Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Build A Console Table: It’s DONE!

Well, it took us 3+ weeks, but our 12 foot long DIYed living room console table is officially finished!

ConReveal Full Room

ConReveal Full Side1

Before I get into any more pics of the final piece in place, let me back up a bit and recap some of the most recent constructions steps that got us there (since the last time you saw our console table it was stained but still topless). As you know, we had to turn to Plan B for the top since the pallets didn’t play nice (more on that here) so after lots of driving around town in search or something reclaimed that we could use (where sadly nothing was the right width or available in enough bulk) Plan B ended up being “buy new wood and make it look old.” Hence this pile in my basement:

ConBuild Wood Supplies

After trying out a few different combinations of boards on the floor of Home Depot, I discovered that I could achieve a near-perfect width by placing four 1 x 4″ boards (in plain whitewood) sandwiched between two 1 x 2″ boards (in poplar). This arrangement, by total accident, ended up looking great since the poplar 1 x 2″s around the perimeter inadvertently added a nice border that would match the 1 x 2″ poplar framing that I used on the front of the bookshelves. Score.

Since we wanted to lay the boards on top in a staggered almost brick-like pattern, I cut all of my 1 x 4″ boards into two-foot lengths to start.

ConBuild Cut Wood Stack

The next step was to distress each of the boards to make them look more aged and less straight-from-Home-Depot. This process, as well as staining them, is a whole story in itself so we’re going to do a follow-up post with an avalanche of details (it’ll have some video, which I have yet to edit – so that’s why you’re getting this reveal post first). But here’s a glimpse of the whole distressing process to tide you over (it involved a variety of things from hammering dents and dropping a bag of screws to making line imprints and roughing things up with pointy objects).

ConBuild Distress Grid

Once I had distressed all 27 pieces of wood (yep, over two dozen) Sherry worked her stain magic on them. Again, we’ll get into this more in a follow up post full of details (yup, there’s some staining video to edit too) but it basically involved doing a variation of applications using Minwax’s Dark Walnut and Ebony stains (some light, some dark, some mixed, etc). We ended up with a bunch of boards that looked aged and kinda beat up, like they were collected from a few different sources – instead of just purchased at the home improvement store a week ago looking all shiny and new.

ConStain 4 Varied Boards

Then it was time to attach them together to create one big solid tabletop – well, actually three tabletop pieces (two long ends and one small “puzzle” piece that would cover our hidden storage compartment in the middle, which can be lifted out). After doing some math, we decided to stagger the boards by four inches so that when it came to the open part in the middle there would be a small lip on each edge for the puzzle piece to rest on when it’s closed so it all looks flush (I promise this will make more sense once you see the final pics at the bottom of the post). The point is, my first few cuts looked something like this.

ConBuild Staggered Cuts

To attach the boards, I again used my beloved Kreg Jig to screw holes that would tightly join each piece to the one beside it.

ConBuild Staggered Holes

After joining the end boards, I drilled the rest of the holes and continued screwing them together, one-by-one. It probably took me about 40 minutes to create each of the two long sides of the wood countertop (and then about twenty to build the smaller “puzzle piece” cover for the storage space in the middle).

ConBuild Holes On Back

Here’s what one side looked like when it was mostly complete (it was still missing the 1 x 2″ poplar border around the edge). You can see how I tried to vary the color on adjacent boards so the change in tone looked intentional and added lots of nice texture and character.

ConBuild One Side Done1

Once the second side was done I double checked everything by placing the tabletops on the console bases – making sure that my measurements were still accurate and I didn’t need to make any adjustments before attaching the poplar 1 x 2″s around the perimeter. Luckily, all was good. Big phew.

ConBuild Side Rails

Let’s fast forward (past attaching side borders and screwing four staggered boards together to create the middle puzzle piece) and show you our final step before putting the whole darn thing together: touch-up staining and poly-ing. We realized that it would help to stain some of the cut ends and part of the middle storage piece so that no raw wood would be seen. Once dried, Sherry applied a coat of Safecoat Acrlacq polyurethane over everything that was stained to seal it all in and protect our beloved console baby (and our beloved real baby since Safecoat is non-toxic and water-based so it doesn’t off gas like regular oil-based poly does (read more about staining and sealing the consoles here).

ConBuild Additional Stain

Oh and before I forget, do you see the white fabric around the middle console piece in the pic above? That was just an extra sheet that we had which Sherry stapled neatly around the entire wooden frame to create a nice little fabric compartment so nothing that we attempt to store can slyly slip behind the sofa. Then those two baskets that you see stacked on the chair (that we also already owned) can be contained inside the fabric “box” for storing everything from board games and books to remotes and other stuff that you might want to put on a coffee table (since we have an ottoman instead). More pics of that in a minute.

After that last bit of staining and sealing (and a few days of drying) everything was finally ready to come back into the living room. We brought things in one-by-one (bases first, then the tops) and after we had everything lined up the way we wanted it, I drilled a few screws up through the bottom of the two bases on the ends to secure the wood tops in place. And with that, our nearly 12 foot console (with a hidden middle storage compartment and some sweet bookcase-sides for even more stash space) was officially complete.

ConReveal Full Side1

Maybe we’re biased because it’s our creation, but we’re both convinced that it came out even better than we had imagined. In fact, we think the DIY distressed wood top looks way better in the space than the grey-ish pallets would have (we’re the first to admit that the room has enough gray going on already). Hallelujah for happy accidents.

Conreveal Contrast1

It also made us really happy that we opted for a rustic warm wood look with lots of imperfections and character (since the room was beginning to skew a little more modern than we had intended). It definitely brings some much needed balance to the overall vibe (especially once we add a heftier TV stand and some table lamps to finish things off).

ConReveal Vertical Chaise1

Oh, but I can’t forget to show you how the hidden storage compartment turned out in the middle. It’s my favorite feature, probably because it makes me feel like James Bond. Can you spot the removable puzzle piece there in the pic below?

ConReveal Middle 2

Clearly it’s not 100% disguised, but when you’re looking at the console as a whole it doesn’t scream at you (just scroll a few up a few photos to see what I mean) since it’s flush and the ends are still staggered instead of being cut into a big obvious removable rectangle. Once we’ve actually got some stuff on the table (lamps, a lacquer box or two, some books, etc) we think it’ll call even less attention to itself. We were just proud to get such a snug fit without making it difficult to remove (miraculously it slides right out and drops easily back in).

ConReveal Puzzle Break Clos

Speaking of which, I did end up drilling a small oblong hole (about 4 John fingers / 5 Sherry fingers wide) to make lifting it out as simple as possible. Three cheers for the sanding bits on my Dremel (Sherry got me a Dremel Trio for Father’s Day last year) which helped me make the hole even and smooth. I was nervous to puncture my took-three-weeks-to-make-it creation, but it all worked out in the end.

ConReveal Lifting Puzzle

When lifted out completely, we gain access to those two storage baskets that I mentioned a while back (we’ll eventually fill them with more games, maybe some DVDs, not-often-used remotes, and who knows what else). Oh and you can see below what I meant by staggering the boards to leave a lip for the puzzle piece to rest on for a nice flush look:

ConReveal Hidden Baskets

We don’t expect to use that storage on a daily basis, so for the most part it’ll maintain its secret identity as one solid piece except once or twice a week when we dig in there for a movie or a game or something.

ConReveal Back High Angle1

Of course we still have to put the darn thing to use – aka add some table lamps to the top, store some items on the shelves on each side, and generally load that baby up with function and a little form (maybe a ceramic animal for the wife). But to give you a sense of what it might look like, here are our two bedside lamps playing stand-in for a minute. It reminds us why the 16.5″ width is perfect for us – it’s wide enough to fit a chunky table lamp without having to worry about knocking our heads into them (since we’re both guilty of over-exaggerated laughing spells during particularly funny moments of Modern Family).

ConReveal With Lamps1

And no reveal post is complete without – say it with me – a budget breakdown. So here it is:

  • Wood (white wood & poplar from Home Depot) – $98
  • Screws & Tools – $0 (already owned everything)
  • White sheet – $0 (already owned)
  • 2 storage baskets for middle compartment – $0 (already owned)
  • Minwax Ebony Stain – $4
  • Minwax Dark Walnut Stain – $0 (already owned)
  • Safecoat Acrylacq Sealant – $0 (already owned)
  • Cheap paintbrushes for staining – $2
  • TOTAL:  $104

Clearly wood was our biggest budget hog, but for a nearly 12 foot piece of furniture made from solid wood, we can’t really complain about the just over $100 price tag. Especially since this extremely similar piece from West Elm goes for $379 – and we would’ve needed to buy THREE of them, to the tune of $1,137. Yowsa.

ConReveal Full Room

So another big thanks to Ana White for inspiring the design and giving me the confidence to tackle it myself (with the help of my stain slingin’ wifey). Did anyone else out there complete any builds this week? Who’s still in the basement/garage/shed/workroom finishing something up? Speaking of finishing up, I have some videos to edit and a big post to write about our wood distressing technique, so here’s hoping I can get that up in a day or two. In the meantime I’ll leave you with this shot of our new “old” boards before we screwed them all together to make the console top. Is it weird that it gets me all hot and bothered? Whatever, my wife likes leopard heels and I like distressed lumber.

Distressed Wood Preview

Psst- Wanna see all the past steps that went into building this beast of a console table? Here’s the first post, the second one, and the third one.

UPDATE: CHECK OUT THE ACCESSORIZED CONSOLE TABLE HERE.

Comments

  1. Star says

    Even though I just started blogging in January I have going to your blog everyday for a year and a half! I think this is a great solution that you guys tackled head on. Are ou guys taking orders because I can see them coming!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I think John needs a break from the basement for a while. Poor guy would emerge and say “the light! the daylight! how sweet it is!” – haha.

      xo,
      s

  2. Carla says

    Sounds from my house: OOOHHHH AHHHHH!!!! Hunny, come look at this.
    Beautiful, clever, functional – what’s not to like! The Hunny-Do list just got a little longer!

    Reply

  4. Derek @ Your Modern Couple says

    That looks great John! The stain kind of reminds me of what I used on the coffee table I built my girlfriend. [http://www.yourmoderncouple.com/2010/06/28/catharines-birthday-present-part-iii/]

    Don’t you just love building something with your own hands? You guys have me itching to start another project! :) I can’t wait to see what you two come up with next!

    Reply

  7. Sarah M says

    In the words of Rachel Zoe… I. DIE! Seriously, reading this post, my mouth was hanging open like a kid seeing Mickey at Disney World for the first time. Gorgeous!!

    Reply

  8. Bridgette says

    I love the console. I love the mix and match of old and new. Plus since you guys are giving us real updates as you do stuff to your home, a step by step. We are not getting the finished room. I feel that it is hard to really give an opinion on something like this until you guys say THIS is the final step. We have what we want. I know you guys are rolling with it and it is true not everyone would like everything you do…. But I think with the things you have whipped up more people would be trusting and try to see it through your eyes. I can not wait to see each new step. I also think more modern stuff on the table will really help. I do agree about the rug though.=) I always want to use the “force” to move it. Good job….if this blog ever slows down you could totally open up a thirft store and sell pieces you make there too.

    Reply

  9. laurajane says

    This has nothing to do with your console, but everything to do with your Modern Family reference. I am watching the episode from a couple days ago and thought of your laughing (and knocking over a lamp) during the part where Gloria is holding Lily and accepting being the guardian should something happen to Mitchell… “Nothing’s going to happen to you…. But if it did, we would be so happy!”. ha!

    Love this show!

    Reply

  10. Karissa says

    I’ve been traveling this week and I just saw your finished table…it looks amazing! Out of curiosity, why did you guys decide not to keep your glass/iron coffee table for this room?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We loaned that to John’s parents since Clara is just starting to pull up on stuff and we had visions of her getting hurt. We also like the idea of a round ottoman in the middle of our big angular sectional to add some soft curves for balance.

      xo,
      s

  11. Lisa says

    Looks amazing!! You should make a coordinating TV console. PS I would totally pay for something like this. You may have found your ‘true’ true calling. :)

    Reply

  13. Anjuli says

    Question about Safecoat: I’ve been painting a bookshelf for my son’s room using the no VOC paint from Lowes. However, the paint is leaving a somewhat sticky finish to the bookshelf. I put some books on it to see if I liked the color in his room or if I wanted a darker color, and the books stuck. I was wondering if I put a coat of the Safecoat Acrylacq over the paint would that take care of the stickiness problem. Do any of the items you used the Safecoat on have a sticky feeling to them?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think the key is to let that paint fully dry first (if it feels sticky it’s not 100% cured yet, so give it some time without anything on it, preferably in a room with ventilation and moving air). Once it’s less tacky you can apply two thin and even coats of SafeCoat for sure, but over slightly wet paint it won’t solve your problem so waiting first is key (and then applying thing coats and giving them ample dry time of course). Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  16. Silke says

    COLOUR ME HAPPY !
    Because of this post, I was able to convince my hubby to build me a small end table to put next to the sofa to put wine/tea/book on.
    Thank you so much :-)

    Reply

  17. Destiny says

    I bouht some antique auditorium/theater seats that I want to make the wood look like your console. But the slats of wood on the seats are of different widths, do you think it will still look good? (I always second guess myself!) The metal part of the chairs I want to look like aluminum or chrome. I was thinking of spray painting it w/ Krylon mettalic paint, but I don’t want it to look cheap. I’m considering getting it powder coated. But that’s expensive.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah I think it’ll look really cool with varied widths too. And spray painting with metallic paint can definitely work (look for “hammered” metallic options, which tend to look more convincing than the bright glossy versions). Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  20. Layla says

    Do you know that this post of yours is on the first page of google results for a “long console table” search? =D Anyway, we just bought a loooong sectional, and looking at your pics I was wondering how you guys are doing with having to rest drinks on the console behind you. Happy? Annoying? Awesome because you get to tun around and see the sweet console you built? Haha! Also, how’s the small ottoman coffee table working for you? I know it’s mostly a soft choice for Clara, but I was just wondering if you were planning to replace it with something bigger down the line. We haven’t decided on a permanent sectional layout (we could go L or U) and a U shape wouldn’t accommodate our pretty big table. Sooo… Big sectional + small coffee table: can it work?
    Sorry for the super long comment, maybe I should have emailed, haha!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, so far we’re loving it! I sit my tea back there every night and wait for it to cool and then turn back around and get it to sip it. Totally second nature for me! As for the small ottoman, it’s working really well (super kid friendly) but it’s a little too small for the giant sofa so eventually we’ll probably replace it down the line. Not sure with what though. Maybe still something round though?

      xo,
      s

  21. Natalie says

    im using your tutorial for making new look old (reclaimed wood is SO expensive here), and loved your console border so much, i decided to copy it for my DIY desktop in my craft room (its HUGE, going to go along 3 of my walls ) ! i was wondering how you actually attached the border to the center wood ?? i was getting so excited reading all the directions, and when i came to the border part, it said “lets fastforward” *wamp wamp* :( was it just attached with the kreg kit as well ?? i’ve got one on order & cant wait for it to arrive so i can finish my desktop !

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      If you mean the frame to the side bookcase, it’s attached via screws on the outside of the box (using the Kreg Jig and going into the frame pieces so the screw isn’t visible because of the couch and the wall). Hope it helps!

      -John

  22. Amanda says

    I absolutely LOVE this table! I’ve been on the hunt for a round coffee table and after seeing this post, I’m wondering if I could make my own using your distress technique on the wood. Do you have any tips?

    One more thing – we live in an apartment. Only outside space is a big, shared deck. Oh, the joys of renting!

    Reply

  23. Jana says

    Hello fellow Karl lovers. :) I know IKEA’s website says Karl is about 31″ tall…..would you say that includes the pillow height? Or just the structure of the couch?

    Reply

  24. Robin says

    Honestly… I like yours way better than that boring old West Elm one (and I LOVE West Elm) I wish I had the tools/screws/stain/sealant/paintbrushes and TIME AND TALENT to do what you two do! Simply gorgeous console!

    Reply

  25. Bonnie says

    Wow! Ab Fab! I love it! I’m going to steal this to make a head and foot board for my bed!! It will be way cheaper than buying a real rustic one! I’m also going to do this to my kitchen table (after practicing) It’s been in the family for years but unfortunately doesn’t have that “been in the family for years” look! OH! I’m so excited! Just awesome folks. Great job!

    Reply

  29. Kaitlin says

    I love the table so much, but my first reaction was, “How weird. I have the same couch (I have the regular Karlstad sofa & a separate Karlstad chair, not the sectional) in the same color & almost the same shade of green rug in my living room!” I even have a few square brightly colored Andy Warhol pieces on the walls, not so different from your own wall decor.

    Reply

  30. Lizzie says

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! I love the James Bond secret compartment, the pricetag, the side shelves, the staggered boards and the framing- it’s georgeous!!! I’m also pleased that you shop at The Home Depot, as I am happily employed there ;) Although we don’t receive associate discounts on merchandise (we are compensated in other ways) I am able to check out our cull lumber on a regular basis and am currently planning to build a coffee table. Thanks for the inspiration!!

    Reply

  31. Rachel Indek says

    Love the table… going to try it myself! Love the couch, too, it’s the perfect shape for my living room… where is it from?

    Reply

  32. Ruxy says

    Just have to tell you that my hubby and I loved this so much that he decided to take in on himself! He even went out and bought a kreg jig. It’s taken about 3 weekends (considering we have a 2 month old, that’s pretty good!) and should be done next weekend. So glad we came across this post!!

    Next he’ll be making me a dining room table… ;)

    Reply

  33. carol says

    Nice job! you might want to reconfigure your living room layout so you are showing off that custom piece. :) Thanks for the distressing lesson, Have a great day!

    Reply

  34. nick says

    I’m a little late gettin’ to this party–and, full disclosure, I didn’t read through all the comments to see if this was suggested–but I wonder if this same basic technique could be used to make some inexpensive butcherblock-esque countertops? They’d need sealed, naturally, and I wonder if poplar/pine might be too “soft” for counter tops…Any thoughts?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You certainly could use the same technique, but I do think you might have some trouble using it as a traditional butcherblock counter since it probably show scrapes and slices from knives and such.

      -John

  35. nick says

    True, true. By using cutting boards, etc. I wonder if you might be able to make them work (and last). Guess it’s time for a little test-section. My wife is going to shoot me, though, since it’s supposed to be “finish baseboards first!”

    Reply

  36. Jessica A says

    do you guys still like the Dremel Trio? My dad has recently started doing a lot of wood projects, and I want to buy him something to help him smooth/round edges. He is sanding everything by hand!

    Reply

  37. Summer says

    So you guys inspired me (read: made this non-handy girl think she could do this). My “table” is going to be 10ft, broken up into 2 – 5ft tables… but its been such a pain putting things together because the cuts from homedepot were not great! Were all your home depot cuts perfect?? If not, how did you get around that problem? I’ve been sweating this table (sweating= drooling over it) for months. I’m almost done. Any advice? Again, still loving this project, it is my favorite especially Sherry’s reclaimed look top!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Usually we try to help with the cuts so they’re as close as possible (offering to hold the tape measure, asking to measure things one more time after they’re cut to be sure we’re not leaving with the wrong cuts, etc). If you have a table saw you can probably try to even things out at home, but if not I’d just try to help at HD so the cuts are correct since they’re usually really good about that if you specify that you’re building something so the cuts need to be the same :)

      xo
      s

    • Summer says

      Thanks, Sherry! You’re awesome. I did guide the guy at HD, but it was the blind leading the blind :-) There is a guy there who truly knows what he’s doing and I always ask him his hours so I can only come back when he’s there. Either way, I think I’ll get a circular saw to do a little shaving here and there. I plan to really level the trim to give the illusion of symmetry and level-ness. Cheating. LOL

  38. Erik says

    Just curious, how did you attach the table top to the console bases? Would you recommend glue or is there a way to kreg jig it? Looks great!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It has been a while now but I believe we used long screws up through from the bottom of the console bases into the tabletop to catch the wood top and secure it without going through (make sure they’re long enough to catch it but not so long that they poke through).

      xo
      s

  39. Nicole says

    I know this is an old post, but where did you get that awesome sectional? I smile having a hard time finding a couch I love, and I love yours.

    Reply

  40. Steve says

    My wife is having me make a top for a coffee table she is refinishing and wanted me to do it like you did but I said “Oh I’ll just glue it” and now the top is not smooth between the boards that we joined together. Are you able to get the boards smooth when you use the kreg jig? I know just enough to be dangerous and now I am getting myself in a little deep.

    Reply

  41. Andrea says

    I love this and I have adapted to make my own for my massive couch. Instead of using four rows of 1 x 4’s, I used two rows of 1 x 6’s with 1 x 3’s for the boarder. I have an issue though when screwing the 1 x 6’s together where some of the boards twist/lift and then I have one corner of a board that is higher than the others. Any suggestions for how to prevent this?

    Thanks!

    Reply

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