The $1 coffee table.

So I’m back from my break. I still don’t have much time to photograph, edit, write, and post a ton of blogs, so I’ve decided that I won’t hold myself to a post every day anymore. I’ll just update when there’s something worthy of sharing or remembering, maybe an every couple days kind of thing. Cool? Cool.
For instance, this is definitely worthy of a blog post. I scored a mega deal a couple weeks ago.
Check it out. Exhibit A: solid wood coffee table…



Guess how much it cost? I picked it up at a Salvation Army down the road from my office one morning on the way to work. I saw a sign outside that said, “Furniture: $1” It wasn’t the safest part of town, but I figured my life was definitely worth risking for $1 furniture.

I walked out with this coffee table for – yep, you guessed it – one buck!



It was solid wood, the drawer worked, but it just had a few scratches across the top.





The scratches were no worries. I had plans to paint it white anywho.

Now here’s where the story gets slightly comical. Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement. I am so cheap and the fact that I just scored a $1 table, didn’t make me want to spend any money on paint. I have been holding onto a gallon and a half of “Problem Solving Primer” that we used on our blood-red living room walls {see here if ya wanna see more of the madness}



I hate to waste the paint, and we don’t have any more “problem” walls to prime, so I figured I wasn’t out anything if I tried it on the wood coffee table as primer & top coat.





It worked. :)





After two or three {sorry, I can’t remember exactly} coats of the white primer, I had a smooth finish.
I wanted to try to whitewash the table with some light blue paint that I had left over from my painted welcome mat. So I took some paint, a bowl of water, and a damp rag and tested my skills. Basically, I just brushed on some diluted paint and then rubbed in/off the excess paint. This left light blue streaks and more blue in the grooves of the table.








I also lightly sanded the edges to show a little wood under the paint. I figure this way, when we accidently scratch it, it’ll just look like it’s supposed to be distressed!



And here’s the final product!













I pretty much like it! Especially for a dollar!



Linked to: http://www.remodelaholic.com/2011/09/remodelaholics-anonymous-91-blog-link.html
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/
http://www.beneathmyheart.net/
http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/before-after-party-ghosts-in-trees.html
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2011/10/94th-power-of-paint-party-rattan-lamps.html