You know we love a good furniture makeover, and this was no exception.
First up: our new outdoor sofa arrived. The delivery was low-key — a big truck, a big box, and a quick setup while Sherry finished a conference call. Clara came home later, inspected it, declared it “perfect,” and that was that. With the sofa in place, it was finally time to retire the old white coffee table that had served in multiple homes and sunrooms.
The old table had been a thrift-store tabletop screwed onto an Ikea Lack base — a temporary solution that had long outlived its welcome. After nearly a year outdoors it showed the effects of moisture, so it was time for a replacement. If you’ve ever wondered how Lack tables handle the elements, the answer is: not great.
We decided to bring back a favorite: the metal-and-glass thrift-store table that has moved with us through three homes. The metal frame stands up well outdoors, but the glass top collected pollen, dust, and watermarks and always looked foggy. To avoid constant cleaning and to create a more durable surface, we made a wooden top to fit the metal base and kept the glass in storage for possible indoor use later.
At Lowe’s we found a pre-cut panel for $19 that was the exact width (20″) and thickness (3/4″) we needed, which saved a lot of time. It needed a little trim on one end, but otherwise it was ready to be reinforced and finished.
Because the panel was thin, our primary concern was preventing warping from moisture or weight. A thicker top wouldn’t have sat flush with the metal frame, so we reinforced the panel with X-shaped bracing underneath. I ripped a 1×3 board in half on the table saw so the supports wouldn’t protrude below the frame, cut them to length, and notched each board where they crossed so they would nest together. The notches weren’t perfect, but they did the job and added stability.
We liked the raw wood look against the metal, but once placed near the new sofa it felt unfinished. Since the top would be outdoors, we needed to stain and seal it. Instead of a traditional stain, we decided to try a colored option for a little personality: River’s Run semi-transparent stain in Olympic Maximum, made for outdoor use on furniture, decks, and fences.
Because we hadn’t used a colored stain before, we tested on the scrap piece trimmed from the panel. After applying Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner, we tested one coat versus two coats of River’s Run, and even tried brushing a Dark Walnut over one end to see how a warmer brown would look layered over the blue stain.
We chose one coat of River’s Run. Two coats leaned too close to a painted look, and the Dark Walnut overlay read muddy next to the metal frame. After applying Minwax Pre-Stain Conditioner to the whole top, we brushed on the single coat of stain. It looks intense when wet, but dries to a more subdued, weathered blue.
For protection, we brushed on three coats of Safecoat Acrylacq sealer to both the top and bottom after the stain had thoroughly dried. The sealer should help the tabletop withstand rain and the fine mist that settles on outdoor furniture during heavy storms.
Back to the sofa: we’re really pleased with it. The wicker has subtle color variation and striping, and the frame feels sturdy while the cushions are dense enough to be comfortable without sagging. They might need a little breaking in, but we’ve already been testing that thoroughly — Burger takes the quality control role very seriously.
I was skeptical about the blue tabletop at first, but it ties in nicely with the blue undertones in the tile and provides a rustic contrast to the metal frame. From some angles the woven sofa even seems to pick up a faint blue hint, which helps the whole grouping feel cohesive.
It’s a relief and a pleasure to finally have comfortable furniture in the sunroom. We spend most of the warmer months out back, so having a shaded, inviting lounge area was long overdue.
The rest of the sunroom is still a bit sparse — which is why many of these photos are tightly framed — but we already have plans to add seating and function. If we ever hope to reclaim the sofa for ourselves, Burger will need another comfortable spot to nap, so the makeover continues.