The DIY Trifecta Is Complete

I mentioned last week that my hot, handy husband was at it again.  Building something for me :)  Or really for our son it was just at my request.  

Rusty built Colton's dresser...

and his bookcase all before he was born.

Now, some 3 years later Colton needed a play table.  Enter Ana-White!!!  This was our first time building one of her plans.  

We wanted this to be a very inexpensive project so we went with plywood and MDF.  

We did modify her plan just a bit by adding trim around the table top.  Here is the before the trim was added.  I forget to take one after the trim was added (before it was stained).  It isn't bad without trim, it just doesn't look as polished or substantial without it.

Total amount of time was probably 7 hours broke up over the course of 3 days.  We did have a bit of issue with our 1 stain job.  We aren't the greatest at staining yet, and our first attempt ended up covered in dust.  We applied the stain in the garage one night, and then we closed the garage door.  Apparently, closing the door kicked up a ton of dust on top of the table as it dried.  We had gone with a Mission Oak in a satin finish (same as Colton's furniture in his room already) and we also weren't happy with the sheen.  Saturday morning of his birthday party (when we wanted to give him the table), we stripped the stain off and reapplied  a gloss finish instead.  Ha!  We like the gloss even less than the original satin.  I intend to go back and redo it a 3rd time.  Just not right now.  We gave it to him as it was, and within 20 minutes, the kiddos had scratched it a bit anyway.  Made me realize it is for KIDS and perfection isn't necessary!

It is an adorable table and VERY functional.  Eventually I will add some bins in the cubbies at the bottom, but for now they act as a shelf for some odd and end toys.  A couple of close ups of the details.

One day we plan to add either a bench (of course DIY'd) or I would really prefer a couple of old schoolhouse chairs like this:

Young House Love

Until I find these, it works just great like this!

I am sharing over at Kristen's Creations and Fireflies and Jellybeans