Ottoman Makeover

Our coffee table has seen better days! We bought it for a whole 50 dollars 5.5 years ago when we got married. It has served us well but it was definitely in need of some TLC. I have always wanted to turn it into an ottoman but I had no confidence in my ability. Well, the combination of a new sectional making the coffee table look even worse and Lincoln becoming more mobile we decided it was time to make a change. We figured that even if we messed it couldn't look any worse than it did now.

I went searching on the internet and found this as my "inspiration" piece. The part I like the best is the type of fabric (looks durable) and the tufted style on top. The negative about this is that it cost 115 dollars and I'm cheap, working part-time, buyin' formula and I'm not interested in spending that much money on this piece. So, we set off to convert ours.

Here is the before picture of our coffee table:

Our coffee table has an edge around it that sticks up about two inches tall. In order to "build up" the middle we decided to purchase a piece of plywood that would help make the middle section level with the edges. We glued it down with some gorilla glue.


Next, in order to make the coffe table "tufted" we had to drill holes before we covered it in foam and fabric. My lovely assistant drilling the holes for me.

Next we covered the whole thing in foam. This is the part I would have done differently if 'do-overs" were possible. We bought a piece that was long enough but not wide enough. We cut the extra off our ends that we did not need and pieced it on the sides. In the end it made the sides a little lumpy and they are not the "lovely lumps" that the song refers to.






I covered the buttons with the same fabric, threaded them throw the pre-drilled holes and then used washers to tie them off underneath. And here is the finished project!

We did this project in October and we are so glad we did. It was right as Lincoln was learning to pull up. This has helped with some softer landings in his pulling up and now his walking. It has held up well too. After totalling the expense, I think this cost us about 50-75 dollars to make over. We are quite proud of our handy work.

Summer Projects.

In honor of Summer officially beginning earlier this week I thought I would write about my summer projects. Here is what I have on tap for Summer 2010:

Make Baby Food for Lincoln. I purchased this book to point me in the right direction. We started rice cereal on June 18th, I have made sweet potatoes and avocados thus far. We have only tried out the sweet potatoes and they were a big hit!

Lose more weight. I have 3 more pounds till I will be at pre-pregnancy weight, however after getting off birth control, my miscarriage and then being on progesterone to get pregnant gave me about 15 unwanted pounds before I even got pregnant. Plus, being back to "pre-pregnancy" weight doesn't mean anything fits like it use to, right? Can I get an amen from you other moms out there? Or maybe its just me. I need to lose more just so my old clothes fit b/c I'm too cheap to go buy new ones!

Learning how to use my new camera. Cory bought me this for our anniversary and I am lovin' it so far!

Play, read books, sing song, go swimming, shopping and hanging out with this sweet boy.

What are your summertime projects?!?!