THIS PIER 1 IMPORTS TABLE GETS AN UPDATED INDUSTRIAL MAKEOVER USING A BLACK WASH AND STAIN COMBO
Hi, creative #sifamily! I rarely do custom orders anymore. But when my friend Dee gave me creative license on her hallway table — well, how can I say no. 🙂 Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to turn an existing dated finish into a sleek industrial-looking finish using a black wash and stain combination.
Here’s what I started with. This Pier 1 Imports Console Table with black sawhorse legs and a cherry-stained top.
Here’s the table with its NEWLY FINISHED industrial top!
Dee has always complimented this finish when she comes over. So, I used this as my inspiration piece and she now has the blacked-out version!
It looks much sleeker and updated, don’t you think?!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST
Pier 1 Hallway Table – SALVAGED
Paint Brushes
Shop Towel
White Lightning
Dewalt Orbital Sander
Sandpaper | Tack Cloth
Walnut Gel Stain
Caviar Chalk Mineral Paint
Satin Clear Coat
INDUSTRIAL TABLE MAKEOVER
Dee bought this table from our local Restore but it originally came from Pier 1 Imports. Unfortunately, all Pier 1 stores have closed here in Canada. It’s a real shame because I loved that store. My couches are from Pier 1 along with a few other pieces I own. I’m curious if you all down in the States still have Pier 1 Stores?
CLEAN
Dee owns her own cleaning business and everything she owns and touches sparkles so all this table needed was a quick wipe-down.
SAND
I started sanding off this original finish with an 80 grit sandpaper using this orbital sander. To get this industrial-looking finish, you don’t want to sand off ALL the original finish, but rather leave a little around the edges and in small patches throughout the top.
To even out the wood, I moved up to a 120 grit and then a 220 grit hand sand.
If you missed last week’s Quick-Tip-Tuesday post on Sanding With NO Dust you can see it here!
Tip – This will look drastic and scary during the process but often the best-looking finishes do…lol. They all go through an ugly duckling stage. Just trust in the creative process. It all comes together after the wash, stain, and topcoat!
BLACK WASH
I mixed a 50/50 water and black paint wash. Then using this brush, applied the caviar wash and wiped it back with a shop towel.
It took 3 coats to get the depth and darkness I liked. I have a full tutorial on How To Black Wash Wood here.
STAIN
To warm up the wash and fill in any bare wood spots with stain, I applied Dixie Belle’s Walnut Stain over the entire top after the 3 coats of black wash had 100% dried. I have a full tutorial on How To Apply Gel Stain here.
TOPCOAT
You’ll notice that the areas with the original finish will be reflecting the light very differently than the wash and stained areas. This is normal but the topcoat will tie everything together. I chose to use this Satin Clear Coat as I didn’t want too much gloss on this industrial finish. I applied three (3) coats with my spray gun sanding lightly between each coat.
TIP ~ When applying numerous layers of topcoat, the LAST coat does NOT require sanding.
Here’s a close-up of how it all came together. I can’t wait to hear what you think in the comments below!
You are seeing this finish before Dee does (with her permission of course!) so I hope she LOVES it! Her style is modern and chic so I’m sure this will fit into her home perfectly!
I’m always impressed at how a little paint and stain can totally transform a piece of furniture!
Here’s another look at this before and after. I hope it’s inspired you and given you some new ideas for updating your projects.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS INDUSTRIAL TABLE MAKEOVER. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. IT MAKES MY DAY! 🙂
Happy furniture painting friends!
Denise x
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Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
I bet Dee is going to be thrilled with her table. I love the industrial vibe you gave to the wood top. Very classy!
Thanks, Marie! She is thrilled. She picked it up yesterday and I’m so happy she likes it!
Love this look! Great makeover! I also think a couple old saw horses and a piece of wood could achieve a similar look. I’m inspired. Thanks for sharing the process.
Thanks Susan! 🙂
I am always amazed at the creativity you have with mixing stains and a paint wash. All the Pier 1 s in the states have closed too. They are now a strictly online store so you can still shop with them.
I learn so much from you guys! TY I’m excited they are still online! 🙂
Hello Denise,
This turned out beautifully, thanks for sharing it with us!
Thanks so much Cristina!
Love the final look of this piece. Just wondering if its always necessary to add the stain over the 3 layers of the black wash? Not sure if you needed to use the stain on this piece to cover the cherry stain or is it advisable to use the stain over all black wash projects?
Thanks! And no, a wash does not require a stain over it. I used it to warm up the look of this piece and give it more depth. 🙂
i love this!!!
Thanks Tiffany! 🙂
Denise, you definitely transformed this table to industrial cool! I wonder how the table would have looked with 2 or 3 coats of DB walnut stain and no black wash? I have used the walnut stain a couple times over bare solid wood furniture (with the satin clear coat) and my finish looks similar to yours – but maybe my pieces would have more depth or more color variation with the combination of the black wash and stain?
Hi Peggi! If I was really happy with the wood grain after I sanded it, I may have used stain only. But this Pier 1 table had sub-par wood (not the best looking grain in the middle) so I opted for wash+stain. 🙂
Dear Denise,
As always, you did a beautiful job! I think the look is very high-end and classy! You always inspire me!
Hi Angee! 🙂 I’m so glad it’s sparked some ideas and inspired you — thanks so much!!!
Love this finish! Wanting to do my stair rails and will try it after seeing your beautiful work. Thanks for sharing!
Saw that Pier 1 is now online only, but at least they’re still open.
Hi Nan! I didn’t know they were online!!!… I’m going to look now! Thanks.🤗
I am understand you can still buy Pier 1
Merchandise on line. Table turned out great!
I just looked it up and YES! I had no idea they were still online… thanks!😃
Such a deep rich finish. You have truly perfected your art. 🙂
I’d like to try this. Thanks for sharing your process. 🙂
Thanks so much and if you give it a try, I’d love to hear P!💙
Thanks for sharing your vision Denise. I didn’t know you could leave part of an existing finish! Your friend is going to ❤️❤️ this!
Thanks Nicki and ya, you sure can! It can really add some dimension and character to a piece!😊
Hi Denise. I’m loving the new updated industrial look. A very nice updated look. Dee is going to love it! Thanks for showing us first:)
Thanks, Monique! I just texted her the link to this post and she says she LOVES it… yaaay! Can’t wait for her to see it in person! XOXO
Looks fantastic. Thanks for showing us how to do it…. Not sure I would have tried it otherwise. 🙂
Thanks Robin and my pleasure! Have a super day! XO
Hello Denise
Love the finish on the table and the toes.
Please help me to understand. The “rules” are that you can’t apply a oil based product over a water based product. But you have done that here with this table according to what I understand from the materials description. How does the final product not end up gummy or able to be scraped off with a finger nail? I am also wondering about the same problem with colored waxes over water base chalk paint and then applying a clear poly coat over that. Thanks!
Hi Lori! Great question so thanks for this. Oil-based products OVER water-based products are perfectly fine as long as your finish is 100% dry. This is why wax (tinted or clear) over water-based chalk paint works great. Applying water-based products OVER oil-based products requires MORE dry time. In my case, I waited 3 days for the stain to TOTALLY DRY before applying my top coat. GF has a great explanation here. Hope this helps.🤗
Beautiful job!! Love the new look. Also,
Love your website. So glad I’m following you.
Thanks so much, Linda and so glad you’re part of the #sifamily as well!🤗
Good morning Denise! Dee’s table looks great! I like the black wash, and the update. I think it will allow her to get so much more function out of it with different decor pieces. Brown, although a neutral , doesn’t always mess well with different colors or seasons you may wish to decorate for.
On another note, all of our Peir 1 stores in the states are closed too. I guess I didn’t realize you are Canadian. Where about are you? I live 14 miles from the border. It’s about 2 hours drive to Regina, which is actually closer than any big city we can drive to in the states.
Have a blessed day,
Niki
Hi Niki! Thanks! I hope it fits well into her decor as well. And I totally agree with you. Black is always a statement grounding piece and easier to work with than a cherry stain imo. 🙂 I’m in the Greater Toronto Area and a 35-40 min drive from the Buffalo NY Border. Sorry to hear you Pier 1 stores have closed as well. It was such a great store for accessories, wasn’t it?!
I’ve been your way a few times in my life to visit family in Niagara Falls. It was a shorter trip to cross into Canada than drive around the lakes.
Ya, I’m very close to Niagara Falls and have visited the US Falls MANY times!😃
This looks amazing, Denise! It went from dated to so industrial-chic! I really need to try a black wash! XOXO
Thanks my friend! And you’d LOVE it! Super easy and so nice when it shows a little grain through the finish. XOXO