Expand O Matic Table

I got so many emails asking about my last post on the Expand O Matic table I re loved for the new house.

So many people did not even know they existed and wanted to know more about them.  

I originally saw them on Pinterest.  After seeing how great these are I knew I was going to be on the hunt for one!

They really are great when you do not have a dining room or space for a big table.

With so many of you expressing an interest in these, I thought I would show you some of the ones that are out there.

Here are some examples.

Here is one like mine. This one has a roll out table leaf instead of the individual leaves that hook together like mine.   This one comes in a cherry finish.

This one is a vintage buffet that turns into a expanding table.

This  china cabinet expands into a table.

This is a desk that pulls out to a table.

This one is a dresser that pulls out to a table.

This one has chairs that fold up and can be stored in the cabinet.  

This one is a modern day version that is Amish made that you can purchase.  Price tag $1,995!
  While I am sure this is well built of solid wood that is a bit pricey.

I love mine and am so happy to have this one.  If you are looking for one just check out your local sale sites and antique shops.  They really are a great way to have a dining room table when you do not have room for one.

Have a good weekend.

Kris

What Is that????? The Reveal

Ok here the is cabinet with some of it's parts laying on the top.  A lot of you guessed this to be a stereo or old radio cabinet.  Nope!

This sweet cabinet is called an Expand-O-Matic dining table!! Yep those are the leaves on the top of this cabinet.  These were made back in the late 60's and early 70's.  The leaves stored in the inside of the cabinet.

The top draw pulls out and becomes the end of the table when extended.  As you can see the extension bars open up to any size seating from 2 to 12.  The leaves then fall into place and you have a table.

Here is one very similar to mine that I took off of pinterest.  You can see how it opens up to a full table.

These are the leaves before we sanded and painted them along with the middle table leg for support when the table is fully extended.

Terry sanded down the piece so it would take the cabinet paint.  Believe it or not I was planning on leaving this a light colored natural wood if it sanded nicely!  Nope it had sections as you can see that did not come out well from sanding.  Just years probably of poly and the different types of wood.  So white paint was going to take over!

We had to paint this inside due the house due to the cold weather we have here in Illinois.  However,  the sanding part was done outside in the garage!  Sorry Terry but trying to clean up all those fine dust particles for the next three months was not going to happen!  So outside this piece went to get her sanding.

My living room then became a painting room for the cabinet and all her parts.  

We used Lowe's special cabinet paint.  I love this paint.  It is specifically made for painting cabinets.  No primer needed.  It goes on like glass and the cabinets hold up very nicely.  We have used this cabinet paint on the kitchen cabinets and they still look great like the first day we painted them.  You can tint this to any color you want including the 100's of white shades.  I just use the semi brilliant white that it come in.

As you can see in this before pic the bottom of the cabinet was ok but I felt a little dated.  So Terry and his tools took some left over molding from when we made the island and finished this to make if feel more updated.  You can see this in the next picture.

Please excuse the grainy pictures but if I wait for good light and a sunny day it might be April to show you this piece finished!
I added new hardware for the upper drawer and left the hardware that was on the doors below.  Just gave them some white paint and sanded them for a distressed look.

The leaves all store nicely in the cabinet.  There is still room on the other side that I will put some serving pieces and a table cloth or two. 

Here is what the table looks like when you pull out the faux drawer.  You can see the mechanisms that pull out for each leaf.  This table expands to fit up to 12 comfortably.

I put in about 4 of the leaves to show you how this works.  They slip in and have little pegs that fit into the holes in the next leaf so the fit nicely together.

I love this piece.  Since I do not have a dining room in this tiny house this gives me a dining room table to entertain my guests when needed.  Then I can be put back away in this cute cabinet that does not take up a lot of space.

Oh how I wish I could get a better picture of this piece finished.  It really is pretty in this room and the finish came out really nice.  I guess that is the draw back of living in the midwest during the winter!  Some days we see sun but this week we are not going to see much sunshine.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful week.
Just trying to stay active and not feel the winter blues with no sun.

Have a great rest of the week.
Kris

Project News and Vintage Hollywood Schwinn Bike

This piece is done! Well you are still seeing the before picture here. 

It has been a rainy and fog filled day.  So every time I tried to get a good picture of this piece finished it came out very grainy. 

 I need a sunny day and I will show you how sweet the re love came out on this piece and reveal what it is.

 I promise!!  Hopefully soon!

In the meantime while I was on my lucky resale site I found this beautiful vintage Schwinn Bike.

It is the Hollywood Edition.  Not sure what that means but I just love it's cuteness.

Here are some of my garden bikes from our past Junk Chic Cottage homes.  

I have really missed having a  garden bike fixed up cute in with my garden flowers.

I think this one I found today on my favorite resale site for $25 is going to clean up nicely. Maybe just maybe some paint and some beautiful flowers I think I will have a nice addition to my summer garden this year.

I guess from what the seller told me this bike is still rideable too.  Hope nobody rides away with her after I give her some love and flowers this summer out in the garden!

I promise the reveal of the new piece is coming soon.  Just wish me some sun filled days and I can click off some final pictures.

Have a great new week.
Hugs,
Kris