Never Leave The Kids’ Table!

Let’s face it; adult life is not all we imagined it to be. We wanted to be big and to make our own rules. To stay up late and to do what we wanted, whenever we wanted.

And then one day it all happened… we were the adults! We had the bills. We had to be at work on time. And now here we are, sitting at the adult table.

Sigh.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone told us to take a nap?

As we get ready to gather once again with friends and family this Christmas, I vote that there is no adult table!

Who’s with me?

We at Vintage 61 Storehouse have created some table ideas that remind us that Christmas is for the kid in all of us! Regardless of how many are gathering, make it fun!

The Ultimate 1950’s Kids’ Table

We started by creating the best kids’ table ever. This 1950’s chrome and laminate kitchen table had seen better days. Deep scuffs marked the wear and tear of years of use. We turned to Miss Mustard Seed’s® Milk Paint to bring new life to this iconic table.

We covered the surface with Layla’s Mint and lightly distressed the sides. This perfect green covered easily in two coats and created a strong grip, thanks to Miss Mustard Seed’s Bonding agent.

Laura, the owner of Vintage 61 Storehouseand MMS “Live” host, walked our viewers through the step-by-step process of mixing one part milk paint to one part warm water, then adding double that total in bonding agent ( now called MilkGrip™). Hemp oil (now called MilkOil™) finished off our table, and we were ready to decorate.

You can pause here and watch Laura in action as she demonstrates her technique!

Dressing The Kids’ Table

When dressing a table, don’t feel like you have to have the expected colors of Christmas. We took this fun set of multi-colored Franciscan dishes and pulled colors from them to dress the table—pink bottlebrush trees and a family of tiny deer stand next to a tiny white cake.

Two surviving green striped 50’s chairs flank the table, and two unmatched wooden chairs now blend into this set beautifully painted in Boxwood MilkPaint™.

Bring Back Your Childhood Christmas Memories

I still hold dear the little keepsakes my grandmother added to my stockings and Christmas packaging. We’ve done the same by placing a stocking on the back of each chair, complete with a coloring book and a little stuffed Santa.

An Interactive Dessert!

Be sure to watch our video to see how the little white cake is transformed and served. Your kids will just love this interactive dessert! (Hint: You don’t cut it with a knife!)

An Adult Table With A Childhood Twist!

Our second table is a grand oval table painted in Ironstone MilkPaint™ . The chairs, also in Ironstone, were lightly distressed and recovered in a great charcoal striped canvas. This transformation became our canvas for some great grown-up fun.

Memories and laughter are sure to follow when a kid’s old wooden sled lines the center of the table! We gave it some dimension with winter greenery beneath. On top, some vintage Santas invite stories of Christmas past.

But the real fun begins when your guests recognize that their placemats are actually vintage Christmas record albums!

(Just try not to sing.)

No Boring Dining Spaces Allowed!

Additional pieces of furniture pull this beautiful room together. A buffet painted in Schloss and a vintage letter sorter painted in Typewriter. The sorter is now reinvented as a plate holder for the fine china! (Remember there are no rules in a creative home and no boring dining space when kids rule!) 

A Campfire Christmas Tablescape

So what do you do if you have a house full of company? And how do you make it fun? Our final table will play host to a great entertaining idea, but first, let’s talk about this beautiful piece. A good sanding removed years of use and buildup from the top surface. The ornate legs were finished in Mora, and the table’s top was lightly coated to create a stained effect. The piece was finished in clear wax (now called MilkWax-Clear™) and then antiquing wax (now called MilkWax-Antiquing™). This step allows you to control the desired amount of antiquing. A good rubdown is needed after each step.

Buffet style is a great way to go with a large group, but a playful theme is a sure-fire way to bring out the kid in everyone! Welcome to “A Campfire Christmas”.

A red and black runner topped with wooden crates allows for visual interest. Varying heights draw your eyes from the surrounding trees to a candle embedded in rocks and wood stumps used as serving trays. Cast iron pans and woven baskets will hold our menu items and an air of the outdoors sends your guest’s imagination into play.

Keep It Casual

For optimum playfulness, keep it casual. Throw a bunch of pillows on the floor and cover them with an outdoorsy blanket. Never line up your chairs against the wall - that’s too “adult”!

Create small groupings around small side tables. Use benches and scatter about theme-related items such as old binoculars.

Start a fire in the fireplace and set up the outdoor fire pit. Throw some wool blankets over chairs, and be sure to tell your guests the dress code. “Flannels Required!” Campfire storytelling is highly encouraged.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! Enjoy your inner child this Christmas season. And remember to invite those who are alone to come and play. There’s always room for one more at the kids’ table. And if you need me for any design questions, I’ll be in my blanket fort!