I should actually say that WE have been featured, this table would never have been possible without my Handy Hubby (thanks again Honey!).  I also own a big Thank You to Beckie from Knock Off Decor.  Have you visited Knock of Decor yet?  Hop on over and check out how others have recreated the high-end look of stores like Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware to name a few, for next-to-nothing prices.  Most have tutorials so you too can recreate the look you love at the price you love.

      I am a big fan of  industrial type furniture.  And lucky for me, my husband loves it too.  He was sweet enough to make me another coffee table (click here to see pictures of our Reproduction Antique Warehouse Cart Coffee Table).  This table was one of his Christmas gifts to me. 

 This cart is inspired by this one from Restoration Hardware.

      There are some differences between my homemade table and the one from Restoration Hardware.  I wanted the wood to look less weathered and aged than the original.  I also wanted the steel painted black and the rivet detailing.  That’s the beauty of designing you own furniture though, you get exactly what you want. (It doesn’t hurt to have a patient husband either.)

      The other great thing about homemade, handcrafted furniture is the price.  All the components that went into this table; the wood, steel, rivets, caster wheels, wood, stain, polyurethane, and black spray paint cost us only a little over $80.00 as opposed to the $800.00 plus for the Restoration Hardware version.

      I am lucky and grateful to have a Handy Hubby who has welding equipment and is skilled at welding.  Without him this table would not have been possible.  Thanks so much Honey for the best Christmas present ever!  Please be sure to hop on over to my husband’s blog ShopNGarage to check out his tutorial on this table.  Thank you for stopping by and visiting.  I will be joining the following link parties, please join in the fun.

     Today I wanted to share my finished coffee table with you (Click here for the before teaser.).  I have wanted an antique warehouse cart as a coffee table forever.  Have you seen these in Restoration Hardware?  They retail for around $1,100.  I don’t have that kind of budget for a coffee table.  Story of my life, champagne taste with a beer budget.  So, what’s a girl to do?  Have her handy husband make one for her .  (THANK YOU, HONEY!!!)  Please click here to visit my husband’s blog to see how he made this for me. 

     He made this cart from scratch.  Can you believe he made these wheels?   They were solid disks that he drilled, welded, and painted.

     He made the hardware on the corners and on the end that is holding the small caster.  He didn’t make the caster, he just painted it.  He is thinking about making small wheels from scratch for the ends so they look a bit more authentic.

     My husband used new pine boards from the hardware store for the top and sides.  When he was done building the wooden parts, he threw it in the street and kicked it around.  When we were satisfied with the amount of  “aging” he applied a a two-in-one stain/polyurethane. 

     I am thrilled with the way it turned out.  I like it even better than the real thing.  We did look into authentic warehouse carts before he started this project.  Our local salvage yard had two of them but they were VERY worn, too large for our room and still too expensive ($350).  My husband’s version only cost about $80.00.  Am I a lucky girl or what?  Again, thanks to my very talented Hubby.  XOXO!  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.

     I have been searching for a fun and funky coffee table like this for my living room.  The coffee table I have now is pretty, but not my style.  See http://mingledelements.com/2010/06/hand-me-downs-2/ for my write-up on having furniture in my home I didn’t choose. I think this coffee table would be the perfect counterbalance to a room that is in danger of being too girly.  I found this table at the Fall Home Show last week.  It was in a display hosted by Furniture Warehouse.  I am going to have to get over there and take a closer look and see what other great things they have.

     This is the living room in my sister’s beautiful new home.  She did buy an older home like I did, but unlike mine, hers was fully renovated before she bought it so everything is brand new.  I like this shot because it shows off a few of my favorite things in her home.  The first and best is the original artwork by my brother-in-law.  I really think art is the perfect way to personalize your home.  I also love the wall color, they didn’t choose it but, it is the perfect backdrop for their artwork and furnishings.  If you are interested, the color is Plant Stand by  Kwal Paints.  And of course, I am all gaga over the Barcelona chair.  (I have wanted one of these beautiful, chic and timeless chairs for ages.)  This chair is the first thing you see when you enter my sister’s home and gives a taste of the simple and sophisticated style that flows through her home.  I have not seen a better example of easy elegance in a staged home let alone a real home filled with four little ones, two busy working parents and one dog.  Great job!