My kitchen is an ever-evolving organism.  It may sound odd to describe it as something alive, but that is  how I think of it.  A primitive organism that shifts and changes as the need arrives.  Several months ago, things in my kitchen rearranged yet again to try to make the space work better for me as I learn to cook.  I haven’t taken pictures of the latest rearrange to share because I feel like its just yet another change in the kitchen.  I’m sure it may shift around again in another 6 months or so.

When things shifted, t his table was brought into the kitchen as my “new” workspace.  I added hooks for cups (as you can see) and wheels on the bottom (which aren’t pictured).  Having a wheeled, light table in the kitchen is wonderful.  I can move it out of the way to <gasp> better clean the floor.  Yes, I’m still working on my housekeeping skills.  I think I’m as primitive of an evolving organism as my kitchen is.  Anyhow, back to the table….

When my father’s parents passed away several years ago, I inherited pieces of furniture from their house.  This table, and one in similar looks, came my way.  They were rudimentary but sturdy tables my grandfather had built for use around his house.  He was a carpenter, skills he passed onto my father.  This table, and its cousin, aren’t pretty, but they are stable.  They have been used as a quick table, an end table, an outside work table.  Like my kitchen, they have shifted around my house as I saw fit.

In the most recent kitchen rearrange, I brought one of my grandfather’s tables into the kitchen as a workspace.  The cabinets I had been using as my workspace were wonderful, but were truly in the wrong space of the kitchen.  This setup works a bit better, though I’m not thrilled with that bookshelf, that is another story.  My biggest frustration with this table is its top.  It’s ugly.  It does not make for a pretty picture.  And I always worry about those huge old nails my grandfather used in its top to secure the table together.  My father always chuckles when he looks at this table and its aesthetics.  Then he goes on to tell me how he thinks it could have been improved in the construction.

This past week, I improved it a bit.  It’s not a conventional way to improve it (I think) but it works for now.

I’ve commented to those who know me IRL that I needed to do something about the top of this table.  I was getting really annoyed.  I’ve been looking at ceramic tile and new countertop laminate at hardware stores.  However, spending $50 is just out of the question for me for this table.  It’s a good sturdy table.  However, I’m just not spending that much to update it.  The table just isn’t worth that much.

Then it dawned on me: press and stick floor tile.  I have some of that leftover from another project.  Let’s use that!  The first step was to find the center of the table.  I used a pencil and a yardstick for that.

I grabbed a few pieces of floor tile (only 6 were needed) and traced out the lines to cut.  Tile was cut to size using the metal yardstick for a straight edge and a sharp box cutter.   Once the tile was cut to size, it was lined upon the top of the table and its backing removed.  To make sure it stuck, I used my wooden rolling pin as a brayer to help stick the tile to the surface of the table.

It’s not perfect, but it looks better for pictures now.  I normally wipe down this table with a damp sponge or towel and a bit of cleaning solution.  That should work for these tiles too.  We’ll see what the future brings.  Now to think about what to do with that nasty edge and maybe repaint the bottom half with some leftover paint I have.