fun distractions
I can't tell you how much I want this post to be a bitch-fest about a plethora of things (the agony of waiting for our next FET, the stresses of dogsitting for the in-laws this week, the catastrophic discovery that I forgot my Burt's Bees chapstick at home today). But, I refuse to subject you to it. You're welcome!
Instead, I want to talk about a couple fun things, some of which will prove to be nice distractions while we await our FET.
First up, Buster is building us a dining room table. Exciting, right?!
A couple of months ago I read a blog post about making your own farm table. For the life of me, I cannot remember where I read it. I naturally assumed it was from Sawdust and Embryos, since they are always building/refinishing amazing pieces! After searching for about 20 minutes on that blog, however, I could not locate the post. If any of you know what I'm talking about, please remind me!
I did manage to bookmark the link and plans they (the mysterious they) used to build their table, though. It's something at least, right? Here are a couple photos from Ana White's blog post, where the plans originated:
So that's the general idea of the table! Buster spent about $250 on materials. I realize that's way more than Ana spent when she built hers, but she had reclaimed wood laying around. We do not, unfortunately. So, Buster bought the lumber for the frame of the table at Lowe's, and went to a local wood shop for the pieces for the top. Buster is a perfectionist when it comes to craftsmanship, and he did not like the look of the lumber at Lowe's for the top of the table.
But $250 in materials for a table that can seat 8-10 (according to Buster... it actually looks more like 6 comfortably to me, but whatever)? Yes please!
Here is a photo of his progress so far (he started working on it Monday, and has been doing things here and there for the last couple of days):
I will continue taking photos of the progress, and share them with you when it's all finished! Buster is waiting to get the top lumber in, and soon after he will start distressing.
Now, not only do we not currently have a dining room table, we also lack chairs. So I've been on the lookout for some. I really want to go for a modern, leather-looking chair. I like the mix of modern with rustic. Here's a photo I found that illustrates the look/feel I'm going for:
Ok, so I'm not going orange, or weird shrubs with balls on them. But, I want leather chairs with a rustic table. I'm liking some chairs I see on Pier 1's website:
We'd probably end up going with a chocolate brown, but I'd love a colorful chair. They sell this chair in a beautiful green and also a teal that I love! Unfortunately, neither green nor teal go with my living room furniture, and since it's all open... yeah, so...we are limited to red, brown, or black.
After we get the table and chairs squared away, my next project in the dining room will be the light fixture. It is an ugly, tacky, "gold" chandelier. It is so gaudy and just... bleh. I've been asking Buster to take it down so we can (spray?) paint it black. I think it will be a huge improvement! Maybe some new globes while we're at it.
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Next up on my fun distraction list is Belle's March Photo Challenge. If you haven't been to Belle's blog Scrambled Eggs, check it out (I LOVE the simple yet creative design!). Belle is currently in that ever-so-tough place between retrieval/fertilization and frozen transfer. I can relate! She wanted a distraction, thus her photo challenge was born.
I've never taken part in a photo challenge, but why not start now? I need a distraction! Plus, it's (another) creative outlet for me. You know, designing for a living isn't fulfilling all of my creative needs... (ok, that was sarcasm!). But, I rarely take photos. I wish I took more. And this will give me that opportunity!
The challenge starts tomorrow, and it's pretty laid back. Hop on over to her March Photo Challenge post and leave a comment if you wish to participate!
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Last and well, probably least... I spent $20 on a Golden Retriever desk calendar. Yep. Well, ok, it was $15 + shipping. I thought it would cheer me up while I'm at work. I think $20 is worth loving my office a bit more, right? Who doesn't love a photo of a Golden frolicking in the flowers?!!
And I'm totally going to be that person who tacks up all the old calendar pictures in her office. I can't throw those happy Goldens away. It would just feel...wrong. So I'd much rather be known as the Crazy Dog Lady...
Instead, I want to talk about a couple fun things, some of which will prove to be nice distractions while we await our FET.
First up, Buster is building us a dining room table. Exciting, right?!
A couple of months ago I read a blog post about making your own farm table. For the life of me, I cannot remember where I read it. I naturally assumed it was from Sawdust and Embryos, since they are always building/refinishing amazing pieces! After searching for about 20 minutes on that blog, however, I could not locate the post. If any of you know what I'm talking about, please remind me!
I did manage to bookmark the link and plans they (the mysterious they) used to build their table, though. It's something at least, right? Here are a couple photos from Ana White's blog post, where the plans originated:
 |
| Copyright furniturehacked.wordpress.com |
 |
| Copyright furniturehacked.wordpress.com |
So that's the general idea of the table! Buster spent about $250 on materials. I realize that's way more than Ana spent when she built hers, but she had reclaimed wood laying around. We do not, unfortunately. So, Buster bought the lumber for the frame of the table at Lowe's, and went to a local wood shop for the pieces for the top. Buster is a perfectionist when it comes to craftsmanship, and he did not like the look of the lumber at Lowe's for the top of the table.
But $250 in materials for a table that can seat 8-10 (according to Buster... it actually looks more like 6 comfortably to me, but whatever)? Yes please!
Here is a photo of his progress so far (he started working on it Monday, and has been doing things here and there for the last couple of days):
I will continue taking photos of the progress, and share them with you when it's all finished! Buster is waiting to get the top lumber in, and soon after he will start distressing.
Now, not only do we not currently have a dining room table, we also lack chairs. So I've been on the lookout for some. I really want to go for a modern, leather-looking chair. I like the mix of modern with rustic. Here's a photo I found that illustrates the look/feel I'm going for:
Ok, so I'm not going orange, or weird shrubs with balls on them. But, I want leather chairs with a rustic table. I'm liking some chairs I see on Pier 1's website:
 |
| © Pier 1 Imports |
 |
| © Pier 1 Imports |
After we get the table and chairs squared away, my next project in the dining room will be the light fixture. It is an ugly, tacky, "gold" chandelier. It is so gaudy and just... bleh. I've been asking Buster to take it down so we can (spray?) paint it black. I think it will be a huge improvement! Maybe some new globes while we're at it.
_____________
Next up on my fun distraction list is Belle's March Photo Challenge. If you haven't been to Belle's blog Scrambled Eggs, check it out (I LOVE the simple yet creative design!). Belle is currently in that ever-so-tough place between retrieval/fertilization and frozen transfer. I can relate! She wanted a distraction, thus her photo challenge was born.
I've never taken part in a photo challenge, but why not start now? I need a distraction! Plus, it's (another) creative outlet for me. You know, designing for a living isn't fulfilling all of my creative needs... (ok, that was sarcasm!). But, I rarely take photos. I wish I took more. And this will give me that opportunity!
The challenge starts tomorrow, and it's pretty laid back. Hop on over to her March Photo Challenge post and leave a comment if you wish to participate!
_____________
Last and well, probably least... I spent $20 on a Golden Retriever desk calendar. Yep. Well, ok, it was $15 + shipping. I thought it would cheer me up while I'm at work. I think $20 is worth loving my office a bit more, right? Who doesn't love a photo of a Golden frolicking in the flowers?!!
And I'm totally going to be that person who tacks up all the old calendar pictures in her office. I can't throw those happy Goldens away. It would just feel...wrong. So I'd much rather be known as the Crazy Dog Lady...
Damn, that sucks that the teal chairs don't go with your living room. I saw those when I was in Pier 1 a couple weeks ago and instantly wanted them.
ReplyDeleteBuster sure is handy! My hubby is trying his hand at woodworking lately. So far he's made an outdoor bar height food prep table for grilling and an end table for our family room that he named Meets. Because it meets the requirements of a table, but that's all he can say about it. :)
Love the story behind the end table! Do the teal chairs match your decor??
DeleteLOVE the table idea. I wanted to do something very similar awhile back:
ReplyDeletehttp://barnesbrennan.blogspot.com/2011/03/to-diy-or-buy.html
but ultimately it never happened for one reason or another. I'm so jealous you're making your own!
I love those barn door tables! Buster mentioned putting hinges on our table, so I showed him the pics from your post. He said he was thinking something similar, so we'll see what he comes up with!
DeleteLove your dining room ideas! I can't wait to see how Buster's table turns out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the photo challenge link. I need a healthy distraction, too, so I'm going to give it a go. :)
I'm glad you are doing the challenge! I'm looking forward to seeing your photos :)
DeleteWay to go Buster! Love the pics of the table from Ana White, and I LOVE her site! I made some laundry basket drawers from there recently. Also I love that you're doing a rustic table with modern chairs, I would never have thought to do it, I love the look!
ReplyDeleteI need to spend some more time on her site! Some fabulous ideas and plans on there.
DeleteOh I really love that table and for a relatively cheap price too. AWESOME! It's going to look great w/ whatever chairs you get :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa!
DeleteOh I can not wait to see how that table turns out!!! We almost made one, but ended up getting a sweet deal for a harvest table at ikea. Love the calendar!!! I keep my old calendars too.
ReplyDeleteOh man, that table is great! I went straight to the plans, like I'm going to build it. The plans are really good though, so who knows... Maybe when I get my new house?
ReplyDeleteThe plans make it look easy! You should go for it :)
DeleteThe table looks fantastic! What color are you thinking of staining it (I'm assuming something dark, but figured I'd ask). And I love the calendar!
ReplyDeleteBuster is thinking a red mahogany stain. He did a sample piece for me and I love how it looks! I probably should have mentioned in my post that the table top pieces are poplar.
DeleteThat table looks great! My husband and I have old wood from the garage/barn we had to tear down and we plan to make a dining room table with it. There are easy plans in This Old House magazine where they use decorative corbels as bases for a reclaimed lumber top. We don't have plans for chairs. I'm going to check out those teal ones form Pier 1 :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with those funny topiary balls? People who can actually have this kind of stuff in their houses don't have cats.
Fantastic project! I wish my husband and I were that handy. Can't wait to see the outcome. I'm sure it will be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWe have a round, cottage-style dining table and i got brave and bought those teal chairs (my xmas gift this year) and i love them! Who knew chairs could bring so much joy?
ReplyDeleteNice! The table will be so cool! My husband made our dining room table, too, and we have chairs similar to the ones you're looking at! Ours are sorta dark brown/black, a little boring. They're versatile, though. Oh, and I want to spray our ugly chandelier black, too! Great minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteI love that you can't throw away the golden calendar pics. I get it!
Thanks for the plug on your blog! I look forward to seeing your photos!
ReplyDeleteI am SOOOOO excited to see your table. Mr. Husband and I looked at making one last year, but then the kitchen reno from hell happened and we ended up with a cheap Ikea table. One day, though, I'll have my barn wood table ;)
Right, I am so doing the photo challenge! Thanks for mentioning it!
ReplyDelete