Rustic + Glamorous Living Room

It's been a while since I've posted a mood board so I'm very happy to get this post up today. This living room is meant to capture a rustic glamorous feeling--to incorporate some of the glamorous elements popular in today's trends but use more rustic elements to make it a comfortable, accessible space. 

The elements in this space are definitely a mix of high and low. The sofa is about $1,300 (which really isn't all that high when it comes to sofas, but it is on my budget) and the side chairs are only $169 each. Some of the decorative boxes are in the $50 - $70 range while other decorative items are less than $20. Although the items aren't all inexpensive, they are definitely on the lower end of investment in a space using retail pieces, and it's a space that someone on a budget could build over time. There are also elements like the media stand that you might be able to find vintage or used. The artwork is a print from Minted and can be printed and purchased in a range of sizes. This room actually makes me wish the boy and I were moving into our own place sooner because we both totally love this look. Here's a list of sources if you want to replicate it:

Furniture

Sofa : Blake Down Filled Sofa in Performance Velvet, Otter - West Elm

Side Chairs: Threshold Swoop Chair in Velvet Overcast - Target

Coffee Table: Marble Oval Coffee Table - West Elm

Media Stand: Conway Long Media Stand - Pottery Barn

Left Side Table: Lucida Side Table - Crate & Barrel 

Right Side Table: Moroccan Table in Obsidian Black - Wisteria

Rug

Torres Wool Kilim in Iron - West Elm

Art

Bejeweled in Myrtle with Distressed Charcoal Stained Frame - Minted

Lighting

Table Lamp: Emery Laurel Table Lamp - Crate & Barrel

Floor Lamp: Jerrard Floor Lamp - Crate & Barrel

Pillows

Sofa: Phulkari Embroidered Chevron Pillow in Marine Blue - Pottery Barn
Sofa: Tryst 16" Pillow - CB2
Side Chairs: Jacquard Leaf Silk Pillow Cover in Light Pool - West Elm

Accessories

Picture Frame: Nate Berkus Glass Frame, 3"x3" Gold - Target
Decorative Box: Eduardo Garza Crystal Box - West Elm
Succulent: Potted 4" Succulent - Crate & Barrel 
Coasters: Agate Coasters in Natural - West Elm
Tray: Nate Berkus Wood and Resin Hexagon Tray - Target
Decorative Box: Nate Berkus Decorative Tortoise Shell Box - Gold
Decorative Box: Agate Jewelry Box, Small in Natural - West Elm

Art Collection: Favorite Fashion & Figurative Prints

My hands-down favorite part of my bedroom is the gallery wall over my dresser. I pieced it together over the years with everything from notecards to antique artwork to framed fabric swatches, but my favorite pieces are the fashion/figurative artwork. My sister liked one of the prints by Leigh Viner so much that she asked for a set of three of her prints to put over her bed for Christmas.

I'm kind of picky when it comes to figurative artwork. I don't really like to see open eyes illustrated. I think there's something about the eyes closed or the back turned that makes the featured woman a bit of a mystery and lets you fill in the blanks about who she is and what she's thinking and feeling. I also find it makes it a little easier to see yourself in the artwork, which is nice when you are bringing feminine artwork into one of the most person and feminine places in your home (well, at least if you are still living sans boy like I am). 

Here are some of my favorite prints by my go-to artists for fashion illustrations. Most of these artists sell their items via Etsy. If you don't see a size you like, it's always worth it to message the artist directly - most of the time they will print anything in a custom size for you. Enjoy!

Row 1: 

1. About a Pearl by Leigh Viner

2. Ombre by Inslee

3. Figure by Leigh Viner

Row 2: 

1. Backstage by Jessica Durrant

2. Abstractions Aside by Leigh Viner

3. The Geek Next Door by Jessica Durrant

Row 3: 

1. Favorite Place by Clare Elsaesser

2. The Yellow Trench by Jessica Durrant

3. Ebb and Flow by Clare Elsaesser

Appreciating Unpainted Furniture

For whatever reason, the trend in barn sales and updated vintage home furnishing shops seems to be painted furniture. At the Sweet Clover barn sales, almost all the furniture is freshly painted with the exception of big farm tables and other pieces that have a natural, chippy painted patina already. 

It's not like I'm not one of those vendors who doesn't paint anything-- I actually paint almost everything I sell. That's partly because in order to get something at a good deal, the finish can sometimes be beyond repair or I just can't justify the time to refinish it. But it's also because the unpainted furniture sometimes sits for a while, while aqua end tables and dressers fly out of the place faster than we can make them.

I love a good piece of aqua furniture as much as the next person (heck, my room is painted in it). But part of me feels oh-so-guilty when I paint a gorgeous old dresser. And I wince when I see someone turn a piece of Hollywood Regency furniture with really cool wood grain into a solid color, shabby chic, paris flea market wannabe.

I get it, it can be kind of tough to see how a traditional wood piece can make your home look updated. So here are a few great examples of how you can use unpainted furniture in a space without looking dated. Notice how they aren't in spaces overflowing with wood surfaces, and a lot of them use varied textures and lighter colors to offset the heaviness of the wood. Many of them are in rooms with other painted furniture. The wood pieces serve as a gorgeous backdrop to pops of color sitting on top of them, and add the depth of finish gives subtle interest to the space. Hopefully these images will make you think twice before you immediately want to paint an old piece of furniture, and keep you on the lookout for gorgeous secondhand wood furniture!

Anna Spiro via Apartment Therapy

Chancellor Hotel via Toby Fairley

Via Lonny

Via Lonny

Jenny Komenda via Little Green Notebook

Via Jenny Komenda Interiors

Emily Henderson via Design LoveFest

My Bedroom, Finally

It was the bedroom furniture that I was refinishing for my new place that actually prompted the start of this blog, so I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I only very recently "finished" my room to the degree that it will likely be finished before I move on to another home.

More than any other room in our house, I appreciate this one. Someday I will get married and have to compromise with a silly boy and the bedroom will become a reflection of our style instead of being wholly mine. After all, most men don't go for the aqua and raspberry color scheme.  When that happens, I'll probably welcome the idea of building spaces together, but I suspect that part of me will always miss this space. This is the one room that I have complete control over, that was a total blank slate when I moved in, and is the only one that I have been able to completely transform into something that suits my personal aesthetic and my lifestyle. It is me at this very point in my life, and I love it.

This room was a nasty one to photograph. Living in a townhouse = very uneven natural light, and I was trying to take these pictures in late afternoon, so the lighting was even worse. Still, I think these capture my room and the colors in it pretty well. I've been in love with this color aqua for most of my life, and a year later I still absolutely love the fabric I chose for my curtains. My gallery wall has been a work in progress for what feels like forever, but it's finally got something in every frame. There are some pieces that I may replace along the way, but I love sitting in my big girl bed and looking at the collection of art I've curated specifically for my own boudoir.

The comforter is the same one I have had since my second year of college. It's a Marimekko print from Crate and Barrel that I was able to snag since I had a gift card that someone had given me for my high school graduation. Aqua is pretty easy to work with and goes with a bunch of different colors, and using the same comforter for seven years means its was well worth the amount I spent on it.

Up until very recently I had bookshelves next to my bed. Then I acquired an end table from my grandparents' house and I started grad school. I needed a place to put all my school stuff, and a place to put my new table, so I decided to switched the bookshelves with my new end table and a washstand that I had laying around (literally, it was just chilling in my basement). I like that I've been able to bring the lamps down a few inches, which contributes to a slightly more soothing ambiance than having it on top of a bookshelf.

You may recognize my desk from a while ago. I still love the way it looks when there's nothing on it, but man-oh-man does it start to look cluttered the second I put so much as a piece of paper on that thing. I have no plans to change it and still like the way the pattern looks on that side of the room, but I will definitely think twice before I stencil another table top with such an aggressively contrasting pattern.

The light and mirror next are next to the bathroom door. I realize that the light isn't in the greatest position, but it was one of the best places for a full length mirror and provides me with natural light to get ready in the morning, and it really doesn't pose much of an issue when the bathroom door is open.

My room is by no means perfect. The carpet is ugly. The molding stops in funky places above the bed and the window. Still, I love this room because it is perfectly "me". This color may seem childish but it makes me so happy. I love the feminine artwork and the botanical patterns and the fact that I am sleeping next to a table that I remember seeing in my grandparents' living room every time I visited their house.

More than any other room in our house, I appreciate this one. That's probably because I know that some day I will get married and have to compromise with a silly boy and the bedroom will become a reflection of our style instead of being wholly mine. After all, most men don't go for the aqua and raspberry color scheme. At this point in my life, this is the one room that I have complete control over, that was a total blank slate when I moved in, and is the only one that I have been able to completely transform into something that suits my personal aesthetic and my lifestyle.

If you want to see the evolution of my bedroom, here are a few posts for you to check out:
Refinishing my big girl bed
Learning nightstand proportion
Another nightstand attempt
Painting the room
Sewing a pillow
How I stenciled my desk
Painting my dresser's hardware

Using Lacquered Furniture in a Space

I mentioned last week that I'm really starting to enjoy pieces with more texture, rather than just the lacquered look. As I went through my images, I also realized that my favorite rooms that have shiny, bright lacquered furniture, temper that focus with lots of texture throughout the space.

For example, this room has gorgeous, shiny bright yellow chairs. But you'll notice that the black trunk has a bit of a patina, there's a wood arm chair in the corner, and the wood frame on the wall, bamboo shade, and sisal rug all provide texture that tempers the intensity of the yellow. And the fact that the brass and those natural elements are desaturated versions of a yellow-orange help move your eye from the chairs through the space.

Via Elle Decor

This room below from Lonny has a gorgeous, dusty blue shiny finish, and shiny lucite chairs. But it also has those rich floors, full of variation and depth, and that painting on the easel, which also has a subtle, layered look to it.

Via Lonny

Even Jonathan Adler, who is well known for his bright, shiny pieces, uses many different textures to give spaces a curated sense of age in his colorful spaces. 

Via Jonathan Adler

A few more examples:

Via Jenny Komenda

Via House Beautiful

Via House Beautiful

Via Lonny Magazine

Obviously this isn't the ONLY way to use lacquered furniture in a space, but it's my personal preference. I also think that if you are someone who tends to end up with a lot of vintage pieces, found accessories, etc., it allows you to add contemporary elements to the space without having them look out of place.

What do you guys think? Have you used lacquered pieces in your home? Have you ever thought about how to use them?

Evolving Style: Lacquer vs. Patina

One of my favorite furniture looks is classic furniture painted in bright, high gloss colors. The pieces provide such graphic pops of color to a room and provide a modern, youthful perspective on classic styles.

Via Natty By Design

While I still love the lacquered look, I'm really starting to appreciate pieces that use a layer of glaze or a little distressing over deep color--or those that have a natural patina from years of wear. These pieces still look modern, but have layers of texture that add subtle depth to the space. They also provide gorgeous color in a space without drawing the same amount of focus that bright, shiny lacquered pieces do.

Via the Hunted Interior (Thanks Robin for the source link!)

Via Liz Marie Blog

Via Style at Home

Via Natty by Design

I've also realized that the combination of bright colors and a lacquered finish cause a piece to be very advancing, and very easily become the focal point of a room. Too much of that in one space can make the room feel overwhelming, and your eye won't know where to go. So even though I still love those bright, shiny pieces, I think most of the pieces I use in a room will have a little more depth to their finish. 

Pinterest Challenge: Brass Etagere

For those of you who are big Young House Love fans like I am, you are probably familiar with their Pinterest Challenge series. I have wanted to link up a project for so long, but never got around to it in the previous editions. I'm proud to say I actually completed a project, photographed it, and wrote a post in time for this season's challenge!

I've been crushing on brass furniture lately, which I mentioned when I was swooning over coffee tables. I've also been seeing some great hacks of the Ikea Vittsjo pop up all over Pinterest. Our living room is fairly long, so it lends itself to having two distinct seating areas. On the left, I decided we needed something with more height, and I also wanted a place to display accessories and make our house feel a little more lived in.

One day when I wasn't working, I went out to Ikea. I never go to Ikea on a Saturday if I can avoid it, so it was nice to head over there on a weekday morning. After spending some time wandering through the showroom, I went downstairs and grabbed my Vittsjo. Only I didn't think about how huge it was....60 lbs and a little over 7 feet. Although I was encouraged to ask for help per the sign by the box, I  stubbornly wrestled the box onto my car myself and made my way to the checkout.

Sorry about the crummy iPhone pic!

Then I had to get it into the car by myself...good thing I have Fiona, because this thing was huge. I could see people around me looking skeptical, but I was able to fit the whole shelving unit in the car by folding the front seat down. Honda should seriously be paying me for the number of times I show people how much cargo room the Fit really has.

Anyway, I managed to get my new Vittsjo home and in the house by myself (woooo girl power). Then I went to work trying to figure out what color gold spray paint I should use on the piece. Some people spray painted theirs, some people used Rub 'n Buff, and some people gold leafed their's. I went the spray paint route for time's sake. I originally intended to buy Krylon's Gold Leaf based on Kate's recommendation on Centsational Girl, but they were out, so I ended up buying another Krylon color instead.

First I put together the frame, and then took it down to our backyard and spray painted it. It took a few coats, and I had to do some touch up after I brought it back inside and realized that I had missed a couple places. I let it dry for a few days and then brought it upstairs and added the glass shelving, and added accessories...which continue to change on a regular basis.

I'll be honest, I'm not in love with the color. I think that I will go over it with Rub'n Buff when school slows down a bit. But for now, I'm still really liking the look in our living room.

Oh, and if you're interested in the sources for the objects on the bookshelf, here's a rundown of what they are:

• Books: Young House Love, Inspired You (Miss Mustard Seed), 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life (Jonathan Adler), Design*Sponge at Home (Grace Bonney), The Death and Life of Great American Cities (Jane Jacobs), Cupcakes and Cashmere (Emily Schuman), Domino, The Things that Matter (Nate Berkus), Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (Jenny Slate), How to Hepburn (Karen Karbo), The Gospel According to Coco Chanel (Karen Karbo), Pottery Barn: Photos, Let's Get Comfortable (Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams), Furniture Styles (Vintage)
• Fashion Print: Figure art print by Leigh Viner 
• Milk glass dish: vintage (similar)
• Blue telephone insulators: vintage. I have a bunch of these for sale, so contact me if you'd like one. 
• Blue and white vase: my mom's house (similar)
• Glass apothocary jar: Homegoods (similar)
• Ikat bowl: Anthropologie (similar)
• Gray box: Homegoods (similar)
• Brass elephant: DIY - Plastic elephant from Michael's spray painted gold (similar)
• Flower print: West Elm (similar)
• Green dish: Anthropologie (similar)
• Small plate: Vintage (similar)
• White Owl bookend: Homegoods (similar)
• Silver Revere bowl: Vintage (similar)
• White ceramic horse: Target
• Brass bowl: Vintage (similar)
• Empire State building: DIY - puzzle from Michael's, spray painted pink
• Blue and white plate: Target (similar)
• Magazines: Check out what subscriptions I receive

Did any of you participate in Young House Love's Pinterest Challenge? Make sure you check out the projects of the other hosts: Katie from Bower Power, Megan from the Remodeled Life, and Michelle from Decor and the Dog.

Also linked to: Miss Mustard Seed

My Favorite Home and Design Magazines

In total, I am the proud owner of 8 magazine subscriptions. I know it's a lot. But I love pouring over shelter magazines, seeing the beautiful glossy photos of interiors, and keeping my finger on the pulse of design. When I was a teenager, I would request bundles of shelter magazines for Christmas. I also have a tendency to pick up magazines in line at the grocery store or drug store, so if there are any magazines that I anticipate buying 3 or more times a year in that situation, most of the time it's worth just subscribing to them. Here's a rundown of what gets delivered to my mailbox monthly and bimonthly.

House Beautiful
House Beautiful is one of the magazine subscriptions I've had longest, and it's still one of my favorites. The interiors are definitely my style. The use of color is fresh and modern, but the aesthetic is still very classic. They just look like rooms that I want to live in. It's fun and I'm always happy after I look at it. You can get 10 issues over 12 months for $15.99. 

Elle Decor

In previous years when I picked up Elle Decor in line at the grocery store, I was never all that impressed. I think at the time I was more into DIY projects and accessible decor tips, and Elle Decor seemed a little intimidating. For some reason, I've really started to enjoy it. It's definitely not the type of magazine that has DIY projects, and it also doesn't have a ton of design tips or affordable furnishings, but I really like the eclectic and glam interiors they feature in this magazine. The rooms are great, and provide a slightly more contemporary, urban perspective than House Beautiful. Another great thing about Elle Decor is the price -- $10 gets you 10 issues over 12 months.

Veranda

I had always thought of Veranda as kind of an obscure magazine, but when my color theory professor kept showing us interiors from this publication, I realized it was totally worth a subscription. It's a great resource for finding calm, sophisticated, monotone interiors. It's a little bit pricier than Elle Decor and House Beautiful in terms of what you get for your money, but still a good buy. $15.99 buys you 6 issues over 12 months.

Dwell

I bought Dwell with a deal from Daily Candy for $12 in January. I am the first to admit that Dwell is not my style. I appreciate modern decor, but it's just not in my wheelhouse, and it's definitely not what I prefer in my own home. It's also tough for me to flip through one without thinking about the hilarious blog, Unhappy Hipsters, which pokes fun at Dwell ("It's lonely in the modern world"). Still, I think it's important that as a designer, I vary my influences across styles. And it's always good to have some modern decor images for projects. $19.95 gets you 10 issues over 12 months (unless you have a discount code like me!).

Martha Stewart Living
My Grandma buys me Martha every year for Christmas. It's not always home-focused, but I enjoy it. She was so influential in DIY culture and I her influenced has endured for so long. Also, the photography is always beautiful. Just the flower arrangements provide nice inspiration for rooms. Martha's magazine is one of the most expensive, but it's also one of the few that delivers a magazine to your door all 12 months. For $28.00, you get 12 issues over 12 months.

Real Simple

I wish I could remember what the deal was that got me a year's subscription to Real Simple for $2. Quite honestly, this is the magazine that I am probably least in love with. It's great, but it's just a little lower on my list of reading priorities. Still, I'm happy with the purchase. Real Simple was the magazine that I most often bought at cover price over the last year, so getting it at my door will be a cost savings for me in 2013. Real Simple is comparable in price to Martha Stewart Living, and also delivers an issue every month. $23.88 buys your 12 issues over 12 months.

Interior Design
Interior Design is a trade magazine. One of my professors recommended we subscribe, and I was able to get a discount through my student membership with the American Society of Interior Designers. It has much more commercial design features than most other magazines, and it's definitely a "to the trade" magazine. It doesn't get me as excited as House Beautiful, but like Dwell, it's a good influence for my work. This magazine is pricey if you don't have a membership discount. 12 issues over 12 months will run you nearly $60.

Home & Design
Home & Design is my latest subscription purchase. It's a publication that is dedicated exclusively to residential design in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. I'm looking forward to this subscription because  think it will help me get to know the landscape of interior designers and trends in the DC area. As a designer, blogger, and sometimes retailer, I know it's really important to network, and I think this magazine will help me get to know the names and faces of people who are influencing design in my area. $19.95 gets you 6 issues over 12 months. 

Wish List

Traditional Home

I've contemplated buying Traditional Home for the same reasons I get House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and Veranda. Don't let the title fool you. Even though they feature traditional styles, their rooms are far from stodgy or outdated. Don't think traditional, think classic. My mom actually gets this magazine so I check it out when I'm over at their house, and I know that I just don't need another magazine that is similar to three other magazine I receive. Traditional Home is on the more expensive side. $24.99 gets your 8 issues over 12 months. 

Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest is one of the publications that, like Martha Stewart Living, has long been an influential publication in the shelter arena. It's a little more text heavy than other publications, but has great content. I just can't commit to another magazine right now. $24.00 buys 12 issues over 12 months. 

I'm well aware that receiving 3-8 print magazines monthly is less than earth-friendly. Maybe someday I will splurge on an iPad or Kindle Fire, but for now, I like being able to use the images on design physical design boards and when we're pinning up inspiration in classes. I keep a lot of my shelter magazines for reference, but others like Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple I just can't keep around forever. Rather than throwing them out (in the recycling bin, of course), I take my old magazines that I don't want anymore and list them on Craigslist for free. I'm generally able to get rid of them within a day or two, and the people who get them always seem really excited. For privacy's sake I try to remove the label. The people who pick up the magazines may know my name and address, but I just don't need my name and address floating around to wherever they end up next. So that's my way of trying to re-use them and give them some extra life. 

I'm also aware that keeping track of 8 magazine subscriptions can be challenging. Which is why I was pretty pumped when I recently discovered that I can manage all my magazine subscriptions through Amazon.com's Magazine Subscription Manager. The subscription manager even allows you to add your existing subscriptions that you've ordered through other sources. You can access the magazine manager in the orders section of your Amazon.com account page. 

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon.com affiliate marketing links, which means I get paid commission on sales of those products I write about. My editorial content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partnerships. I simply wanted to share some of my favorite sources for home inspiration with you guys. And my discovery of the Magazine Subscription Manager was something I was really excited to share with you!

Valentine's Day Decor

Valentine's Day is less than a week away! Looking to add a little love to your space?

paper lantern | picture frame | ikat cloth napkins | heart round tray | red foo dogs | for like ever poster | love bookends | neon heart pillow cover | gold love print | floral heart print | pink origami pillow | palm springs blocks pillow

The paper lantern from Cost Plus World Market would be a fun addition to your dining space if you plan to host some friends for a Galentine's Day event, and the red ikat cloth napkins from C.Wonder would add some fun to your table setting. The pink frame from Target would look really cute with some simple DIY heart art in it (gold glitter paper perhaps?), especially on a bookshelf paired with the Love bookends from PB Teen or the foo dogs from C.Wonder (I need some foo dogs in my life). I'm waiting for the day that I can appropriately hang the "For Like Ever" poster from Super Rural in my space without it being totally meaningless, and hopefully sooner than later I will just buy the floral heart print from Rifle Paper Co. that I've had my eye on for over a year (btw, have you seen Rifle's prints? They're awesome.) Jen Ramos of Made by Girl added this small horizontal gold Love Print to her collection, but if you desire your love vertically oriented and in an assortment of other colors, check out her website.

The pillows are all great, but I really love the Trina Turk palm springs blocks pillow from Layla Grace. I debated not including it in this roundup because it's a little pricey, but I just like it way too much to leave it out. I may try a DIY version soon. The very affordable round hearts tray from Target could work in so many ways--on your coffee table, corralling keys and sunglasses on an entry table, holding Valentine's day cookies and cupcakes. I'm sure you could find a use for it in a girls' bedroom or bachelorette pad year-round.

Have you added any extra love to your space for Valentine's Day?

A Tale of Four Coffee Tables

This is a tale of how I ended up owning four coffee tables at one time...which is coincidentally also a tale of three very tolerant roommates.

Those of you who have known me for a while may recall when I refinished my first coffee table for our living room. I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. But I haven't been in love with it lately. It's not that I don't like the table, it's just that it's to heavy for this space. We have a pretty large sectional in our living room, and the upper drawer gives it a heftiness that makes this space feel a little crowded. That said, the height and general dimensions have worked well.

I posted a few months ago about my obsession with Hollywood Regency marble coffee tables, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I am still head over heals for that marble and brass combo. In fact, my parents got rid of their glass and brass coffee table and gave it to me to sell at a yard sale...except it didn't sell. So I have been dragging my feet trying to sell it through other means because part of me hoped that I could use that gorgeous brass base if I found the perfect marble top for it. But alas, I have not. And I'm not convinced that an oval is the right shape for this space anyway.

If you read that marble table post, you may also remember that I did actually purchase a marble coffee table, only to get it home and realize...nope. Way too small. Proportion and I don't totally understand each other yet, but through this experience we are definitely getting to know each other better. So that coffee table base recently got a fresh coat of ASCP French Linen with gilded gold accents. She's now for sale. If you're interested, drop me a line.

So the fourth coffee table? Well, in November I watched an episode of Sabrina Soto's High Low Project in which she used a mid-century travertine and brass coffee table in her high version, and a brass and glass with a white back coffee table in her low version, which got me thinking, maybe I don't really need marble, maybe I just need a material that reflects light and varies the textures in the room. I knew glass just wouldn't work for us, but maybe lacquered wood would? So I started searching for brass bases that I could put a lacquered table top on.

Then, around black Friday Gilt.com had a sale where everything was 50% (max $100 discount). That's when I saw this coffee table from Safavieh. This was the kind of table I had actually been looking for when I bought my metallic side table. I'm not going for such a rustic vibe, but the proportions were perfect, and I liked the modern shape. With the sale it was about $120, and shipping was only about $8. Then it occurred to me: if this table was reasonably priced and had good bones, I could probably work a little magic and transform it into the brass and lacquered look I'm going for. So I bought it. It was scheduled to come in January, which was awesome at the time because I had like a million things to do before Christmas and I needed to move a bunch of existing projects out of our house so I could easily wait to deal with this coffee table.

via Amazon.com

Then one night in December I got home from class around 11:00 p.m. and found this leaning against a wall in our entry way. Whoops.

Normally I am pumped when things arrive early, but I was a little less than excited about this one. It's still sitting in its box until I can figure out what to do with the three other tables. I'm thinking about gold-leafing or spray painting the base. I haven't decided if I want to paint the top, stain it darker, or leave it as is yet.

So that is how I ended up with four coffee tables. In summary, if you are looking for a coffee table, I might have one for you. Call me maybe?

Linked to: Miss Mustard Seed

Safavieh Alec Coffee Table