She was sleek and white and looked nice and glossy with her glass top gleaming. But she needed something more.
I have a love for textured items: baskets, wicker, burlap, grain sacks, you name it, I hoard it collect it.
This gleaming top needed a bit of an edge and I had just the idea in mind to utilize the yards of burlap I had for rainy day projects. Too bad for me, on rainy days my kids still demand bike rides while wearing ducky rain coats, which is pretty darn cute, so projects can’t guarantee being completed when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
I wanted to make the table unique to my family and thought scripting the year of my families beginning and the place where my husband and I met and the place where we now live on to the table top.
I pulled out my rainy-day-burlap and went to work.
First, I traced my piece of glass on to the burlap and cut to size.
I took into account that burlap tends to fray along cut edges so left a one inch overhang to fold back and secure with a hot glue gun.
Then the fun began.
After contemplating painting the letters on with a paint pen, I decided to go the easy and more economical route and stencil the letters with a large sharpie marker.
So simple and I love the unique touch.
I printed out a crown to add a regal touch to the whole family name thing.
I cut its perimeter with a handy-dandy exacto knife and stenciled it on to the burlap above our family surname.
And here is the finished product with the glass back in place.
The finished product says:
THE GIERS
LONDON – GUELPH
EST: 2005
My husband and I met and started dating in London, Ontario in the spring of 2004. We were married and started our new life together in Guelph, Ontario in 2005. 🙂
I think it adds the perfect amount of texture to an area that needed some visual interest.

Because it is smack dab in the middle of our living room it almost always is a conversation starter. Everyone wants to know how we made it, or if we custom ordered it and what exactly does it all mean.
And now you can do this yourself!
I think it would look great on a dining room table too if you happen to have a glass top or want to invest in one to protect your tables finish.
Here is a close up…

And again…
That little extra effort made a big impact.

Because I like a good before and after comparison…
Before:
And after:

Thank you for reading about our ever changing coffee table upgrade! I think it proves that a little paint and ingenuity can go a long way in making a piece special and specific to ones family.
Do you change the coffee table at your place as often as we do around here? Do you play musical coffee tables too? And what about the constant coffee table debate, do you prefer a harder surface like a coffee table to rest your drink on while you’re relaxing or do you like a cushy-squishy ottoman for your tired feet?
Regardless, I hope you get to put your feet up for a minute or two today!
I am sharing this post and getting inspired at:
Lindsey @ Better After
September 21, 2012 at 10:03 pmSo cool! I love what you did with the burlap. Another one of those "I never would have thought of that" projects! Great job Bethany, thank you so much for sharing.
bethanygier
September 23, 2012 at 4:30 amThank you so much Lindsey! This blog is brand-spanking-new and I love that YOU are one of my first comments. Looking forward to getting a lot more inspiration from your features and your blog!
Katie Drane
September 24, 2012 at 4:34 pmWOW! I'm so glad that I'm following you! The table turned out beautifully and you have such an eye for design. Thanks for the inspiration:)
Katie
http://www.funhomethings.com
bethanygier
September 25, 2012 at 3:28 amThanks for joining in the adventure and becoming a follower! I am so new at this and your comments have me blushing! I have subscribed to your blog too! How nice to be at home with your daughter now! Me too, and though it is sooo hectic, I love being a part of every part of THEIR day. 🙂
the cape on the corner
September 24, 2012 at 6:42 pmi love it with the 3 baskets. what a great redo!
bethanygier
September 25, 2012 at 3:30 amThanks! I love stashing toys and such in them. Just recently cleaned them up though so I have a "Mommy basket" for work out weights and magazines. Though the magazines keep me from the weights so they may need to find a new home 😉 Thanks for visiting!
Geri O
September 24, 2012 at 11:05 pmI love this idea. I love anything burlap. I'm your newest follower. Come check out my blog when you have a minute at http://sister-number-5.blogspot.com
bethanygier
September 25, 2012 at 3:34 amI just checked out your blog! I love that you did a little personalized mat for your pet. So cute. Great minds think a like! 🙂
I am also one of six kids! Im number four though and second girl. Very creative blog name!
Shannon
September 25, 2012 at 2:04 amBurlap is one of my favourite fabrics for decorating (as long as it's not touching my skin!) for it's texture. I adore your coffee table! Great typography on the burlap too!
xo,
Shannon
bethanygier
September 25, 2012 at 3:35 amThanks so much Shannon. 🙂
I love burlap too. So durable and the easiest colour on the eyes (but not skin!) lol
I have a bunch of burlap projects going on right now so visit again when you can 🙂
Comeca Jones
September 25, 2012 at 8:38 amSo pretty I love your space just found your blog and I will be back!
bethanygier
September 26, 2012 at 3:14 amThanks Comeca! Glad you visited today!
Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers
September 26, 2012 at 5:53 amWhat a transformation! I love the white and the changes that you made to the table, and the new burlap addition is a great touch. Thank you so much for linking up to Happy Hour this week 🙂
bethanygier
October 1, 2012 at 2:37 amThank you for the kind comments! AND for hosting the happy hour! Cant wait to visit your awesome blog again!
suzyq
September 26, 2012 at 9:59 amWHat a beautiful transformation – I love the idea of using burlap ( I've only used paper under glass ) thanks for sharing!
Your newest follower – would love to have you come by and follow back when you have the time!
Hugs,
Suzan
bethanygier
October 1, 2012 at 2:41 amI followed back! Cant wait to see your newest creations.
Claire @ a little something in the meantime . . .
September 29, 2012 at 4:00 pmFantastic transformation! I'm from London and I saw that you're from Guelph but now I know that your romance started in London. What a small world! Were you at Fanshawe/Western or did one of you originally live in London?
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog. It's always fun to find other bloggers so close to home 🙂
bethanygier
October 1, 2012 at 2:40 amI went to Fanshawe. Met my husband there, but funny enough we lived up the street from eachother in Guelph. I even delivered newspapers to his house as a little-hard-working-girl!
I love how small this world can be at times, thanks for visiting.
Cynthia
October 1, 2012 at 1:55 amWhen I saw your before picture at the end, I had to scroll back up and make sure it really was the same table! Guelph eh? I grew up about 40 minutes north of there.
bethanygier
October 1, 2012 at 2:38 amYes good old Guelph! It was rated top ten cities to live in in Cananda! I was so proud! lol
Where are you now Cynthia?
cathy@my1929charmer
October 1, 2012 at 3:48 pmWhat a lovely way to bring your coffee table to a whole new level. I love the burlap underneath, nothing to ruin it, since it is so pretty. I really like it and you must be thrilled with it. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!
Kathy Mormino
October 3, 2012 at 3:11 amWhat a clever idea! It came out beautifully.
Hello, new follower here! I would love to have you link up with my Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/clever-chicks-blog-hop-2-featured-post.html
I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
Kathy
The Chicken Chick
Linda
October 5, 2012 at 5:40 pmWow! How creative! I think my mom has a coffee table like that in her garage! I claim it! It really turned out beautiful. Love the idea of using the sharpie.
Linking your blog with ours at the French Hen's nest.
Linda and Jeannie
Mogul Interior
October 15, 2012 at 7:12 amThat table is wonderful
bethanygier
October 16, 2012 at 1:40 amThank you for the lovely comments! It means so much that you would take the time to tell me you like it!
mark
December 5, 2012 at 8:37 amI love this idea. I love anything burlap. I'm your newest follower. Come check out my designs
here