Coffee Table Re-do

So, during my lunch break, instead of actually eating lunch I ran over to the GW to see what treasures I could find.  This beauty was in a sad state, but it's gorgeous shape and $9.99 price tag appealed to my senses.  I wondered if I should pay for it and ask my trusty neighbor Herb to help me pick her up, but alas I threw caution to the wind and I headed to the counter with it.  Now when I got out to the Mustang I thought I could just maneuver it into the front seat, but it just wouldn't go.  I have definitely fit my fair share of finds into that front seat, but this baby just was not cooperating.  So, I took the legs off and BINGO.

I didn't take any before pictures, but I assure you it was really in terrible shape.  Someone had apparently tried to stain it, over the veneer that was already on it.  It had dripped all underneath it.  Yuck!  When I applied the stripper to get the stain off,  I literally wiped it off with a rag.  I sanded the flat surfaces with the DeWalt sander my soon-to-be surprised me with and sanded the rest by hand.

I taped off the top and painted the base with Rustoleum Heirloom White.  I should seriously look into purchasing stock in that company.  I distressed the edges and grooves with sandpaper, then applied some Ralph Lauren Faux Glaze in tobacco.  I stained the top with a Minwax stain in dark walnut and sealed it up with a coat of Minwax Polycrylic.  I am happy I stumbled onto that stuff.  It doesn't amber the white like other sealers can.

Here is an up close picture of the legs.  The detail is just beautiful.  I am going to have a hard time letting this beauty go.

My First Post

So....here it is.  My very first blog post.  Well, actually it's not really my first one.  I had to create a blog and write several posts for one of my Library Media classes.  You may be surprised to learn that you need a Master's Degree to be a librarian.  I assure you, it is necessary.  You have to get an actual degree.  Now I have the degree...but no library job.  Someday...fingers crossed.

This is my first blog post about a project I finished.  Now, I have finished plenty of projects.  But this is one I am seriously proud of.  I found this baby at the Goodwill for $29.99.  Now, I got 10% off because I have a discount card...yes...that's right.  I have a Goodwill discount card and I use it so often that I don't actually even have to get it out of my wallet anymore.  (Who am I kidding...I don't put things back in my wallet anyway, but I no longer have to dig it out of that space between my seat and the console.)  With my discount it cost me about $27.00.

Here it is...all finished and beautiful.  Sorry for the crummy garage photo.
Ta-dah...

The top is stained a Dark Walnut, while the bottom is sprayed with Rustoleum Heirloom White. I distressed the legs and put glaze in the crevasses on the legs.  The feet are brass, and I was going to clean them, but there is something lovely about the patina that has formed on them.

Here is the before...I knew this would be beautiful when I walked into the GW and saw it.

Here is the during...now I know what you are thinking.  That top is white.  Yep.  It was.  It's not anymore though.

I was about half way through and decided that I wasn't crazy about the top, so I decided to strip it.  I tried several things to fix what I didn't like about it, but to no avail.  My first instinct had been to go dark on top, Heirloom White on bottom.  I should of just done it like that to begin with.  What can I say???  I like to do things the hard way.  Like my bff Lauren says, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS PEOPLE!!!

 So, I started scraping and sanding away.  Then...I came home one day and lo and behold...look what was sitting on my stripped table...Buster got his lady a new DeWalt Orbital Sander.  He even got her a package of masks.  This baby has 4 speeds.  I am in love.