Journey of a coffee table

Like most DIYers, I love a great find.  Be it from a second-hand store or garage sale; one man's trash is another man's treasure.  This coffee table surely has been a treasure for us.  I bought our coffee table about 16 years ago at a DI in Utah, just in our first year of marriage.  We were poor college newlyweds and our budget for home decor was minimal.  I am sure this is a situation most newlyweds and college students can relate.

I was more than excited to rummage for our home decor, it would give me a blank slate with endless possibilities.  Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures of the coffee table in her early days, I just know she needed some work.

So I tend to joke saying our coffee table has had nine lives.  No joke, every move we have journeyed, she has gone with us.  Only to find her fashion changed yet again, sometimes a few times in each home.

If I remember from wayyyy back then, she first had dark brown legs and a basic oak stained top.  Which I left for a couple years, attempting to match the other "mis-matched" furniture.  Then she got a new coat of paint on her legs, with a satin black look.  I won't bore you with all of her outfit changes.  Sometimes when you don't know what to wear, you change a million times a day, right?!?

But here we are on life number 5 I believe, and with my darling little daughter showing her enthusiasm for mom's incessant need to capture every moment on camera.

The coffee table....I should name her if I am going to continue to give her life and personality.  Anywho, this outfit of black satin legs and a dark mahogany stain, she wore for probably 6-7 years, her longest look thus far.  I was into the rich mahogany color for a while, I worked a lot of my decor around that.  It was a thing I guess.  

Then we come to the phase where my children were a little younger and things were definitely messier, so she took on an "I don't really care what spills on me" attitude.  On top of the fact that our daughter was just beginning to show interest in music and our son loving to sing, she went with a sheet music dress.  Modge podged right on top.  A little out there, but the kids enjoyed it.  It was fun to see all the music notes as we ate.  Yes, this coffee table also served as our dining table for at least 5 years, while our last home was without a dining room.  Can you feel the love with our little Valentine's Day candlelight dinner.

At one point, she even tried on new legs (from an actual dining table, second hand of course), and stood awkward and lanky.  She attempted to undertake on the tall task, with little success.  Her destiny drew her back to shorter, sturdy legs.

Once the kids started to grow up and the coffee table dining experience was no longer ideal, she became a coffee table for the back porch.  Soaking up the summer sun, freezing in the cold winter air buried under snow, and allowed her top to hold the fall leaves dancing in the wind.  She definitely saw some wear and tear after that year outdoors.

A couple years ago, she decided to upgrade her look for a more sophisticated farmhouse look.  With a good scrub (sanding the tar out of her to clear away her rough, worn out attire) she struts in a natural buff look.  Shedding the layers, it was time to show her true beauty.  With just a thin coat of classic grey stain, her fine grains and soft details of the wood show through.

After only a few months of this new top, and now soft white legs, she decided to try her luck as a dining table again, only this time a little more accommodating to the height of the couch, as to allow her guests to eat comfortably upright.  (See picture below of her lifted top)

Her final ensemble is what she wears now in our new modern faux farmhouse decor.  New legs, new paint, new shape.  Nothing like a complete makeover to freshen your mood.

In process of the adjustments, tucking and pinning, pulling and cinching.  Although, she doesn't wear it delicately, this girl has a strapping and lusty look.

Here you see her top raised to a low coffee table height.  Inside she holds coloring pages and coloring tools, games and a few other items for the kids to enjoy.  She is very helpful in keeping things tidy.  We just love her new look and how she lovingly takes care of all our family needs.

Just look how she shines on the runway.  Give her some love and share.