Coffee Table

So after seeing that black ottoman in my last post I knew I had to replace it with a real table.

 It's just been really hard to find one low and small enough to fit in the strange little space of my sectional.

Found this table on Craigslist for $15.

Although I had my heart set on something a little more dainty and perhaps a pedestal bottom to make it easier to move around, the slatted top and legs (there is a round medallion at the bottom of each leg that matches the medallion on my fireplace mantel exactly) plus the extra storage of a drawer, helped me be a little more open minded. Not to mention it was solid wood for $15.

I knew I wanted to paint it white. The Fireplace is on the right of this photo, across from the sectional, and I needed something weighty and white to balance it out.

After an ungodly amount of time (no kids..took advantage of it) looking at handles and knobs in Lowes (Hob-lob was closed and I wanted it NOW) I decided on a really simple brushed nickel piece.

Once I got it painted and in the room, it was like a huge sea of whiteness. I needed some coffee table decor. I hit up Pinterest and by accident I came across this photo of a Hermes tray. I had never heard of a Hermes tray before, but I was IN LOVE!

Until I saw that they range from $300 (knock offs) to $6000. Yes you read that right. And why is it so expensive? Because I love it that's why. So yeah, I'll never have one, but I was still inspired by the color. Again, I looked at thrift shops and craigslist for a round tray, and although I could have bought one online or something, I have a limited budget and I wanted it NOW. So I hit up Goodwill and this was seriously the only tray they had.

Definitely not what I was looking for, but I bought it for under $1. Accessorizing it is still not quite where I want it, but I've saved a few things on pinterest and I've got a few ideas in mind, just need to find them at the right price :) but for now....

 I was really lazy and just painted the whole thing orange, then used the side of my paintbrush to rub off paint along the edges to let some of the navy blue shine through for a more rustic look. Not quite the black and orange beauty of Hermes, but cute anyway.

and with the table...Ta-da!

There is more room around the table than the picture lets on, but for $19 (table=$15, tray & new handle=$4) and some paint..I'll take it. I really love it with all the poppy prints I have in there. It helps with balancing out the fireplace which I wanted.

 
Now if I can just get my Honey to make that cornice board with crown moulding for the window. I have high hopes because income tax is coming, then my birthday..then Mother's day, oh and Valentines Day before all that. Skip the jewelery honey, just give me a cornice board lol

Like this:

Now for those before and afters...

Oh, one last thing, the succulents on the coffee table, totally fake (pulled them out of another pot I had in the garage and stuck them in that yellow ramekin I got from the kitchen) so don't worry. No plants will be harmed in this decor decision even though I can't keep a plant alive for more than a week. :/

Reality

After looking at a million blogs and their well staged photos of perfection, I thought I'd give those that are reading today a little dose of MY reality.

So here it goes...

 This is the current status of my living room. My dog/kids and I play a game. They throw the pillows around and I pick them up. Repeat 50 times a day!
The dresses are on loan for Ms. Thangs upcoming formal dance. I literally have no place to hang them so they've been laying here for 3 days. (btw the top dress in rainbow animal print..hideous!)

Now this is my counter basically every day. I heard somewhere if you respect your money, you'll end up with more of it. That's my purse with half my money falling out. :/ The empty tray was this grand idea of mine to have a veggie tray out at every meal and THIS tray would be so easy to wrap each section with saran and refill and clean each section without having to remove all the left over veggies. HA! It was a pain in my butt! A plate and small bowl work better. I get a sheet every month for box tops and they will not accept them unless they are glued to said paper. I hate it. I can never find the glue (along with tweezers, scissors, and a working pen). Homework from the night before is here too. Do you know the capital of the Bahamas? I do. I remember because going there would kick nASSau! That's right, I allow cursing in my teenagers homework phonetics. It works for me.

More homework and you may have noticed a trend in our family of half empty water bottles. We are so healthy like that...which might bring you to question the fork in the empty cake plate. Lets just say I've quit smoking and found another fun past time. Are my kids the only ones that won't drink anything without a straw?

 Cookies (again, I've quit smoking!) which goes so well with the tape measure. (my head is only 2 inches wider than the Scientists).
The empty week planner may allude you to believe I am not busy, however I'm just so busy I dont have time to fill it out ok!? (that could have been a lie)
My finished project is actually craft paper in a quatrefoil gray cut to fit in my clear plastic mail file. Cant tell in the picture, but it actually looks super cute. The unfinished is the stool I bought for my closet to reach the high stuff. The quatrefoil paper was actually supposed to go on the stool but I messed up and since I didnt want to waste it, I stuck it in the file. The stool is there because Cutecumber stands and watches me every second of every day.

 Here is a bookshelf in the den. The metal feathers were christmas ornaments at Target for 70% after the holidays and I thought they would be perfect to add along side the resent bird pics I painted (representing my family) but I want to paint them before I put them up (currently gold). They have been sitting there for 2 weeks.
The lotion and hair accessories are actually a part of my favorite past time. Beauty Shop. I practically fall asleep while Cutecumber adds an inch thick layer of lotion to my feet, legs, hands and arms, topping it all off with a fancy hair do that she always tells me to leave in and somehow I always accidently forget and throw it in a ponytail before I head out. ;)

 Here is the worst of it. The kids bathroom. It looks like this everyday, all the time, with the exception of guests coming over.
The black thing is a foaming soap dispenser. My Honey was sick of going into that bathroom and finding the soap empty, knowing the kids were not using soap when washing their hands. This was the solution. I'm soooo happy! Cause I love the pile of foam it leaves on the floor and it's right above the toilet paper too! Great plan! ....I hate it. It WILL break soon. I'll make sure of that.


Well there you go. TMI about the everyday junk laying around my house. I hope it makes you feel a little better about not having a photo perfect house all the time. And really, I'm glad I got it up here on the ol' blog. I hear I'll miss all the kid messes one day. :)


*No way in hell was I going to show you my kids rooms, sink, or laundry room! :P