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Design Sponge
January 30th, 2008
diy project: dining table

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i’ve always loved the idea of having a recycled door as a dining table and thanks to d*s reader and designer julia crawford, i’ve got a manageable diy project now to make that happen (when we live in a house big enough for a long table). julia created this wonderful dining table by using a found door, some glass and lovely gift wrap she placed in each molding square of the door (the inspiration for the table came from julia’s love of paper and repurposing old items) the possibilities for this project are really endless. i’d love to paint a found door white and then use a bright yellow and white gift wrap to fit it. or maybe go the other direction and indulge my nautical fantasies by using old water channel maps. click here to download a pdf julia’s diy project directions. enjoy! [thanks, julia!]

[have a diy project you'd like to share on d*s? just shoot me a line right here with your photos]

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31 comments
Jen said:
January 30th, 2008 - 10:43 am

What a brilliant idea! So creative, I love it.

molly said:
January 30th, 2008 - 10:47 am

Great project! That table is beautiful, and I can envision so many wonderful options!

alicia said:
January 30th, 2008 - 11:36 am

I am in love. This is gorgeous!

January 30th, 2008 - 12:12 pm

these posts are like right inside my brain today. always wanted a door table and i am having some serious issues managing my jewelry collection. i wanted to buy and old medicine cabinet, line it with paper and install hooks etc to make a jewelry storage unit (yes i have that much jewelry) but i cant manage to pull it all together….when i lived in san miguel de allende i rented a room that had the most beautiful old door as a headboard, wish i had taken a picture.

Anne A Wong said:
January 30th, 2008 - 12:25 pm

This is by far my favorite DIY project… possibly ever? I’ve always wanted to do something with old doors, especially after my friend “collected” them to made a bookcase. Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of making a computer desk using old doors, but I think I have to learn more about power tools first.

Ginger said:
January 30th, 2008 - 2:36 pm

Oh my God could this blog possibly be any better.

No, it can’t.

lealou said:
January 30th, 2008 - 3:15 pm

This is amazing — I too love the idea of a door for a table — this is beautiful!

January 30th, 2008 - 3:38 pm

Thank you for all your comments.
I’m happy you are enjoying this project! Grace, thanks for posting.

Satya said:
January 30th, 2008 - 5:51 pm

I am so glad to see that someone actually went and did this! A few years back when I didn’t have a dining room table I thought about doing a recycled door table, but ended up with a used table from a friend and the project never happened. The wall paper was an innovative touch as well. I had just been envisioning a nice woodgrain and an antique door plate.

Mimi said:
January 30th, 2008 - 7:32 pm

Oh, wow. I wish I had the space to do this right now! I’ll just have to keep it in reserve.

Leslieanne said:
January 30th, 2008 - 9:25 pm

Absolutely spectacular!
Just ingenious. I am passing this on my friends that have craved a bigger & interesting table or maybe to use as a desk. Thanks Julia & Grace!

January 30th, 2008 - 9:59 pm

Great, great table Julia! This is amazing. I’ve been thinking all day about making one of my own now, and I’m hoping you can answer two things that are killing me. What’d you do with the door knob hole? And did you put anything down to make the glass stay put? This is genius. Well done.

Mike

Tommy said:
January 31st, 2008 - 12:23 am

How much did the glass cost for the top?

meg said:
January 31st, 2008 - 1:35 am

What a great idea! The table is styled beautifully as well.

January 31st, 2008 - 10:13 am

Hi Mike,
The door knob hole is still there, covered up by the glass. The glass just sits right on top of the door. I’ve had no issues with the glass sliding out of place at all (it’s heavy so that helps). In fact, when I have to slide the glass away to swap the decorative paper, it’s a two person job. But if you’re worreid about the glass sliding out you can use very thin rubber “feet” between the door an and glass, one at each corner or as you see fit. Hope that helps. Julia

January 31st, 2008 - 10:26 am

Tommy,
The glass was about $75, the door $50, the legs $20. For those in NYC or major cities, these “old/salvaged” doors and glass can get very pricey (i’ve seen some doors there for $500+!!!). So check out a salvage yard and glass place outside the city. Hope that helps. Julia

Deb said:
January 31st, 2008 - 4:59 pm

How did you paint this door. It is amazing.

Jennifer said:
January 31st, 2008 - 5:19 pm

I love this table!

I created “door tables” a few months ago with two antique doors I found on the street (I still can’t believe anyone wanted to throw them away). Ikea is a great resource for table legs, and if you don’t have any problems with creating dust, you can sand the doors down with a belt sander.

The hardest part was carrying the doors up the stairs to my apartment by myself :)

January 31st, 2008 - 6:10 pm

Hi Deb,
The table/door is not painted.
Just cleaned up and polished with a wood cleaner. It’s a solid chestnut wood door with the decorative paper. No painting involved. Julia

Jim R said:
February 1st, 2008 - 6:28 pm

I’ve even taken those cheap Core Doors and made tables out of them on the quick for large parties when extra seating was needed. You can have seating for 10 for under $30. Once they’re covered with a table cloth no one is the wiser as to what is underneath.

Heather said:
February 1st, 2008 - 7:48 pm

Beautiful! Does anyone know where I can find chairs like that?

Alex said:
February 2nd, 2008 - 2:30 am

Hey im new to the site, but my brother is getting married in about six months and I wanted to make this and matching living room furniture for his new house, could someone tell me where to get IKEA table legs from? Thanks

February 2nd, 2008 - 9:40 am

Alex,
Here is are some legs from IKEA that you can purchase online:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10368/11845?filter=online

The Vika Fintorp (27.5″ high) is a nice one:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50115522

Julia

Cristie said:
February 2nd, 2008 - 10:58 am

This is so neat! We couldn’t agree on a dining room table, but when we saw this, we both fell in love. I just went to a Samford and Son kind-of place and got a door like this for $25! This is going to be our weekend project. Thanks so much for such a good idea!

carey said:
February 3rd, 2008 - 2:33 pm

The trouble with making tables is attaching the legs. I just happen to of designed a range that screw onto the underside of just about anyrthing, including old doors.
See http://www.tablemaker.co.nz

gary said:
February 19th, 2008 - 4:20 pm

does it make any difference if it is a five glass panel door ?

Terri-Lansing,MI said:
April 27th, 2008 - 8:32 pm

We are fortunate to have a “Habitat for Humanity” store in our city. They have and take just about anything that has to do with a home. My daughter got a beautiful chandelier for $25. They have doors, cupboards, fixtures and fittings. Check your area for one or contact your local “Habitat for Humanity.”

kristy said:
July 3rd, 2008 - 10:13 pm

So I’ve aquired a great 5-panel door and have the table legs, but custom glass work is SO expensive!! Does anyone have any ideas about where/how to acquire a large rectangle of glass for this project? or perhaps an affordable sub? thanks!

zoe said:
August 1st, 2008 - 12:35 am

Great idea! I’ve been shopping for a new dining room table for a while now and can’t find anything I like. Thanks to your inspiration I’m heading off to our local non-profit building material warehouse in Pittsburgh– construction junction– to find a door this weekend!

Andy said:
August 26th, 2008 - 10:02 pm

Headed to my local Habitat for Humanity this week.

I have a long church pew I’ll use as seating on one side, and maybe find a bench later on.

What’s worse is I have a piece of salvaged wood from downtown, but it’s not quite long enough to match the pew. Pretty skinny too.

Sara said:
October 17th, 2008 - 2:16 pm

How can incorporate using wood legs to the door? Any idea where to find high back leather chairs that aren’t too bulky?

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