Our church meets in an office building, and has been in the process of expanding lately and getting a few new rooms to spread out in.  One of the rooms was this narrow space (8’x16′ to be exact) that we wanted to use as a conference or meeting room. 

It was my job to design the conference room – to make the space as functional (and pretty) as possible.  This is how it started – white and yellow walls, poor lighting, and kind of a depressing space.  The carpet stays, but the walls did get a fresh coat of paint to start.  It looked so much better already.

My plan was to use a bookshelf on one wall – both as a place for decor and a functional space for some storage.  I also wanted to build a custom conference table for the space.  It needed to be narrow but also seat as many people comfortably as possible.  Along with some artwork and lightning to give it all the pulled together feel.  Here’s what it looked like when it was done, then we’ll break it all down.  

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Building the conference table was the hardest part of the project for sure, but as with all building projects I learn a few things that will help me the next time. 

Lesson one:

I opted to use 2″ thick boards because I really like the look of the thicker table top.  However even going to a really nice lumber yard, the 2×6’s were in kind of rough shape.  We had to dig through quite a few to find decent ones.  The guy at the lumber yard said 2×6’s were a hard size to get nice boards from. They turned out looking sharp, but I could have saved myself a few steps if I’d started with nicer lumber. 

Lesson Two:

When you have a table with bolts like this, you have to build braces for the legs to screw into.  Tighten those suckers more than you think you will need to (with a wrench), or you will have a wobbly table.   

To make the top of the table I screwed and glued the planks together.  

Lesson 3:

This Kreg Jig Jr. is the handiest little tool ever when it comes to building projects.  

Once the table was all put together I used my belt sander, and my pad sander to smooth everything out and make the wood pretty.  Then it got a coat of General Finishes Antique Walnut Gel Stain and three coats of HP in Flat finish.  Wood is beautiful, even plain old pine…

The base of the table I painted in GF Lamp Black Milk Paint.  It gives the table a more industrial farmhouse look.   

Lesson Four:

We delivered the table and got it set up and it had a major wobble.  I was a little freaked out about it because it didn’t do that in my workshop at home. So I loosened all the bolts, and let the table sit in the space a day or two.  Then I went back in, prayed over the table, tightened the bolts and shimmed one leg.  Much better.  Always give your wood time to rest in the space (or at least temperature) it’s going to live in.  

I found this simple burlap shade chandelier at Home Depot, it gives the space a much more homey feel, and some better lighting at the same time.  

The scripture art is from Kirkland’s – it was the perfect wood tone and size to tie the space together.  

I love the rustic look the table has.  It should last for a long time.  It’s a simple enough design that it could be used in so many places in the future.  It could even be a narrow dining room table if it was ever needed for that.  

Here’s the bookshelf all finished and styled.  I styled it with several things that were in my decor stash – things picked up at yard sales, and thrift stores over the years.  I balanced out the natural tones, with some black and white to repeat the colors and textures found in the room. 

The outside of the bookcase is painted in Seagull Gray Milk Paint – it really pops in front of this dark gray wall.  For a little something unusual I made the back of the bookcase metallic.  It’s not super obvious, but adds a little unexpected shimmer to the space.  

Here’s one more look.  It’s a small space yes, but now it can be used in so many ways.  This small conference room is a wrap! 

Keep learning and creating awesome things!!

Until next time, 
Jenni