A woven linenlike texture on this tabletop accentuates the piece's clean lines, while distressed legs add character. The table is suited to a game room, but it would function just as well in a kitchen, as the crosshatching brings to mind a tablecloth, even where there isn't one.

Surface Preparation
Clean previously painted pieces with a damp cloth. Fill any nail holes with wood filler, and lightly sand the entire surface. Reclean with cloth.

Applying Base Coats to Table Base
Apply 2 coats of medium-gray paint; let dry. Apply a third coat of slightly lighter gray paint; let dry for about 1 hour, so that it's dry to the touch but not totally cured.

Distressing Surface
Rub with steel wool dipped in warm water to add texture and remove small bits of paint; concentrate on areas that would naturally become worn over time, such as the feet and corners.

Creating Patina
In a plastic container, combine 2 tablespoons wax, 1 teaspoon artist's oil paint in raw-umber, 1/2 teaspoon artist's oil paint in paynes gray, 1 tablespoon rottenstone, and 4 ounces mineral spirits; mix well. Let mixture thicken for 30 minutes, uncovered. Apply to surface with brush; let dry about 15 minutes. Buff with rag, rubbing mixture off smooth parts but leaving some in the crevices.

Applying Glaze to Tabletop
Apply 2 base coats of light-green paint to tabletop; let dry. In a plastic container, combine 4 ounces each of moss-green alkyd paint, alkyd glaze, and mineral spirits. Apply evenly over surface with a natural bristle brush.

Adding Texture
While glaze is still wet, create striations by running a dry horsehair brush in one direction (the bristles should sit flat). Let dry overnight.

Creating Crosshatch
Repeat process with second coat of glaze, running the brush in a perpendicular direction. Let dry.