coffee table debut

Okay, this may be the post that makes all of you officially decide I'm crazy. As you know, I've had my mind set on making a coffee table out of abandoned wood for a few months now. I researched and got an idea in my head of what I wanted, and that included boards that were once painted a cool color.

So I was thrilled when, after only about 5 minutes of driving around, we found a huge stack of painted wood pallets sitting next to a dumpster behind a fancy furniture store across the street from us. PERFECT! I guess you could say this picture is the "before", haha.

Here's the Mr. prying off the dozens of nails. Poor guy.

Prying off the nails was the first step, then we had to figure out how to arrange them in such a way that they would make something at least similar in shape to a square! This proved to be tricky. It was a bit like solving a puzzle. I knew it wouldn't form a perfect square, and actually arranged it so that some boards would stick out more than others.

The next step was to flip them all over and hammer in boards going vertically and horizontally so that all the boards would stick together, if that makes sense. FYI, we made all this up as we went along and there may be easier ways to build a table! The last step (besides attaching the legs), was to thoroughly disinfect and anti-bacterialize (is that a word?) the wood.

And here's the top of my brand new coffee table. 

This is an adorable vintage book. A gift from my sweet friend Jillian.

Oh, why look who just happened to be available for some modeling!

Such a little ham, just like her mama.

Finding 4 boards all the same length for the legs was tricky, and attaching them was even tricker, but here is the finished product!!! So far, this table has only cost us three dollars (for the nails). We still have to attach some L brackets for extra stability, so I predict the end cost will be around $20. Not bad for my dream coffee table!

I know, I know. I'm a crazy lady. But I love it. And I think once I'm able to take some pictures of it in the actual living room, you'll "get it". At least, that's what I keep telling myself!