Monday, January 11, 2010

I DID IT! I DID IT!

Last week I went to Pottery Barn to spend a Christmas gift card. While there I fell in love with this great, rustic console table. Great, yes?

Now, unfortunately I don't have a spare $400 lying around but I still couldn't shake the table from my head. I started studying it online. Thursday night I stayed awake into the wee hours of the night planning and designing my "project" in my head. The next morning I redesigned it because nothing can be trusted that happens in my brain past 10 pm. (I should add here that one of the best gifts my husband ever got me was a compound mitre saw a few years ago. Melts my heart and I mean it. Nothing like sawing through something.) Friday night, my husband and I went to Home Depot. He only kicked and screamed a little but was a really good trooper. I believe the supplies cost me about $130. I could have come in QUITE a bit below that but I decided to use a harder wood than pine.


That night, I made the jenkiest part of the table, the top. For the record, I have no idea what I am doing. I am a self-taught, furniture "maker." I am embarrassed to even type that word because I REALLY don't know what I am doing. I watched a few youtube videos and did my best. For the top I just laminated some pieces together. I know I should have attached them more securely but notching is not in my repertoire. The next morning, all dried and somewhat secured I moved on to the base. I think I actually did ok. It feels incredibly sturdy and is VERY heavy. Once the screws were countersunk and the holes patched and sanded, I beat the crap out of it. haha. So fun. I sanded the edges, beat it with a wire brush, a hammer, chain and a sock full of bolts that tore and flew through the garage.
Before Nick was home from his enginerding outing I put on my first layer of stain. When he got home he decided it wasn't distressed enough. So he put that table in its place. A couple more coats of stain and 4 coats of polyurethane (sanding in between) later, I had a table.

I have made furniture in the past but I rushed it and, while they work, they are embarrassing. I am quite pleased with myself. Pay no attention to the paper on the wall. I designed those tonight and am trying to decide if they are worthy of framing.


On top of it, I found a hidden treasure behind home depot. Some friends told us about this awesome imports place. I kind of want to tell all 11 of my faithful readers about it but at the same time, there is this bench there that I MUST own, can't afford and have no room for. You take it and you die. Impact Imports is a small warehouse type situation out by the freeway. Everything is from India. The husb/wifey pair travel to India a few times a year to buy all of this stuff. I LOVE it all. Totally my style. I got that mirror over the table and that carved wooden bowl there as well. Seriously, leave my bench alone.

15 comments:

Michelle said...

friend, you never cease to amaze me! the table looks beautiful!

Bridgette said...

you rock! i am going to go check out the imports store :) i will leave the bench...maybe

Kelly T said...

just for the record...I like yours better than pottery barn's. Fabulous. We have a dining table at a local store, that is close to the style of your table, that we keep pondering to get(I am just not sure if it's a smart buy with kids, aka-will they destroy it?!) I LOVE your table. Man, I wish I had your talents!

Crissie said...

Kelly, just have Eddy make it. It's really hefty. Kids stand no chance.

Brook and Toby said...

I have been staring at that exact same table at pottery barn for about a month (along with the coffee table).Toby wont let me buy it, something about $14,000 babies. whatever. You did such a nice job!

Ian and Vanessa said...

WOW Crissie you have done it again!! And way to save a buttload of mula too- it looks fabulous!!

Anonymous said...

W O W ! ! ! ! ! This is beautiful! I am so amazed and impressed. Really Crissie, great job!

Crissie said...

Thanks peeps!

Crissie said...

Hmmm...maybe I meant to say Indonesia.

Anie said...

INCREDIBLE Crissie!!! You're so amazingly, incredibly talented!! That table looks AWESOME! Way to Go!

Crissie said...

THANKS SO MUCH ANIE!

natalie said...

Crissie - this looks totally awesome and could be a pic straight out of Pottery Barn! Your glass float from the coast ads a splash of color and is very special! Great Work!

Stueller said...

Holy Cow! I am so incredibly impressed and I so want to try it! I LOVE IT!!!

Crissie said...

Thanks Stueller! Next project is a media center. I think that if I build one my husband just has to let me buy a new tv. How did I marry the only man on earth who hates tvs?

Teresa Pomerantz said...

That is quite a coincidence. I found your blog through ILP but just yesterday I found Knock Off Wood. It is a blogspot blog that gives free plans for knock offs of pottery barn and restoration hardware furniture. I am so going to build some of these things!
Great job!

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