Refinished table in gray

I've had this table forever. Maybe even longer than that. It's solid. I'm pretty sure I could use it as a bomb shelter if it came to that. Nothing gets by this wooden table. Not even the light. It just sucks it right in. She didn't start out that way. She was once a gentle pine color. But then she hit adolescence and got all dark and moody. Which was cool for a while. But it gets old, you know? Time for some light and fun!

So... first things first... the chairs had to go. Unlike the table... they did NOT live a long and happy life. I picked up some grungy old chairs off Craigslist and gave them a facelift with spray paint and some new upholstery.

For the table:

1. Sand down the entire top of the table. All the way.
2. Paint primer on the entire table...top and bottom.
3. Paint first coat of gray paint on top.
4. Paint second coat of gray on top.
5. Paint bottom parts white.
6. When the top coat of gray is really and truly dry, I mixed a little black paint into the gray and added a little water. Then with a jersey towel, I streaked it across the top to create grain-lines to mimic wood. (Which is kind of weird because wood is NOT gray. But plain gray was a little boring.)
7. Paint second coat of white on the bottom.
8. Paint the top and bottom with polycrylic. Be super careful not to put too much on. Even though polycrylic doesn't age yellow like polyurethane does, it can still turn yellow if you put too much on and it starts to drip.
9. Sand the top ever so lightly and remove all dust.
10. Paint the top and bottom with polycrylic.
11. One more coat of polycrylic on top.