before and after.

While my parents were helping my brother move the other weekend, I received a call, wondering if I'd be interested in this:

 It's a side table, and, it's really hard for me to pass up such offers. So, I brought it home. The top was pretty beat up, but the wood was nice and I liked the challenge of it. 

It started with some sanding:

and a new layer of stain:

it was beginning to come to life. 

oh you just wait...

 that's a sheet of 3 inch foam. So, I didn't have a need for another side table, so I decided to get wild and try and turn it into a bench of sorts. 

 Here's a sneak peak of the fabric - kind of tribal (?) kind of ikat (?) eh?

I was at hobby lobby for some more DIY jewelry supplies and it caught my eye.

I folded up and with a staple gun secured the bottom and top first.  

Then pulled the sides together and treated the corners like you would when wrapping a present. 

 Easily removable if you wanted to use it as a side table again, or easily replaceable if you get tired of your fabric choice. 

 After the stain dried, I brought that baby back inside, flipped it upside down and screwed the frame and legs back in. 

 It's ok, right? 

 It's growing on me. I feel like I'm becoming more comfortable with having things around the house that have a story - not just pretty matchy things. 

 It's a little big - which made it difficult to find a place for it in our tiny little home, but it'll be used a "here, have a seat and put on your socks and shoes" bench. Also, a "hold our throw pillows while we sleep in the bed" bench too. 

 and there you have it. Next, I either want to de-rust and repaint our "bar cart" that sits on our porch, or make my own version of a tapestry. Now, I just need another lazy weekend.