales. If not, we found a tutorial on a DIY website to build a simple table base. Thanks so much for sharing - this will be a special piece for my family.
ReplyDeleteDid you use 2x 8 from the lumber section? I am worried that they bow a little. Let me know! Thanks! Kellyhumlan@gmail.com
DeleteDid you use 2x 8 from the lumber section? I am worried that they bow a little. Let me know! Thanks! Kellyhumlan@gmail.com
DeleteI love this table! You inspired me to look for funky yet cheap tables on Kijiji. I wont be making it from scratch like you did. I will simply sand and paint the table and slap on the 2x8 boards and screw them on from underneath. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteHi Diana,
ReplyDeleteHow long were the table legs that you used? I can't seem to find any that are long enough.
Thanks!
Karie
Love this table! Making my list right now to send the hubster out in the morning to pick up lumber! Any chance that you can let me know your cut list on the pieces for the apron? Also, my HD and Lowes only have 1x4's and 1x6's as options for the apron. Any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteI adore your table! Thanks for the tutorial, I'll have to remember this one. We are moving into a new place that has a HUGE kitchen in need of a HUGE table.
ReplyDeleteHi, i was thinking a kreg jig would be a great addition for uou! We have one and it makes woodworking SO much easier and stronger, simple little thing but an awesome tool!!
ReplyDeleteI have three 10 foot x 12 inch cypress boards. I want to use the table outside on the patio for summer meals (big fam). Before I start the project, do you think this would hold up outside?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThis is a great table! We want to build one very similar to this. I am curious how well the wax finish has held up since you made this? We have 4 young kids and our table will be our only dining table and will be used many times a day. So I wondered how well it holds up against daily wear and tear, setting drink glasses on it, spilling drinks on it and getting liquid between the boards and etc. If you could please let me know I would be very thankful!!You can email me at knkennelly@gmail.com
Love your blog! Can't stop pinning your stuff!
ReplyDeleteI love this table. I've been wanting to make one for over a year. I just have to convince my husband I can do it (and find a way to get the lumber to my house, it not going to fit in a small sedan!) what is the height of your table? I'm curiouser knowing we will be moving next year how this can be disassembled, or if it can just be turned sideways to go out a standard size front door :)
ReplyDeleteWhat color is the paint on the walls?
ReplyDeleteWhat color is the paint on the walls?
ReplyDeleteI love your table. Looks amazing! I love it so much my husband and I made one similar following your tutorial.
ReplyDeleteyou can see it here.
http://elizabethjoandesigns.com/2013/07/dining-table/
Thanks for the inspiration and wonderful tutorial.
Emily @ elizabethjoandesigns.com
This is a great site and I love your table, you did such a good job on it. I love the country style look with old rusted wood interior. We just bought a antique dinning room table that I wanted to re-do. I have been looking for different table bases to use. After seeing yours, I think I may go with the old wood and white frame. I have also seen table base ideas such as using tree trunks and big tiled pots. I think those ideas are for a more contemporary style but I really like the country look.
ReplyDeleteI used your tutorial on my coffee table!
ReplyDeleteI had to tweak it a bit, because I didn't find your post until I had already made the top.
Thank you so much for sharing your method!
http://thekeylorfamily.blogspot.com/2013/06/finished-coffee-table.html
Moreton Fig Restaurant is conveniently located in the center of campus in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. The stylish, vibrant restaurant features an open kitchen, full bar, private dining room, and outdoor patio anchored by USC's historic Moreton Bay Fig Trees. The menu focuses on seasonal farm-to-table cuisine with options to suit students, faculty, administrators and the public alike. Please call (213) 821-3441 for more information.
ReplyDeletedining room tables
Hi Diana,
ReplyDeleteI'm a little confused. Did you take off the original boards and replace them with the new ones you stained?
It's so beautiful and I'm trying to get the same exact look on my table!!
Thank you,
Veronica
LOVE this!!! Exactly the direction I needed to get my project rocking. Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete