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How to Build a Farmhouse Tabletop

When I complete a project, I always have a sense of satisfaction.  Sometimes I’m happier with the outcome than others.  And, I’ve had my share of DIY disasters over the years – most of which you won’t find here!  Today was one of those days that I was giddy with happiness when I put the final brush stroke of paint on this DIY farmhouse tabletop that Mark built and I finished.

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Build a Farmhouse Tabletop

I’ve wanted a larger table for a while, but really loved the base of our existing trestle table.  I purchased this table for $40 at a yard sale.  You can read about it here.

Trestle Table Legs - Farmhouse Tabletop

I’ve had the “idea” of building a farmhouse tabletop to attach to the base of our table, but I sometimes have a hard time explaining my “ideas” to my husband – the builder!  There are times I have an idea and I go on and on telling him all about it, and he just stares at me blankly!  That’s where visual aids come in handy.  So, here’s the visual aid I showed Mark to explain my vision.

The photo above is the Baroque Parquet rectangular table from Restoration Hardware (no longer available).  It’s a very grand table and would never fit in my house, but it’s the look of that style tabletop on our trestle table base that I was going for.

Farmhouse Trestle Table Base

For the table top, we used four 1″ x 12″ pine boards cut to 6 feet long and a 1″ x 6″ board cut to size running horizontally at each end to create the 7 ft. long table top.  Then Mark made a skirt using 1″ x 3″ pine boards.  The entire table was put together with pocket holes and screws using a Kreg Jig and it’s solid.  The finished skirt fits snuggly over the existing trestle base.

Farmhouse Tabletop

Once Mark had the table top assembled, I sanded the entire piece to make sure there were no rough edges.  Then I used a mixture of Rustoleum Weathered Gray and Minwax Dark Walnut stains for the table top.  Once the stain had cured, I applied two coats of Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane.  I gave the table base a fresh coat of white paint – Maison Blanche Magnolia. So, what do you think of our new farmhouse tabletop?

How to Build a Farmhouse Tabletop

If you are looking for good tutorials and plans for building your own farmhouse table or table top, there are a few sources that I can recommend:  Ana White and Shanty 2 Chic.  These amazing ladies really know their way around a workshop and have building plans that are easy to follow.

AmY

Sunday 31st of March 2019

Wow I love it, I would love to try this. I went looking for someone who had, and your blog popped right up on Pinterest. The exact day and year you published this, I was in labor, such a special day :)

DIY Rolling Cart for the Kitchen - Hymns and Verses

Thursday 1st of December 2016

[…] white.  It’s my favorite white in the Maison Blanche line and is the same color I used on my vintage trestle table base.  For the top, I used MinWax stain in Classic Gray.  I waxed the entire piece with Maison Blanche […]

Traci Gaydon

Wednesday 28th of October 2015

The table looks fabulous!!!! I love the light fixture also..Did you make it?

Doreen Cagno

Wednesday 28th of October 2015

The light fixture was purchased at the Pottery Barn Outlet and was a great deal! I don't think they sell this fixture anymore!

Wendy Johnson

Thursday 20th of August 2015

Your table is fabulous! I have to thank you also because I followed one of your links and that person gave a detailed list of all the tools I needed to buy to start...anyway it was exactly what I needed so thank you.

Cindy

Thursday 20th of August 2015

Oh my, Doreen, this is just beautiful! I would want to show the world if I ever made anything this beautiful!:) Nicely done and thanks for sharing!