Friday, August 6, 2010

Free Ain't Always Best

So I found this coffee table on my area Freecycle network and scooped it up within minutes. I saw the picture the freecycler had posted and was in love with it's spindly legs and could see it's potential from a mile away!

However, once I brought this beaut back home I realized it was more than I bargained for.
The top of the table has water damage, you know, the kind that seeps into the wood and makes the wood bubble all around the edges. Then there are these doors and how the cabinet is made. I was thinking about chucking the doors and kicking out the back part of that center cabinet to open it up. But then I would need to hide the wood blocks supporting the cabinet. I just don't know how I'm going to execute this.

Oh and did I mention it smells like cat pee? Gross.


For now she sits in my basement waiting for inspiration to hit.

13 comments:

  1. OH.MY.GRAVY!!! I am so flipping glad that you linked this story! I had to pull my car over because I was laughing so hard!! This is totally something that I would do too! Gabby I love you, we were thrifters seperated at birth!

    Love your guts
    mandi

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  2. I saw one of these at GW for 20 bucks that I allllmmmost bought, but then got chicken. I can't wait to see what you do with it!

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  3. I'm thinkin the bubbles with give it THAT much more character!! ;D

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  4. @Mandi - I'm so glad I'm not alone! lol

    @Vanessa - I would have chickened out on this one too if I had actually seen it in person before committing myself to picking it up.

    @Nikki - I figure I can sand the bubbles down some to make the top less bumpy and more wine glass friendly :)

    Thanks for the comments guys! :)

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  5. So funny!! found something similiar curbside - garage sale leftover. Mine has lovely (hahaha) glass doors. It's heavy, too. Worse comes to worse and I'll just salvage the legs. Can't wait to see what you do!

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  6. Jen, you're lucky! As it turns out the awesome spindly legs on mine are plastic! Not so awesome anymore.

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  7. Good luck! I love the thickness of the legs. Definitely cool. You could take it all apart and use the parts separately! That might be too much work, though. I'm sure you'll think of something amazing.

    I'd love for you to check out my blog for a fun giveaway!
    alittleknickknack.blogspot.com
    Have a great night!

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  8. Hi Meg! Thanks for stopping by!

    I actually took it apart a few days ago and realized that the legs were made out of plastic and one of them had a hole in it that was cracking away. I ended up tossing the legs, the center cubby, and the doors.

    I'm going to end up with something completely different at this point!

    I'm on my way to your blog right now!

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  9. How about turning it into a great little bench? See this design*sponge inspiration:
    http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/08/before-after-the-bartletts-bed-alain-and-julies-bench.html

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  10. Good luck with that project. It'll turn out great.

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  11. Ooh, I like the big pillar-y looking poles. I think I would probably turn this into a bench at the foot of my bed :) I LOVE benches at the foot of beds! .. hope you find some inspiration for your piece!! ;)

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  12. @ hammeneggs and Jessica - A bench is a great idea, unfortunately I have no place to put a bench. Especially a bench the size of this coffee table! Too bad there's only about 3 feet of space between the foot of my bed and the wall :(

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  13. I know I am about 2 years late reading this, but what did you end up doing? I have a piece that I feel the same way about...not sure what to do with it :)

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