• Home
  • About
  • Tutorials
  • Recipes
  • Furniture
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Infertility
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

  • Home
  • About
  • Tutorials
  • Recipes
  • Furniture
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Infertility
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Shop

Molly’s Studio Coffee Table ~ Custom Paint Job!

August 16, 2012 by Bethany Sy

It’s no secret. We’re a little obsessed with Molly Long Photography. One of my favorite things is to get updates on my Facebook newsfeed when Molly adds new photos she’s taken. (If you don’t follow her on FB, you totally should!)

After Molly took the girls’ newborn pics over a YEAR ago (crazy!), we’ve been fortunate enough to become friends with Molly! And recently, she asked us to fix up a coffee table for her new studio! We were more than a little excited. And we had JUST the piece for her!

THIS… is the very first piece of furniture I ever painted/glazed. Even though I was an amateur and did a terrible job so long ago, it’s a little sentimental.

tv stand

First we heaved this big lady up onto our ‘exam table’.

P7251091

When we were prepping her for a new paint-job, I chuckled to myself when I noticed how I hadn’t even bothered to remove the doors and hinges when I painted last time. AND, I didn’t paint the back of the doors or inside the… cavity. LAZY ME!

P7251092

The previous finish was a little crusty, because many years ago, I had decided NOT to sand between priming and painting. (Oh the things we learn the hard way!) So I sanded everything down with 120 to knock down the crustiness and make her smooth and ready for prime!

P7251096

We could have skipped the priming step on this, because the piece was already primed and painted. But there’s something about having a crisp blank slate to start with. And the new color always goes on brighter and more evenly when applied over prime. Kilz is BY FAR the best.

P7271127

One of Molly’s signature colors is a light aqua-type-teal. So Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze was the obvious choice. (we lovingly call it Eloise blue these days)!

IMG_0082

Using the techniques from our Glazing Tutorial, we I skillfully glazed her down to bring out the details. This is our go-to technique glaze.

molly's MLP

IMG_0088

I wanted to have a little extra detail on the top to make it feel custom and special, so I blew up a design that Molly uses on her Gift Cards, and using my Stencil Making Techniques, created a custom stencil!!!

196840_10150160876118669_4537275_n

IMG_0087

After cutting out the design with my Exacto knife, I lightly traced the design with a pencil.

IMG_0090

THEN! I used Molly’s MLP Logo, printed it on a transparency, projected it onto the top surface, and traced with a pencil as well!

176461_10150143169618669_4125400_o

IMG_0094

And then I got busy hand-painting all those little clover-designs! It was a time-consuming project, but always super fun for me!

IMG_0090 IMG_0095

And after I got the MLP logo painted on in the same Chocolate Brown, it looked like this! (it looks black in this pic, but it’s really brown!)

IMG_0100

The clovers were fun, and added that extra touch that I was wanting, but it still seemed like something was missing. So I decided to go at it with a little white paint. I dabbed some on in each ‘petal’ and smeared it a bit with my finger.

IMG_0124 IMG_0126
IMG_0127 IMG_0128

IMG_0120

LOVE this so much better!!!

IMG_0134

We sealed with Minwax poly HIGH GLOSS to make her so sleek and shiny, not to mention super durable.

P8151530

I can’t wait to see this pretty lady all up in Molly’s new sweet studio.

P8151528

P8151540

P8151529

This coffee table has had several identities in it’s lifetime, but this last one is by far the best! And I’m SO glad my sentimental coffee table is going to a friend!

molly's MLP1

If Molly lets me, I’ll be sure to get pics of this baby all up in her studio (which, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to help decorate!!). Stay tuned for that!

~Bethany

 

 

*this post contains affiliate links

Related:

  • Coffee Table / Lego Table

    We've been needing to update our coffee table situation in the living room for awhile…

  • Stripey Ombre Mural with Shelves

    Hey friends! I recently shuffled some things around in my studio, and it really got…

  • How to fix a hole in the wall!

    Got a hole in your wall that you wish wasn't there? We do! When we…

About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« Unfinished Project Updates!
I’m so glad I FOUGHT »

Comments

  1. 3

    Holly OwlCraftIt says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    GREAT Job! I liked how you added the coffee tables bio. beforehand and your trial and errors w it 😉
    The finished piece looks amazing!!

    Reply
  2. 4

    Renee' says

    August 16, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Love it! Much better than it’s previous state. Molly will LOVE IT! It is also a good size for little kids climb on! Good entertainment for them!

    Reply
  3. 5

    Anonymous says

    August 16, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Cleaver, I love it. Babies, need pics of babies! ha. Mary in NY

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube
We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
Please feel free to share or pin my posts! You're welcome to use ONE of my images (no collages or pinnables) with a link back to the corresponding post. Please do not edit or crop that single image in any way. Improper use of my photos, ideas or words is a violation of copyright. Thank you!

Categories

Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

Copyright © 2025 · Modern Blogger Pro On Genesis Framework · Customizations by Sweet Theory Designs · Privacy Policy · Log in