After eight years of kids coloring on, gluing on, and banging into our kitchen table, Tom and I finally came to the realization that something needed to be done. As much as we didn’t want to refinish it, we know that it had to happen.
It didn’t look too bad from a distance…
But up close, it had definitely seen better days.
We considered stripping and restaining it, but I’m really having a black furniture moment right now. So, I decided to use Glidden’s new Diamond™ paint on it. I ran into our area’s Glidden rep at Home Depot not too long ago, and he was so excited to tell me all about the new formula and the extensive testing it went through. It’s supposed to be great on durability and scrubability, so I figured that it would work wonderfully on a piece of furniture that receives a lot of use.
Tom and I hauled the table out to our garage and started sanding off the original finish and evening out all of the scratches and dings. We started with a belt sander and 150-grit sandpaper. This is what it looked like after sanding half of the table down.
After we were finished with the 150-grit pass, we put 220-grit sandpaper on a finish sander to smooth it out. The result was super smooth.
This table has a leaf that flips underneath it, so I separated the sections before painting. I also used a tack cloth to wipe off all of the sanding dust so that my paint finish would remain smooth.
Glidden Diamond™ is a paint + primer formula, so I decided not to use a stand alone primer. I was worried that the paint might soak into the wood, but this is what it looked like after one coat of paint. Outstanding! I used a mohair roller, and the application was very smooth.
I gave it 2 more coats of paint (3 total) thinking that it would have extra durability. Let’s be honest – I don’t know if that’s how it works or not, but I figure I’d rather paint more coats now than have to go through this process again down the road.
I don’t really have any pictures of the painting process, since I try to work quickly to maintain a wet edge with no roller marks. However, I did get a picture to show you how I let the paint lay. Here is a picture of one of the legs right after I rolled it. I try to use a really light hand and don’t worry about smoothing it all out. You can see at the top where the paint itself doesn’t look smooth.
A good quality paint will level (i.e. smooth out and lay flat), and Glidden Diamond met that challenge. Here’s the same leg after it was dry.
Because it is 103432098349 degrees outside right now, I painted the entire table in my kitchen. Glidden Diamond™ is no VOC and low odor, but I would say that there is actually no odor. Tom walked into the house from work and couldn’t even tell that I had been painting. There’s virtually no odor – I honestly stuck my face in the paint can and couldn’t smell the paint.
It’s too soon for me to talk about how wear this paint will wear on our kitchen table, but I am very optimistic about it. Even just two days after painting it, I can put plates and bowls on it without them sticking. That’s a good sign to me, because that rarely happens so soon after I paint a piece of furniture.
I’m really happy with the way my table looks now, and the transformation was really inexpensive (other than the chairs I bought, but I have been coveting these for years).
Obviously, Glidden Diamond™ will perform exceptionally well on your walls. Just think what it could mean in high traffic and kid areas. Durable and scrubable? Yes, please!
Want to try it out yourself? Glidden is giving away 5 gallons of Glidden Diamond™ to one lucky winner! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below (you’ll need to switch over to my blog if you are reading this post via email) to be entered. This sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents, 18 and older.
As a MyColortopia Team member, this post is sponsored by Glidden. All reviews and opinions are my own.
We are moving into a new home in October and would love to freshen up the paint pallette.
Love the new chairs!! I’ve been wanting to repaint our master bedroom, that’s definitely what I would use the paint for if I won! It’s just a regular beige right now and I’ve been wanting to go dark, like a slate grey/blue.
I am so excited to give Gliddens a try, will be using it in the Bathroom/Laundry Room. Full remodel job this fall, have heard so many wonderful times about the paint.
Ppl like you get all the brasin. I just get to say thanks for he answer.
Hi Lindsay, I’m loving the Diamond paint & primer and the way you showed how it leveled out. Roadside score some months ago that needs a few coats of this paint to eventually become a lovely linen closet w/glass doors. Your table looks great.
This is so exciting. I need to paint two bathrooms, my kitchen, cabinets, family room, office, bedroom, and front door! This would be very helpful!
I would paint my kitchen table just like you did.
I would use the paint in my new living room.
We have been in our house for 1.5 years now and I waited to paint because I wanted to be sure…now I want to paint ALL THE THINGS!! This giveaway would really help:) thanks for the chance!
This makes me excited! I just bought Glidden Paint in Lindsay “White” at Home Depot for the first time to paint our kitchen cabinets. Of course I did get the strange look when I asked to have the white made white-er.
I use Glidden to mix my own chalky paint all the time so I’m anxious to try this new Diamond!
My kitchen needs a rehab. Cabinets need paint. Would you share your source for the chairs?
OOO, AAAAHHHH!!! Your table looks gorgeous. I’m wanting to repaint my craft room furniture, so this might be the easiest to use since it is primer and color in one. Kim in Round Rock.
I have so many things to paint: the front door, the kitchen, the entryway — five coats might cover those tasks!
Holy cow!! It really did flatten out nicely!! Thanks for the visual proof, because I would have wasted time fussing over it trying to get it to look better wet. And the temperature sounds like my kids last soccer game… on turf… just a few degrees short of the surface of the sun!!! It’s always great to see your posts!
I’m really thinking of taking the plunge and painting my kitchen cabinets, something like a muddy, grayish olive color. This paint seems like it would be perfect for that!! Thank you!
I’m really glad you posted about this. I have a kitchen table that is looking really rough and desperately needs to either be refinished or put out to pasture. Refinishing/painting will be much better for my budget 🙂
I would paint the walls in our entry, stairwell, hallway, and living room. And a kid’s bedroom, too, if there’s enough left! Although, it would be extremely tempting to paint the kitchen cabinets…
I would use it in the dining room so I wouldn’t see so many little fingers after meal time.
I have an old armoire refashioned into a shelved pantry that could use an update. This Glidden would be perfect!
I’d paint my kitchen cabinets
I really like the look of the table. My question is did you do a poly top coat to the table for more durability. I just painted a set of kitchen cabinets in my kitchen with the Glidden Diamond paint in Oriental Berry. I love the paint but am wondering, if a poly coat is needed or not.
Hi Derina – I haven’t yet, BUT I probably will. I don’t think it’s necessarily needed – it’s holding up great as is. However, I don’t trust my kids…I’ve seen the things that they do to my furniture. 🙂
I’d love to repaint my family room!
to paint our nursery
I am semi-finishing our basement and this would be perfect to paint the walls.
You make it look so easy. That point about self leveling laint was gold.
I would paint my son’s bathroom. We painted it red when we first moved in (14 years ago), and it REALLY needs to be repainted! I also have some bathroom cabinets that I’d like to paint
We would use it in our bathroom.
I’d paint my basement!
We are converting an extra bedroom into a playroom, so I would use this paint for that.
I’d paint our coffee table/breakfast table!
I am in love with the paint and the primer. I am definitely using it for my kitchen renovation.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow, so smooth! I love the new finish. I’ll definitely consider it for my daughter’s room, it is in a desperate need of a freshen up. Thank you for posting it!
Really liked the layout to that first image. Very clean and professional looking would love a layout like that in my office
Wow so gorgeous! I love dark wood in kitchens, it’s the only room of the home where my skirting is painted a darker colour than the rest of the house.
Lindsay, I loved your website, the designs are beautiful and they gave me wonderful ideas, thank you very much!
Wonderful kitchen! Your table looks new now and it’s beautiful. Its dark color complimented the overall look of your kitchen. Thanks for sharing this to us. Thumbs up!
Your table was very beautiful Lindsay, really you did a great job, very good 🙂
Congratulations Lindsay, your table was beautiful, I will follow several tips from you and enjoy to restore and give new face in some furniture here at home, thank you.
Amiga loved your site, your beautiful designs inspired me with new ideas! Thank you for the tips
Your table was wonderful Miss. Lindsay, did a great job, thank you for sharing your art with us.
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Really like your layout of images which you shared. Thanks.
It was beautiful! I’m also going to remodel my kitchen and I love the tips!
It looks very beautiful, like new. I should paint my living room and hope I have the same result. Thanks for the tips!
These are very beautofuil I really like the blue images that you have here
Your kitchen table is wonderful. Lindsay, what a change, and she was very stylish, too. Congratulations.
I’m also going to remodel my kitchen and get some ideas here. Looks grea
My kitchen table is in a sorry state, but I think I will wait until my youngest grows up a bit more before I do anything drastic about it
Este Texto me convenceu de uma coisa, eu absolutamente
acredito que este site precisa de muita atenção por parte das pessoas, porque é
realmente muito interessante. Eu provavelmente vou voltar a ver.
Os textos são muito bem escritos. Obrigado pela informação
e Parabéns. http://etsy.com
Este Texto me convenceu de uma coisa, eu absolutamente acredito que este site precisa de muita atenção por parte das pessoas, porque é realmente muito interessante.
Eu provavelmente vou voltar a ver. Os textos são
muito bem escritos. Obrigado pela informação e Parabéns. http://etsy.com
The table looks like a new one. This has been done beautifully.
You make it look so easy. That point about self leveling laint was gold.
You did such an amazing job. This table looks so beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing this great idea with us:)
You make it look so easy. That point about self leveling laint was gold.