Coffee Table to Bar Table in 2 Simple Steps!

I'm still  messing around with my furniture, trying to find places for all the pieces I own so that I know clearly what is or isn't going to work for me (then I can sell the rest!).

So back to my mudroom/laundry room...  I had set up my outdoor bistro set as a temporary breakfast nook but I really wanted a countertop height table that would give me room to fold clothes, work on projects, work on my laptop, enjoy the view - yup, bistro table doesn't cut it!

My coffee table was a dumpster find from last summer.  It's been painted and repainted and is waaaaay too big for my small living room.  I was studying it last week and decided it would be pretty simple to change out the legs on it for longer legs.  It actually makes me think of a small kitchen table - I'll bet someone just cut the legs down to use it as a coffee table.

I took the legs off the table & had a look at them.  Then I found a couple of youtube videos on making legs for a table similar to mine.  I raced off to the building supply to buy two 8' 2x2s that were straight, true and NOT full of knotholes and such.  I measured out the length I wanted and cut the wood to size.  After perusing Ana White's blog for table designs, I decided the longer legs would need bracing to keep them from bowing out and to make them a little stronger - they are only 2x2s which aren't really all that strong.

Here is me struggling to do the work in the 5 1/2' wide mudroom because it's pouring rain outside...

I sanded then primed and painted the legs and touched up the table top.  The legs are attached to the table by large screws that are bolted through a metal plate.  The only difficult part was drilling through the plate into the wood making sure the leg was straight!!  The bracing was super simple, the 2x2s are cut to size, installed at the 12" mark and glued and screwed to the legs with 2 1/2" deck screws.  Because I love my new brad nailer so much, I nailed them as well - just so I could use the nail gun :).

Sunday was brilliantly sunny so I could show you how wonderful this space is with the sun pouring in!

I re-used my shutters to cover the side of the washer/dryer.  A quick and light coat of white paint to let the grain and other paint colours show though does the trick. Oh and the pipes under the table will be cut down so that the table fits snug against the wall and then I will box in the bottom half of the pipes so you don't see them.

The crate has to stay as it is my cat's favourite place to sleep...  

Yay - another project done.

Have a happy and creative week!

Linking to
Recyled Repurposed DIY Project Party
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Brambleberry Cottage
Decorating Insanity
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At the Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
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Simple Home Life
Shabby Nest
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It's Overflowing
I heart Nap Time
DIY Showoff
You are Talking too Much
Homemaker on a Dime
Between Naps on the Porch
Coastal Charm
Cedar Hill Farm
Not Just a Housewife
a bowl full of lemons
Clean & Scentsible
Saavy Southern Style
DIY by Design
All Star Blogger Block Party
Thrifty Decorating
From My Front Porch to Yours
The Vintage Farmhouse
Embracing Change
The Shabby Creek Cottage
I Gotta Create
Beyond the Picket Fence
Rooted in Thyme
ArtsyGirl Connection
the Grant Life
French Country Cottage
Jennifer Rizzo
Finding Fabulous
Sassy Sites
the Ironstone Nest
Beneath My Heart
aka Design