thifty makeovers

Since we opened a large section of wall in our livingroom, all kinds of furniture challenges have arisen.  I can't share entire room yet since our new doorway is still in the final stages of being plastered and painted (I've got my fingers crossed I'll finish this weekend), but I thought I'd whip up a few posts on the rescued furniture makeovers I did on the cheap to suit our new livingroom layout.

The first is this cute little table.  I had been looking forever for an extra-narrow non-bulky side table to place in a tight spot next to this chair.  We had temporarily moved our boxy Ikea Malm end table from the bedroom (those will be getting a makeover someday too), but it was too much next to the equally white and heavy looking chest of drawers. 

I've realized over the years that you have to give up looking for something in order to find it.  Sure enough, I was out thrifting one day and found this perfect artdeco-ish side table!  I was able to take it completely apart so I could sand it down to the bare wood (luckily someone had refinished it really badly and the varnish came off without a lot of effort).  I thought at first I would paint the whole thing with the bright saffron yellow, but once I had painted everything but the tops I realized I liked some of the worn wood showing.  So I used an oak stain on those and covered the whole thing with a clear acrylic gloss coat. 

I was so rushed to get started sanding I forgot to take a "before" picture, so you'll have to trust me that it looks 100 times better.

Table $6 + paint $3 (love the new sample size jars at the hardware store!) + clear polycrylic gloss $0 (already had) = Total project $9. 

Now, if only I had time to make a new slipcover for that chair (I cropped it out because it's so tattered).  It is the most un-catfriendly fabric ever.  They tore it apart it within days of its arrival.  And don't get me started on the cat hair!  Sigh...someday.

In other news, about a year ago I bought this fun sheet of Cavallini wrapping paper for $3.75 and framed it to use as a poster in our kitchen (sorry for the bad pic).  Imagine how my jaw hit the floor this morning when I saw this, along with other Cavallini wraps/ "posters", for sale online at a certain trendy store with the initials UO for...$24 each (not including the $10 shipping)!!!  While I have bought many a reasonably priced bedspread from them over the years, this is just crazypants.  I've seen these in lots of online and brick and mortar shops and they are always less than $5.  I wish I could let people know.  I feel bad for whoever unknowingly pays that much.  Sheesh!