Categories: DIY & HomeFurniture

Mahogany and Steel Dining Table and Chairs

It’s funny how special something becomes when you put a lot of work into it, isn’t it? This dining table and chairs is no exception. Each part has a story and a reason.

The wood for the table top is reclaimed mahogany from a historic building in Salt Lake City a few years ago. My husband was working on the building, and the boards were torn out and destined for the trash. They’d been painted, but he knew what they were, and brought them home. He planed them the day we brought our first baby home from the hospital. And then they sat for a while while life got crazy.

Several years later, I found a set of chairs at Goodwill for $12 each, and I was so excited I felt like I’d robbed a bank. And while they weren’t the color we wanted (the were two-toned),

I loved the simple style and knew they’d look fabulous with the table we knew would be coming.

We determined that we had to start the table before we moved to California (because we’d sold our other table and chairs) and even though we were trying to finish a kitchen renovation and pack up our house to move Chad got to work painting and lacquering the chairs

and building this table top.

 

The mahogany is beautiful. He filled the nail holes with a black putty so they stand out and tell a story. I love the rich stain and the quality finish. He worked so hard on it, and it’s gorgeous. He brought it home the day before we moved.

Once settled in our new house, some storage cubes became our table legs until Chad could create the base. He wanted to make it out of steel, and it was so exciting to see him cut, weld, and sand to create something so beautiful out of a steel beam.

It was fun to see him include the girls in the process too.

The final paint went on beautifully. And once we put the top on the base, I almost cried it was so beautiful. When I see it, it brings back memories of our first tiny baby (who is now 3), the hours of work, the stresses of moving, Chad’s amazing skill, and how everything comes together to create a story.

 

This isn’t just a dining table and chairs. It’s a creation three years in the making, and I love it.

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Lisa

Lisa Mabey blogs at Mabey She Made It about DIY, Crafts, Home Decor, and Sewing.

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  • Wow, that is talent! I love how it turned out. It looks like you paid lots and lots of money for it!

    • He's amazing, that's for sure. I'm guessing that if we ever thought about selling it it wouldn't take long to find someone to love it. :)

    • Me too. Every time I look at it I can't help but remember where it came from and the memories we make around it now.

    • That's how I feel about it too, Jodee. Elegant and stylish. My sweetheart's quite the artisan.

  • Well written and so beautifully expressed! And, a gorgeous table to match the story too! It is lovely and I'm sure you'll create many more memories around it.

  • Your husband is a true craftsman! :) I agree that although hand-making our homes takes time, the stories we weave and the gratification we gain along the way makes the journey so sweet. How cool to have a piece of someone else's history with you, too!

  • You should be so proud of this beautiful table. I love how the chairs turned out too.

  • I love how this table turned out! The metal and wood go together beautifully! Good for you saving that gorgeous mahogany wood! I would LOVE it if you'd link this up to the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop--our readers love to see DIY projects like this!

  • Stunning!!!! LOVE IT! I already pinned this to our DIY Sunday Showcase Talent Board!! Thanks for sharing such an awesome project!

    Shelly
    minettesmaze.blogspot.com

    • Thank you Shelly! I love this table so much so it's fun that I get to share with others too!

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