New Tables, part one

So, I haven't fallen off the earth, nor has a bear or coyote eaten me (although just today I learned both have been spotted in my neighborhood... yikes!... not a happy thought for this indoor suburbanite chick.)

My June is always, always, always crazy.  Pure nuts.  But alas, VBS (the last, but most important, commitment) is over.  It gave me a cold, but I like to think that God knew it was coming... and just waited till my VBS duties were over before it hit.  So, I suppose I can live with a cold now...  especially since it's still three weeks till hubby and I leave on our "grown up" vacation.  :)

Haven't mentioned that... yes, just US!  To a... get this...

An All-Inclusive Adults-Only Resort on the beach!

Just us.

Two adults.

No kids.

Hot weather, pampering resort.

Thank you, Nana and PapPap and Gran and Granddad for watching the kiddos.  

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!  

Yes, I'm giddy!!!

Anyhoo....

During the month, I did manage to squeak out of the house a few Saturday mornings to visit some yard sales and thrift stores. 

I have had this vision of my living room.  Here it is now....

Wood floors, stone fireplace, woven-wood blinds, great views, six beautifully trimmed out windows... I was thinking simple and "natural".  BTW, imagine a nice big fluffy shag off-white carpet.  Yep, it used to be there... before the puppy arrived.  I won't go into details over that catastrophe.  I keep hoping one day, a rug will once again make its way into this room.

When this one grows up....

I don't really want a cabin or country feel, but something natural.  My green La-Z-Boy camelback sofas aren't cutting it for me.  Yes, they are comfy... yes, they are still in good shape... and yes, they'd look great in the one-day-to-be-finished-basement.  :)

I want two leather sofas.  Maybe a sectional if it fits well.

But once I get those two long sides, I need a chair for the side of the room at the bottom of the photo... and a big square coffee table.  

The current coffee table probably cost more than most furniture in my house.  It was purchased, no sale, from Pottery Barn.  It's cute.  There is a small drawer in the middle for remotes and "game pieces" and the two other pull-outs are game boards (checkers, etc.)  It's cute... but unfortunately it's not well made.

The laminate is peeling, the knobs have fallen off, and it's all dinged up.  So, since I cannot afford the leather sofas just yet, I figured I'd start looking for a coffee table first.

(This shot is taken while standing on the stone hearth... looking past the living room, past the empty breakfast room, into the pride-and-joy of my home, the kitchen.  See my oldest cleaning the island... {{love}}.  What a cutie!  Just when I'm ready to pull out my hair, the kiddos prove to me I did *something* right in their upbringing....

I digress...

Ever find something at a store, and then kick yourself for not buying it?  I found a square table at the local thrift store, half-off, for $27.  It was simply made, but painted with white and blue flowers (ick)... so I would've needed to sand and paint it... but it was solid wood.  I decided it wasn't "perfect", but then later changed my mind.  When I went back, the thrift store wouldn't honor the 1/2 off deal anymore.  Ugh... it wasn't worth $54.  I was upset, but figured there must be something else out there for me.

So, I began looking at yard sales.  All tables were rectangular or made of laminate.  I wanted wood.

And then there they were one day...

A matching sofa table and square coffee table.  Both solid wood.  They were dinged up a bit, but since it was pine, I figured my kids would bang it up anyway.  I'm not a perfectionist (anymore)... we have bangs and scrapes and natural-distressing on most of our furniture.  Hey... I have four kids!

See the legs on the sofa table?  That was the original finish.

Just like this...

Wanna know the price?

$10 each!

Yes, just $20 for both!!

I almost didn't get the sofa table, but decided the one I was using now, wasn't "chunky" enough.  See?  It's cute... but too fragile-looking in that corner. 

I really would prefer a nice black dresser in that corner... but until I find one, maybe the new sofa table will do?

 So far, I've managed to find my husband's palm sander.  (Most tools are still in boxes.)

And brought the wood down to this...

Since these pictures were taken, I've completed a few more steps.  Once I get them positioned in the room, I'll be sure to show you.  

I'm kind of proud.  Refinishing/repainting furniture isn't my cup of tea... I'm impatient and all those steps drive me bonkers.  So... you'll have to let me know how I did.  

Especially since I have three more pieces of furniture waiting in the garage for some updating....

On another note... to all of you designers out there, I have a question.

See this room, again?

Although I like the simplicity of it, the all-natural feel... I'm wondering if we should get curtains.  The walls are tan, the stone is tan, the wood is brown, and if we get sofas one day, they'll be tan/brown.  I'm thinking of a nice subtle print in floor to ceiling... and of course, I'll probably wait till the puppy is beyond her chewing everything-in-sight stage.  However, the beauty of these windows is how pretty the trimwork is around them.  Would curtains destroy that look?  What are your thoughts?  I know the picture is dark... the room is lighter than this.  Any feedback is appreciated!!