The Table

You've probably already heard it, but here it comes again - I'm going to brag on my thrift store coffee table!

I thought I had most of the pieces to a complete living room - it sure seemed like a lot of furniture crammed into one room at Pi Phi. But when we moved into the condo I became mildly obsessed with finding something, anything to put in front of the couch.  There was a coffee table sized space that needed to be filled.  Now, it may be said that I'm a tad... indecisive.  Upon moving in I may have bought and then immediately returned a number of rugs, tables, and pictures.  At one point I thought Jen, the roommate, may finally just give up and move out after driving to Durham twice to give back a table that just wasn't right.  

This is what I thought I wanted.. 



Not impossible, right?  Willing to pay up to $200 for some generic, World Market type thing.



And then there came PTA Thrift Store.
The table I found had earned the right to be abandoned at the dump.  I imagine the shop was tempted to reject it as a donation when it came in.  And it's a wonder the thing even made it to my house after I overpaid $10 for it; when Jen came to pick it up she gave me the very distinct "You've got to be kidding me" look. 

I wish I had before pictures.  I think I was a little embarrassed that I even bought the table.  Once we cleaned off the layer of dirt we found at least five different colors it had previously been painted.  White, green, blue, red - not to mention the warping from water damage that added a whole new challenge to sanding this thing.

Now... 

I love.  For $10 we can abuse the furniture until it falls apart.  No risk of a minor heart attack with cup rings, shoes propped up, or dog slobber.  It can take it.  I love table more just thinking of it.  How crafty am I?! 

Alright, this will bring the bragging to an end.  You can just revisit if you miss me bringing up the table story every few weeks.  And yes - this is the winner of the rug competition, the one that finally wasn't sent back to the store.  (Jen, thank you for still living with me.)