When Denise from Salvaged Inspirations came across a dated leather-top table, she saw an opportunity to give it new life. With Bonding BOSS, Truffle Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint, and a touch of gilding wax, she completely restyled this piece into something classic and refined. In this guest blog, Denise walks through her process and shares helpful tips for painting leather furniture tops with confidence.
(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here).
Hi creative friends! This makeover had me stumped for a few days! It’s a lovely 1960s French Provincial side table with a varnished leather top and elegant gold tooling. I went back and forth trying to decide whether to keep the leather or give it a whole new look. Well… you can probably guess what I chose by the title of this post! Furniture purists might cringe a little, but for the rest of us who love a fresh twist on a classic — if an old-looking leather table top is not your jam, here’s an amazing makeover to inspire some ideas!
Below is the leather top side table I started with.
This table was in good shape and the wood is beautiful yet I’m not a fan of the maple stain. The leather had staining but no tears or scratches.
It is from the 1960’s and there is a faux drawer and French provincial hardware.
SUPPLIES
Leather Top FP Side Table – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Auto Sponge
Sanding Sponge
Paint Brush
Bonding BOSS Primer
Woodubend Appliques
Rose Tapestry Decoupage Rice Paper
Antique Gold Gilding Wax
Truffle SILK All-In-One Mineral Paint
Satin Clear Topcoat
PREP & CLEAN & REPAIR
I started by removing the French provincial handle and separating the table top from the base using my Dewalt Impact Driver Set.
Once everything was removed, I cleaned the inside and out with this heavy-duty furniture cleaner. I like using sponges and I mix the White Lightning into a spray bottle. This makes it super easy to spray and wipe.
SANDING & PRIMING
I brought this into my sanding room and gave it a good scuff sanding with a 180 sanding sponge. This wasn’t to remove any of the existing finish but rather just scuff it up and get it ready for primer. And here’s where the hard decision came into play – keep the leather – or cover the leather??? Uggh. I don’t know if you can see it in the pic below but this varnished leather was stained/and or the varnish was marred – I’m not sure because I don’t work with leather. Whatever it was, I couldn’t get it out.
I opted to prime over it and create an entirely new look.
After this piece was scuff-sanded, I primed with this Bonding Boss Primer. I used an inexpensive chip brush and a 4″ roller. The key to painting over leather is to use a Bonding Primer like BIN Shellac Based Primer or a water-based version. This will ensure whatever you decide to do after you prime will stick and not scratch off.
For the Bonding Boss, I applied the first coat and let it dry overnight.
When I came down the next morning and did a scratch test, this primer was stuck and wouldn’t budge. But I could see bleedthrough so a second coat was of primer was needed.
TRUFFLE PAINT
Now for the fun part – painting time! I chose a new DB paint color called Truffle. I wasn’t sure if they were referring to a chocolate truffle or a mushroom truffle. The description of this color says – “Rich, warm, and grounded; Truffle is a deep, earthy brown inspired by aged wood, cozy cottages, and the indulgent tones of hand-crafted chocolate. This sophisticated shade brings warmth and depth to any space, perfect for creating a natural, rustic feel with a refined finish.”
I always suggest testing a new color in an inconspicuous area before you apply it to your full makeover – especially if you’re matching it up to a design feature – like I did here with this gorgeous Rose Tapestry Decoupage Rice Paper. I thought Truffle would lean more on the brown side, but once I paired it with this decoupage paper, I felt it was more green/brown. It looked beautiful!
I used my medium oval brush and applied two coats for full coverage. This paint applies beautifully and is lovely to work with.
ADDING DECOUPAGE DECOR PAPER
To add this elegant vintage-vibe Rose Tapestry Decoupage Decor Paper here are the steps I took…
- Traced the circle following the embossed edge with a pencil
- Cut the circle out
- Applied a coat of Satin Topcoat onto the painted table top
- Positioned the decoupage paper and laid it down on the wet clear coat
- Smoothed the paper out
- Once smooth, I applied another coat of satin topcoat to adhere the paper
- Once dry, I brushed on a paint wash made with Truffle and water
- I wiped back the wet paint wash to reveal a vintage finish
ADDING GILDING WAX
To highlight the Woodubend and trim on this table, I used this Antique Gold Gilding Wax. I gloved up because this product is oil-based (it cures hard and doesn’t require a topcoat) and hit all these beautiful details with a light touch. Using an artists brush, I gilded the grooves on the table skirt and legs.
THE BIG REVEAL…
Here’s the finished look – very different from the original table!
I can’t wait to hear what you think. Are you more a leather table top fan or a vintage floral?
I love the way this all came together. I’m also happy I had the opportunity to try another new paint color. I thought this was going to lean more on the brown side, but depending on what you pair it with, I’d say Truffle leans more green/brown.
The gold gilding wax adds a lovely touch of glam! And I hope you can see how there is a bevelled edge on the design.
And here’s another close view of the leather-covered top with the Rose Tapestry Decor Paper. It’s so beautiful and vintage. It reminds me of Victorian tapestry. The paint wash over the decor paper really tied it all together nicely!
This stunning restyle is proof that even a worn leather surface can become a beautiful focal point. Using Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint and Bonding BOSS, Denise shows just how easy it is to achieve a smooth, durable finish. Ready to give your own piece a new look? Reach for Dixie Belle and start painting!
