Janine Falcon, assistant style editor for Canadian Living Magazine, was thrilled when her apartment was chosen for a makeover on HGTV's Home to Go. The producers teamed her with designer David Overholt, who came up with great, budget-friendly ideas to improve her space. One such idea was to build a simple, inexpensive yet stylish burlap-wrapped coffee table.
Supplies
• 4x8 sheet of 5/8-inch particleboard
• Sixteen 1-1/2 inch flat-head wood screws
• 3 m burlap, 120 cm wide
• High-gloss black paint
• 2-inch wide paintbrush
• Foam roller and tray
• Drill and 3/32 bit
• Staple gun
• 2 bar clamps
• Set square
• Carpenter's glue
• White craft glue
• Large plastic container
Cut list
Top: One 32-in square
Front/Back: Two 21 x 32 in rectangles
Ends: Two 16 x 30-3/4 in rectangles
Instructions
1. Base: Apply carpenter's glue along short edges of each end. Sandwich each end between front and back, having outside surface of end flush with short edges of each front and back. With set square, ensure corners form right angles; clamp. Let dry for 30 minutes.
Drill screw holes through side edges of front and back into each end, 1-1/2 inches from top and bottom edges; fill each with carpenters glue and insert screw.
2. Top: Apply carpenter's glue along top edge of base. Place top on base; clamp. Let dry for 30 minutes. Drill screw holes through all edges of Top into front, back and ends, 1-1/2 inches from each corner; fill each with carpenter's glue and insert screw.
3. In container, mix water with craft glue, 4:1. From burlap, cut 2 rectangles, each 21-1/2 x 33-1/4 inches and 1 strip, 31-1/2 x 73 inches.
4. Set table end up; generously brush glue mixture onto end and approx 1 inch in along adjoining edges of front, back and top. Place 1 burlap piece on end, wrapping approx 1 in around side and top edges and leaving approx 4 inches extending from bottom edge; smooth firmly to adhere. Let dry. Repeat with other end.
5. Set table right side up; generously brush glue mixture onto front, top and back. Centre burlap strip over table, leaving approx 4 in extending from bottom edges; smooth firmly to adhere. Let dry.
6. Set table upside down. At each end, wrap burlap around bottom edge; staple in place. Finish bottom edges of front and back in same manner.
7. Set table right side up; generously brush glue mixture onto outside surfaces. Let dry.
8. Roll 4 to 6 coats of black paint onto outside surfaces; let dry after each.
(Burlap fabric courtesy of Fabricland. Black paint, courtesy of Pratt & Lambert.)
