Checkerboard Pattern Table Top

One of my favorite pieces of furniture we own is our dining table.

It was made by some engineering students at Yale University, I don't know how many years ago, but it was a work table for them. A friend of mine got it from the engineering department at some point and used it in his garage for a few years. He offered it up to me when I started my small business making furniture. I was so happy to have a new work bench but I knew this table had potential for a cool island or something indoors.

Today, my family and I use this piece of furniture for everything...homework, projects, dinner and parties. It is a huge focal point as you walk into our home. It is most always...a mess! Our rental house is pretty dark in our kitchen area so I wanted to brighten it up.

So I painted the top in a checkerboard pattern.
Taking the length measurement and dividing it by how many squares I wanted (5) and the width measurement by number of squares I wanted to section it off at (3). Then mark with a pencil using a 'T' square at the measured inches mark. My squares are not actually square - they measure 15 x 16 inches.
(my tabletop is 80 x 45 inches)

I used frog tape & BIN primer to paint the white squares. I sanded it down prior to painting then sanded it again at the end for a rough, used finish. Finally - I topped the table with wax to seal it.

This work bench turned breakfast table looks great in dark walnut stain and distressed white paint. The shelf underneath holds bins of games, paper and homework materials.

Now that my kids are older, the bar height is perfect.

It is a grey day outside so my pictures aren't great but the checkerboard top goes perfectly with our decor in the rest of our home.
It also brightens the kitchen area.

The prior dark and shiny top emphasized the mess at the table. Hopefully the satin wax finish and lighter contrast will compliment the darker woods in the kitchen area and camouflage the clutter (crumbs) on the table top a little bit better.