THIS VICTORIAN EASTLAKE TABLE NEARLY ENDED UP IN OUR LANDFILL | YOUTUBE VIDEO
This is a perfect read if you have an old wooden table that needs a complete refresh. And the best part is that wood can be refinished over and over again!
Hello, beautiful #sifamily, and welcome to another Trashy Treasures Tuesday! I always hope for a good ‘trash’ find on our TTT, and now that the weather is warm and many of us are Spring cleaning, I found the perfect piece! This vintage walnut Eastlake table has the most beautiful carvings and details. Let’s salvage this piece and bring it back to life with a little love and TLC.
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It’s also the second Tuesday of the month, and this means it’s Trashy Treasures Tuesday! I’m looking forward to seeing what our TTT crew, Christy at Confessions Of A Serial DIY’er, Nancy at Artsy Chicks Rule, and Kathy at Petticoat Junktion, have created. I hope you join me on today’s tour as well! I’ve included their before-and-after links down below.
Do you see what I see? This table was buried under a pile of scrap wood, and I’m so thrilled I spotted it while I was driving to Andrea’s house. Look at the gorgeous detail on the base. Definitely worth putting on the brakes and taking a better look.
When I brought it down to my studio and took a close look, there were issues. The base needed some wood glue and joint repair. There were a few loose details that needed attention. And the top looked old and blotchy from years of use…
But the biggest issue by far was this tables top. The boards were so warped they had come apart. But I’m an optimist… well, most of time. 😉 I was hopeful it could be saved. Do you remember this severely warped table rescue? I was prepared to put in the work to try to straighten these boards out as well.
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SUPPLY LIST
Eastlake Table – SALVAGED
Mild Dish Soap | Spray Bottle | Auto Sponge
Wood Glue
Staple gun or small nails
Furniture Mallet/Hammer
Dewalt Cordless Drill + Impact Driver
Walnut Gel Stain
Gator Hide Topcoat
Spray Gun 1.7mm Tip (14% off as of writing!)
Eastlake Furniture
Because this table looked so old and ornate, I googled it before I started working on this piece. I learned Eastlake furniture was made popular and named after the British architect Charles Eastlake. It’s from the Victorian era in the late 19th century. This Victorian table is old!
Step 1: DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN
Once I got the table into my studio, I disassembled it using my impact driver. A regular screwdriver would work too, but the extra torque helps when dealing with screws that likely haven’t been touched in decades. Breaking it down into three pieces—the top, skirt, and base—made it much easier to clean all the intricate details and hard-to-reach areas. I even found what looked like a wad of 100-year-old gum underneath!
After removing the top, I gave the entire piece a thorough cleaning. While I usually use my TSP substitute to prep furniture for stripping or painting, it can dull an existing finish. Since I wanted to preserve the original finish, I opted for a gentler solution: a few drops of mild dish soap mixed with water. It was enough to remove years of dirt and grime without being too harsh on the wood.
STEP 2: REPAIRS – GLUE-UP
To repair and stabilize this table base, I used Titebond Wood Glue, a mallet, and a few screws. Luckily, nothing was damaged/broken, and all the joints were in perfect condition; they were just loose after years of use. Nothing a little wood glue and clamps can’t repair.
The apron-skirt needed a glue-up as well. The one corner wasn’t holding and was missing a support piece.
To fix the skirt, I took these steps –
- Squared up the corner to fit a piece of wood
- Cut a corner piece from scrap wood
- Sanded off the old glue
- Reglued the corner + corner support in place
- Used a mallet and a screw to hold in place
- Clamped and let it all dry
Step 3: FIXING THE WARPED TOP
To fix the warped boards took a little time. I used the same technique as I did on this severely warped table top a few months back. I figured before I use new wood boards to replace the entire top, I’d try sandwiching the original wood boards between two damp towels and using weights and time to slowly reverse the warp. The key to bending wood is dampness, weight, and time. The timing is important, so I keep checking on it. I didn’t want it to start bending in the opposite direction. And unfortunately, I can’t give you a time frame because every wood variety will be different. I had these boards ‘straightening’ for 48 hours but depending on the wood and humidity levels, it could take more or less time.
Once I had the boards as straight as I could get them, it was time for a glue-up. I wish I had a biscuit joiner to help with glue-up. This might be a tool I’d like to get for myself. If any of you have one, I’d love to hear your experience(s) using it.
STEP 4: WALNUT GEL STAIN
I wanted to keep this table as original as possible and bring it back to its former Victorian beauty, so I used this Walnut Gel Stain. It’s oil-based and very easy to use. Just make sure you have good ventilation. I gave the table a light sanding with a 220 sanding sponge to scuff up the existing finish. I removed the dust with a fibre cloth. Then it’s as simple as wipe-on, wipe-off. I like applying the gel stain in manageable sections using an inexpensive chip brush. The brush bristles let me get into all the carvings and small details of this piece. Then I wipe it back with a lint-free cloth.
STEP 5: REASSEMBLE THE TABLE
Once the top and bottom were dry, I reassembled the table back together using the original hardware. I think this gives a more authentic feel rather than using new screws. This also helped secure the boards on the top as well.
STEP 6: SPRAY TOPCOAT
For protection, I sprayed this table with three coats of Gator Hide. This topcoat is not only water-resistant but also water-repellent. It’s also water-based, which is perfectly fine to use over an oil-based stain, so long as the stain has completely dried and cured. A good test for this is to touch and sniff. If it’s still tacky or smells like stain, it’s not dry enough to topcoat.
I think this table would make a lovely side table for tea, coffee, books, or an awesome-looking plant stand. Whatever it’s used for, I’m hoping the extra protection will give this table many more years of use.
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THE BIG REVEAL
Here’s how this trash-bound Victorian Eastlake table all turned out! What do you think?!
The wood grain looks lovely and really came back to life with the walnut stain.
And do you remember what the top looked like with the large warp and gap? Here’s the after, sharing the exact angle as the before pic I shared above. Much better. Not 100%, but a HUGE improvement. And again, I took this pic at an exact eye level to the warp so you have the comparison, but no one will be looking at this table at this angle… well, maybe a toddler, lol.
Looking at the top as a whole looks much better.
And I have to show you all these gorgeous details on the base of this table…
Gorgeous. They just don’t make them like this anymore!
YOUTUBE TUTORIAL
Here’s the full step-by-step YouTube video tutorial. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 58.5K, so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t yet. You’re the BEST, and I appreciate your support! 🙂
And now for some Trashy Treasures FUN!
Below are the TTT ladies’ BEFORE photos. Visit the links below to see the amazing AFTERS and learn how they did it! I’m heading over to take a peek as well! x
1. CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL DIYER
2. ARTSY CHICKS RULE
3. PETTICOAT JUNKTION
4. SI (HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!)
Here’s another look at the before-and-after of this Eastlake Victorian table makeover. I hope it inspires you and gives you ideas for old furniture makeover.
My Thoughts On This Salvaged Eastlake Table Makeover
I feel extremely lucky that I spotted such an old find under all that scrap wood. And I’m always honored when I get to work on such old pieces. Did the top turn out as perfectly as I would have liked? Unfortunately, not. There is still some warping and gaps between the original boards. Yet when I look at this table, I see years of stories and plenty of history and character. I’m not sure I would have felt the same if I had swapped the top for some new wood. What are your thoughts? Do you think I should have replaced the top or kept everything original?
Thanks so much for joining today’s Trashy Treasures Tuesday makeover. Feel free to drop me a hello and let me know what you think of this salvaged table makeover. I always love hearing from you!
Happy painting and thrifting, my friends!
Denise x
RELATED POSTS:
HOW TO FIX WARPED WOOD
OLD TRASHED TABLE RESCUE
HOW TO GEL STAIN LIGHT OVER DARK
HOW TO GEL STAIN OVER STAINED WOOD
HOW TO APPLY GEL STAIN 101
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😩 I’ve tried three times to comment about this fabulous piece and how you cracked the code of warped wood table top repairs and I keep getting bumped offline. Probably because I’m in ✈️. 😂😂😂 Anyhoo, just stopping by to say I always love learning these things from you and I LOVE Eastlake pieces! They are always so unique. Pinned 📌 Thanks again for sharing! Enjoy your week, my friend.
I love these Eastlake pieces as well and thanks! Happy safe travels my friend! Enjoy! XOXO
Hi Denise, You made this table beautiful again!!! You did a great job!! It is absolutely stunning!! I have a number of antique furniture pieces in my house. Many, but not all, are inherited. That’s the only kind of furniture that increases it’s value when used. New furniture decreases in value when it’s second-hand. You did amazing work on this piece and I’m so glad that you saved it! Thank you for sharing with us and showing us how it’s done!!!
Thanks Donna, I’ll bet your inherited antiques are gorgeous and carry so much meaning. New furniture just isn’t built the same and certainly doesn’t have all the character that old pieces do. Thanks for dropping in and taking the time to share. Have an awesome day! XOXO
This is amazing Denise! Thank you for saving her.
I’m nuts over antiques so this one really pulled at my heart strings 🙂
I love the sweet little casters, as others have mentioned.
I am wondering if the “leaf” design on the middle of the base are supposed to be pineapple tops? Pineapples were and still are a sign of hospitality, warmth, and welcome.
I’m glad you didn’t paint her 🙂
Pineapple tops!!!🍍🍍😃 Yesssss, you might be right on this one and ya, this table pulled at my heart strings as well. I’m so happy I found her! Have a great weekend Mary! XOXO
Hi Denise. I never would have spotted this table under all the wood. Good eye. Even better eye keeping it original looking and paying great respect to its age. I’m so happy you kept the original top. It’s perfectly imperfect. Love love love the results. Gorgeous
Thank you Monique! I think it’s perfectly imperfect as well, it has a ton of character and looks like it has some stories to tell! Thanks for chiming in re the top too, much appreciated my friend. Enjoy your week! Hugs XOXO
So so so very, very very happy that you were able to rescue this original piece. Never replace the boards. It is much more valuable without a replacement. It is all intact. And is absolutely stunning. What a wonderful job staining and bringing it back to life. What a treasure!
Thanks Robin and I appreciate your input on the boards as I went back and forth with swapping them out. These tables are beautiful and I’m happy I found it–worked on it–shared with all of you–and now get to enjoy it. 🤎
You are right – they certainly don’t make pieces like this anymore. The wood available back then was much more mature when cut than today. It’s amazing that someone actually put this on a curb for the garbage !!!
I am sooo glad it was you that found it. You did an amazing job bringing it back to it’s beautiful glory.
The walnut gel stain was a great choice. It looks so warm and rich. Don’t think I could part with this one.
Wow, just wow. You did an amazing job.
Good point P, I never thought about the wood being so much more mature back then. And I’m not sure if I can part with this one either. I’m on the lookout for the perfect spot in my home.🏡 Thanks for dropping by and have an amazing week. XOXO
Eastlake is such a wonderful brand and is pretty expensive. Too bad the original owner thought to toss this gorgeous piece. But lucky for you!
That wood restore is fabulous stuff. I used it on a cabinet that was about 100 years old, and it did a beautiful job. I highly recommend it.
Great job in all the fixings you were challenged with, Denise! Will you keep it? The details are so wonderful I’d have a hard time giving it up!
Thank you Catherine! Yes, when I GoogleLens’d some of the prices they were selling for shocked me and I probably will be keeping this one. Is that the brand name “Wood Restore”? I’d like to give this product a try. Have a wonderful week! XOXO
That’s lovely! You did a beautiful restore. You’ve given it a renewed life!
Thank you Tammy! Even though it took some work, I really enjoyed working on this old girl! 🤎
Denise, you put a lot of effort into getting this piece beautiful again and it certainly shows. Like you said before starting the straightening process, it may take awhile; you can always go back and do it again. The one thing I might do next time is find a good “wood restore” product to use before you stain. It kind of looks like there are still some dry-wood spots on the piece and wood restore can be a real miracle for old dried out wood. You know, I’ve always wondered if people let these pieces “go” because they think it’s too hard to fit an old antique into a newer style? It’s too bad, I am glad you saved it!
Hi Mary! I’m so glad I saved it as well and I appreciate your suggestion on a wood restore product before staining. Do you have a favorite brand you could recommend?
Nice save! I believe the original casters, which add significant value for antique collectors, deserve a mention. Are they ceramic? Amazing that they survived intact all these years. Thank you for rescuing this interesting piece of history.
Ohmygoodness, I think they ARE ceramic! I didn’t even notice until I read your comment.! Thanks for bringing this up Nancy… I learned something and I love these little castor wheels as well!😃
Denise, please search “antique ceramic furniture casters” to get an idea of their value. Yours could be porcelain; a dealer could tell you. Porcelain casters are more durable than ceramic, but both types are very desirable.
Porcelain did come up when I searched and you’re absolutely right, just to look at them, I can’t tell if this is porcelain or ceramic. I would need a professional/dealer to help me distinguish unless there is some sort of at home test I can do. Buuut, they aren’t plastic like I originally thought 😆… which I’m even embarrassed to admit – because they didn’t have plastic back then.🤦♀️😅
Denise, you certainly brought this lovely Victorian lady back to her former glory! Hopefully, she will hang around for another hundred years. 😊
The stain is beautiful and brings out the lovely details.💕
Aw, thanks so much Karen! This was such a lucky find and so fun to work on!
I can’t believe that someone was throwing this away! You put in the work and brought this back to life Denise. What a beautiful table that someone will get to enjoy for years to come. Well done!
Thank you Nicki, and yes, it was such a lucky find and I’m so happy it didn’t end up in the back of a garbage truck! Thanks for dropping by my friend. XOXO
Wow what a save!! And yes, while it may not be absolutely flat, it is pretty close and you have given many more years of enjoyment to this classic beauty!! XOXO
Thanks Christy… I really tried to flatten it out as best I could!😆 And I will say that pic is a super close up at a weird angle so you can all see — but when looking at the table as a whole, it looks pretty darn good.👍 Have a great week! XOXO
The Eastlake table looks beautiful, great job!
Thank you Dani! Appreciate you dropping by!
WOW . What a makeover. Fabulous job. The table is beautiful.
YAY, I love a good WOW. Thank you Donna!
Looks great and I love pieces with some character!
My too I’m with you Estelle – I LOVE these old pieces. They are truly special and what a lucky find!
Oh goodness, you had your work cut out for you on that one! But oh my, the details are just LOVELY!! It’s just gorgeous now. xoxo
Thanks my friend! The details are lovely – they just don’t build them like this anymore! So happy I found her! 🤗
Eastlake is my favorite antique furniture style. What a beauty! That was a true labor of love!
Thanks my friend. XOXO Eastlake pieces are beautiful, aren’t they?! When I google lens’d it a bunch came up and they are gorgeous! I can see why they are a FAVE.
Gorgeous. Fabulous makeover.
Thanks so much Rebecca! It was such a lucky find! 🙂