Several years ago Jon and I built 4 garden tables. The tables were 35 inches tall (countertop height), 18" deep, but the overall length varied between 5 and 6 feet. We constructed the tables adding a lower shelf to increase its strength and add storage. I gathered my oils, and handpainted them.
My initial thought was to make tables with holes to accommodate 10" clay flower pots, but later we found ourselves putting plates over the holes and making small buffet tables out of them for outside entertaining.
Above are photos of fruit I painted on one table, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, and plums. I readily sold it to my friend Pam.
This table, I call "picket fence".
Its all about experimenting. Look at the front of the table--see the vines and leaves? I hand-formed the vines and leaves out of sculpty clay, and made little nail holes with spaghetti. I baked the vines & leaves, and attached them to the table with little white nails. Then, continued painting the frame and vines white.
Before we were married Jon and I would swing on his front porch. When we married he restyled the swing, constructing a platform making it a stationary sofa. I painted it, and made pillows and cushions. Then I repurposed a coffee table, and painted it to match the pillows. The style now is a bit dated, and I had to look at the properties of the photo imgages to discover the year was 2001.
Below, is a hankie dresser I purchased for a few dollars. I found it at a garage sale. It was painted John Deere green, and had some chunks of veneer missing. I filled the veneer. My mother Lorraine sanded and painted two coats of satin black enamel. Later, I added gold flurishes, lovely black and gold knobs from a great shop in Waupaca "Embellishments", and made the worn interior suitable for garments by wallpapering the interior of the drawers with a classy black and gold wallpaper.
Now that I am retired, I look forward to painting and re-purposing some more furniture pieces.