I’ve been working on this mid-century tulip table renovation since 2010. At that time, I paid $5.00 at a yard sale for a tulip table base. At least a few of my amazing readers have been with me from the beginning, I am certain of that. Did you ever imagine I’d get around to updating this tulip table? I don’t, either. But it’s here! And I hope the wait was worthwhile for me to finally reveal this mid-century tulip table makeover.
Although we already had a stunning mid-century teak table in the kitchen and another one in the dining room in the townhouse, I particularly love tulip tables. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and even though my mother eventually stole the base from me, she didn’t do anything with it for a long time. As a result, it is sad and neglected.
Mom removed the dining table from the kitchen as she worked on her low-cost kitchen renovation. The lack of a dining room and the small eat-in kitchen in the post-war home where my parents reside drove my mother crazy since she found it difficult to reach the refrigerator or stove when there were guests seated at the relatively large, square dining table. She finally relocated the dining room table from the eat-in kitchen to the rather large living room after listening to my suggestion. In spite of Mom’s decision by this time to have a completely table-free kitchen, I reasoned that a smaller table and smaller scale chairs would provide us with a nice spot to have a cup of tea when I visit, without taking up as much floor space and disrupting the flow. I dug around in her garage until I found the old tulip table base and forcibly made her use it in the kitchen.
I started by giving it a new look and getting a new top! Here is how I transformed a mid-century tulip table.
painting the base of the tulip table:
My mid-century tulip table renovation began with restoring the metal base (the existing white finish was scratched and chipped and just really worn). I gave it a good cleaning, a light sanding, and a quick wipe down with a tack cloth before painting it with the same Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic in Pure Gold that I had previously used to transform a typewriter table. (Since this table is unquestionably a replica of a real Saarinen’s tulip table vintage, I didn’t feel bad about repainting it.)
Now that Mom’s kitchen cabinet hardware is brushed gold (thanks to our small do-it-yourself project) and the hairpin legs on the new pink dog bowl stand we constructed, I LOVE the tulip base.
Locating a New Tulip Table Top:
It was more difficult to locate a replacement tulip table top, but it was essential to the transformation of this mid-century tulip table. Making something from scratch (with walnuts!) was an option. But since Mom isn’t completely set on the table being there, I quickly ordered a cheap pine table top online rather than investing the time and money. But I didn’t like the profile:
This is more how I wanted the profile to appear. Do not fret! I brought the table top with me when Hubs and I went to my father-in-house law’s to chop some wood, and he used a 45-degree chamfer router bit to route the edge.
My father-in-law advised that it would be simpler to simply cut the edge with that angle in the first place rather than shaving off a small amount after the fact, but he was still able to change the profile:
Many home improvement stores sell this style of round top at incredibly low prices, and you could use it exactly how it is. However, changing the profile doesn’t take very long, so a local woodworker might do it for a minimal cost. A Starbucks gift card can also be sufficient to gain an advantage routed if your community high school or college offers a woodworking course. Check out some of the Etsy stores that produce and sell this style of wood top to see if they can route the edge during production. There are also alternative choices, such as this table top on Amazon, which costs more but has a more delicate profile. This top made of solid salvaged wood is also quite cool. It’s rather simple to find a cost-effective option for your own mid-century tulip table makeover if you’re not a mid-century purist.
painting the top of the tulip table:
After routing the edge, I lightly sanded the tabletop before spray-painting it with Rust-Oleum Gloss White. I chose to use paint instead of stain because my mother detests pine and it doesn’t take stain well either. Although we kept the counters white, the white cabinets were painted a light grey, and the once-white vinyl floor was changed to a darker, busier pattern, which you can see a sneak preview of in these pictures. I also wanted to add some lightness to the kitchen. It was nice to have a white table top.
I borrowed her some items to go with the table (who am I kidding? My teak dining chairs from the townhouse kitchen will never be returned. Recall how I painstakingly covered them in houndstooth in black and white? I made fun of the individual who would have to take out every single staple. I was that person. But it was worthwhile because the new material, a gorgeous, luminous gold tweed ($5.00 on clearance from Fabriclandthis is similar), is the ideal match for Mom’s style because she has accents of this color elsewhere in the house, making the entire space start to look really put together. Additionally, it pairs beautifully with the gold tulip base and teak chairs. Even though I adore blues, it’s a lot of fun to play around with a much cozier color scheme in her house!
So, this is how the hapless little abandoned tulip table now looks after a little inexpensive mid-century makeover:
P.S. My Mom’s vintage pink, grey, and gold kitchen renovation is complete. To view the before and after, click this link. There are numerous do-it-yourself tasks and cheap quick fixes incorporated.
Can you paint a table with tulips?
A lovely mid-century table and two matching chairs cost $30 at a rummage sale. One chair is marked. The table and chairs should be painted a glossy white. The chairs’ labels read Knoll Associates. What type of paint or finish ought I to apply?
A: You’ve got a timeless set, created by Eero Saarinen in 1957 and currently produced by Knoll. In order to remedy the “slum of legs” that typically filled the “ugly, confusing, unsettling environment he observed underneath chairs and tables,” he invented the molded base.
A brand-new, genuine Saarinen Tulip armless chair is currently available for $1,481 from Knoll or for a little less via internet merchants like Hive, who advertises it for $1,465. Though they are knockoffs, non-Knoll tulip chairs nonetheless cost far more than what you did. For $131.25, Home Depot, for instance, sells a Lippa dining side chair with a vinyl seat cushion.
Tulip chairs by Knoll have always had molded fiberglass seats and cast aluminum bases. The bases are covered in Rilsan, a castor bean-based plastic from the late 1940s that belongs to the nylon family. The coating is extremely durable because it retains a small amount of flexibility and doesn’t peel off easily.
It’s “sort of like the plastic covering on wire,” according to Tricia Elliott, a sales representative for Hive. The plastic coating on the fiberglass seats is glued to the material. Elliott said that the finish used today might not be the same as the one on your chairs. Tulip tables can have laminate, marble, or veneer tops, but can also have molded aluminum bottoms.
You might wish to start by painting simply the tops of your chairs because there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the bases. Less effort would be required, and if you like the way it looks, you may stop there. If the Rilsan coating is too flexible for paint to adhere adequately, you might also be able to prevent chipping. Paint adheres (or does not) to the surface it is applied on, not the materials beneath.
Use a plastic-specific primer or all-in-one paint to achieve the optimum adhesion on the chairs.
How are tulip tables cleaned?
Use non-abrasive household cleaners, such as Windex or Fantastik, or warm water to clean. Rinse with a dry cloth and warm water. following a wash, coat with marble wax.
How can you determine whether a tulip chair is genuine?
How to recognize a fake Knoll International creates genuine Tulip Chairs, which are crafted by hand in Italy. They are inscribed with Eero Saarinen’s signature on the underside and are stamped with the Knoll emblem, as seen below. Copycat designs will be simple below and lack any of these original markings.
Tulip tables: are they fashionable?
Some design aspects endure despite trends coming and going. Your favorite decorating designs, like shiplap and subway tiling, have a long history. Ever wonder why there are wishbone chairs in every dining room? Want to learn more about terrazzo tile, perhaps? We’ll delve into our favorite design-related icons in our new series to learn their fascinating (and occasionally odd) backstories.
One of the most sought and timeless design eras to take on for size is midcentury modern. When buying a 1960s-style house, homeowners are eager to embrace its horizontal, clean lines and pay homage to vintage trends like wood paneling and space-inspired architecture.
The perennially popular pedestal table, also referred to as the Tulip table, follows suit. These days, this modern object may be found in a variety of designs, from clean, airy spaces seen all over Instagram to homes decorated in midcentury modern style. The table has a great history, was created by renowned designer Eero Saarinen, and has remained popular due to several factors, including how sleek, space-saving, and charming it is.
So how did this one unusual table end up in so many contemporary dining rooms and kitchens? Let’s start now.
Does a Tulip table fit in a dining room?
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They claimed it was impossible to create a table that is fundamentally simple but still makes a significant decorative statement. Fortunately, a table notion was brought to the center of modern architecture in 1956 by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. He designed what is often referred to as the “tulip table in an effort to streamline what he perceived as a mess of dining chair and table legs that many other designs had.
This contemporary table is a well-liked option for breakfast nooks, dining rooms, entryways, and even living spaces. It has a curving, stem-like pedestal base with a circular or oval-shaped top. This dining room table is a suitable rival to drop-leaf tables and other expandable options if you’re looking for a compact one. These kind of tables undoubtedly make eating in confined settings less uncomfortable and aesthetically crowded. Check out the six possibilities listed below for a tulip table that won’t cost you a fortune but yet looks stylish.
Tulip tables: do they stain?
The area where marble is quarried gives rise to the names Carrara and Arabescato.
The stunning Carrara natural stone is renowned for its base color, which is primarily white with occasional flecks of blue-grey and brown. Carrara marble is a popular option for table and counter tops in both commercial and residential settings because it is more durable, resilient, and less porous than other marbles.
Arabescato is also from the same Tuscan region as Carrara, but the top is noticeably busier and has more of the surface’s flecks and patterns in a grayish color. Although this magnificent stone is more expensive than Carrara since there are less natural sources for it, the customer will still be in awe.
The jet-black Portoro Marble, which originates from the west coast of Italy, is prized for its opulent look and internal patterns of gold and white that are set into the foundation stone. Because there are so many natural veins in black marble, there are more natural fissures than in Carrara and Arabescato.
Can Marble withstand anything?
Sadly, just because something is stone doesn’t make it perfect. In reality, tables constructed of any material imaginable, including wood, glass, and even metal, will endure a lot of wear and tear. Tables made of all materials are susceptible to permanent or semi-permanent damage, such as “hot rings,” water stains, scratches, and erosion, if care and attention are not given to them. What can we do, then, to avoid this?
The following “rules of thumb” should help you maintain the beauty of your table for many years to come. All forms of marble provide an instant focal point and lend a sense of natural grandeur to any space. It might very well last a lifetime with proper maintenance.
Basics are as follows:
- When the marble gets to your house, use the maintenance kit to clean and seal it (read more on the dedicated page here). In the same way that waxing protects your car’s bodywork from spills, sealing will act as a barrier against them. It stops the moisture from being sucked into the stone by beading it into a ball.
It is crucial to keep in mind that sealing by itself won’t be sufficient if the following are not followed. Although sealing creates a barrier, it is not strong enough to withstand all spills or those left for an extended period of time.
- We advise always using coasters and place mats for food and beverages. While marble (particularly sealed marble) is quite resistant to temperature changes and even spills, placemats and coasters can help to minimize contact with the marble surface while also improving the aesthetics of the table settings.
- Clean up spills as soon as you can, especially if they involve liquids that may be acidic (for example wine or fruit juice). As previously stated, Marble handles spills well for a while, but after some time, water or acidic substances like wine may start to eat away at the surface.
- Avoid using conventional kitchen cleansers, especially those that contain chemicals like limescale remover or bleach. The surface of your table will be harmed by these. Use a cleaner that is the same as or comparable to the one in your care package.
- Contrary to what you would think, you shouldn’t “wax” the white Marbles. Waxing marbles might cause them to turn yellow.
- Avoid foods with strong natural colors, such as curries and strawberries, and rapidly wipe them off the surface.
Okay, so how do we go about maintaining everything in peak condition? The following questions and answers should help you:
Use caution while using anything that contains bleach, including oven cleaner and kitchen spray. If you don’t want to use a specific marble cleaner like the one included in the care box, just use mild soap and water. If you need to thoroughly clean the surface, a sponge can be used.
They shouldn’t be necessary, they are abrasive, and they can harm surfaces.
If you’ve been able to stain the tabletop, this will work with a little effort. Water and baking soda should be combined until a paste forms. After that, add to the stained area of the table and leave for 24 hours (covered with something not touching). You can repeat it to remove even more difficult-to-remove stains. This method also prevents yellowing.
Our tables are not intended for outdoor use; they typically use a variety of stone kinds and are typically coated in a transparent plastic resin.
Yes, as with any tabletop, including those made of metal and wood. However, it is more likely to occur with marble over a lengthy period of time. The tops resemble ice rinks and, over an extended period of time (a few years), they will progressively acquire more and more “skate markings,” which are minute scratches that are almost noticeable. The good news is that a marble refinisher can polish and buff your tabletop extremely quickly and easily. We estimate that this only needs to be done once every five years, but depending on usage, it may take longer. If you have a polisher and the skills to use it, you can buff tables at home. Otherwise, you may easily get this done for you by local stonemasons and tradespeople. Please take notice that sealing will not prevent scratches.
Yes, but it takes a lot of time and happens gradually. Although black and darker marbles are more prone to fading, prolonged exposure to direct sunshine is bad for all furniture.