Coffee Table with Rattan Base and Reclaimed Wood Top

Dimensions: Length 40.5 inches, Width 17.5 inches, Height 16.5 inches, Weight 14 pounds. Lower “shelf” is roughly 35x10 inches and 7 inches off the ground. Looking for a one-of-a-kind coffee table for your living room or den? This may be it. The diverse natural tones of the upcycled pallet-wood top might complement a lot of other décor choices. $150. Click here to purchase.

The Story

I found a beat-up table in an alley in the Burleith neighborhood of D.C. It may have been kept outside for quite some time—to its detriment. The top was made of Formica over pressed wood and was in very poor shape. The first thing I did was to get rid of it. The base (legs and rails) was moderately unstable, as if the glue had come unstuck. Also, I thought it was odd how the three lower shelf pieces were positioned under the end rails cross. So, I partially disassembled the frame in order to (1) more easily sand and refinish it and (2) reposition the lower shelf. For a new top, I sorted through several planks I had recently harvested from four pallets. I found five pieces that were pretty straight and level. With three of one type of wood (possibly poplar) and two of another (red oak), I was able to alternate them for an interesting, symmetrical design. First, I removed all the nails and trimmed them all to the same length, only an inch or two shorter than their original length. Then I used a belt sander to smooth them down and clean them up. Next, I used a router to consistently round off all the top edges; I thought that would better complement the round legs and rails of the base. After that, I did some hand sanding to further smooth them down. Finally, I put on two coats of Minwax water-based clear satin Polycrylic for protection and to bring out the natural wood grain colors. I created a rectangular frame out of 1x2 leftover pine lumber as the connection between the base and the shelf planks. I spray-painted the frame and base satin black, in part to complement the naturally occurring black spots in/around the nail holes.

Related Items: Metal Frame End Table with Reclaimed Wood Top and Shelf, Upgraded Metal End Table with Reclaimed Wood Top.