Furniture Flip: Embrace the Funk

We’ve all seen these kind of pieces at the thrift stores time and time again.  Old…70s looking…funky…

Sometimes there’s just no amount of paint that’s going to disguise the funkiness.  So I say, don’t fight it! Let’s take that retro funk and turn it up to 11! (…said in my best Spinal Tap accent.)

This crazy little octagonal pedestal side table reminded me of something you’d find in Wonderland, so I decided to run with it’s whimsicality with a fun black and white distressed finish and a harlequin top.

All it takes for you to create your own harlequin pattern is a little math, some paint and a steady hand.  Here’s how I did it:

First I drew lines from top to bottom and side to side to find the center of the table top.  The diamonds in a proper harlequin pattern should have a ratio of 1:2 width to height.

For this table top, I decided that I would make 2 inch by 4 inch diamonds.  So one I had the center point, I worked out from there, graphing 2 inch by 4 inch rectangles.

Then, I found the center points of each side of the rectangles, like so:

Then you just connect all your center points to make your diamonds, like so:

I marked the diamonds that I wanted to paint to I wouldn’t screw it up after all that work!  Then it’s just a matter of filling it in with a little bit of paint and a steady hand.

No need to mask off, especially if you’re going to do a distressed finish like I was.

When you’re done painting and it’s completely dry, it’s just a matter of taking some fine grit sand paper and distressing the top and all the edges to bring out the funky details.

So don’t give up the funk!  I say, embrace the funk!

from Twice Lovely

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely

Latest posts by Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely (see all)

• The Lowdown on Milk Paint - July 12, 2012
• Furniture Flip: Gilded Side Tables - June 28, 2012
• Furniture Flip: Color Pop Surprise - June 14, 2012