Do you remember that movie “The Money Pit” with Shelley Long and Tom Hanks?
I saw it for the first time in my late teens and laughed my head off. I think I might have laughed so hard that I cried. All of the problems this poor couple ran into as they were attempting to turn the “pit” into their dream home were just so crazy and far-fetched and hysterical!
Then we became home-owners. And watched the movie again.
But this time, I didn’t laugh quite as hysterically. I still cracked up over their mishaps and wackiness but something had changed. Suddenly I felt a kinship with this unfortunate couple. Oh sure, I’ve never had a bathtub fall through the ceiling (Dear Lord, please don’t let that ever happen!), but sometimes being a home-owner feels like you are truly just throwing money into a “pit”.
This has been a particularly “pit” filled year for us…and it’s only June! New flooring, having to replace two major appliances, cracked stucco which must be patched to prevent water damage, painting the entire house to cover up the patched stucco, tree removals to keep roots from going into the foundation and the list goes on…and on…and on.
So, when I found myself wishing for a little coffee table for the sitting area on our deck I knew it would have to fit only one criteria. CHEAP!
A $10 TV stand from the thrift store definitely met the criteria.
The base got a couple coats of spray paint and the top? Well…the top needed something a little more fun.
So I turned it into a chalkboard.
And wrote out a line from one of my favorite Summer-y songs.
I loved it right away.
It “made me feel fine…blowing through the jasmine in my mind.”
Room to store my beverage tub was an added bonus.
After the paint dried and I wrote out the line from my favorite Summer-y song, I sat on the bench and realized that the summer breeze wasn’t just blowing through the jasmine in my mind.
It was actually blowing through the jasmine growing up onto the lattice behind me.
Which is so much better, of course!
And sitting there with my little $10 chalkboard outdoor coffee table in front of me, I remembered just how thankful I was for this “pit”!
It might not be perfect…but it’s our pit after all.
Today is the official first day of Summer!
And I’m so excited to be Stop Number 10 at the Fun in the Sun Blog Hop!
Have you seen all of the AMAZING projects shared so far?
Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia showed how to make Pom Pom Lanterns
Kim from Sand and Sisal showed off this Simple Summer Centerpiece
Shannon from Fox Hollow Cottage made a fun Aloha Summer Pool Noodle Wreath
Becca from Adventures in Decorating shared her gorgeous Summer Porch
Heather from Setting for Four shared her lovely Summer Mantel
Debbie from Debbiedoos shared 5 Quick Summer Craft Ideas
Courtney from French Country Cottage shared a lovely Summer Table Setting
Mary Beth from Cupcakes and Crinoline made this gorgeous Beach Inspired Dessert
And Maryann from Domestically Speaking made the Ultimate All American Sundae
AND we can’t wait for YOU to share your Fun in the Sun projects with us at the Giant Linky Party on June 27th!
PLUS you can also enter to win a KINDLE FIRE!
Be sure to head over to visit Kristin from Yellow Bliss Road on Monday to see her beautiful Summer Mantel.
Here’s a little sneak peek!
So glad you joined me for some Fun in the Sun today!
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38 Comments on "Chalkboard Outdoor Coffee Table"
What a great idea! Love the chalkboard top!
What a great outdoor table! I love the chalkboard top and the paint color is great! Enjoy it and have a great weekend.
Leslie
I absolutely LOVE that movie! Even though it’s not “realistic”… it’s definitely how you feel as a homeowner when things go wrong! lol. Love your table too! Super cute. It’s amazing what some paint will do 🙂
This is so cute! You could also make a kid version of this for them to color on 🙂
This came out so CUTE!! Your Beverage Tub, SO SO Adorable. This Party list just keeps getting better and better.
Happy Summer!!
xoxo
Adorable! Love the chalkboard top and the color!! What fun!~~Angela
Love your redo! Especially the chalkboard top. Great thinking.
Judy
That’s one of *my* favorite “Summer-y” songs, too, Vanessa. I love how you repurposed your TV stand … awesome paint color and genius to add the chalkboard paint on top! I’m sure you’ll be adding lots of different summer quotes and lyrics to it over the next couple of months! (Great beverage container housed below, too!)
Vanessa, So funny! I know what you mean. We are making over a bunch of room and put in an electric dog fence, and replaced 2 garage doors, and had our falling down stone steps replaces… we have to paint the porch and floor this season too! Misery loves company!!!!
Your outdoor coffee table is better than one from PB or Restor. Hardward! I love the chalkboard. When I saw the before picture I did not think there was much you could do with it. You worked magic… really! I think this little table is a winner!
I love that movie! I still crack up when I think of the scene where Tom Hanks fell through the rug in the hole and he was stuck, arms and all! Homeownership does sometimes feel like a pit, but good things grow out of that pit!
Love your outdoor table, and it is blowing like the Jasmine in my miiinnnddddd!
This is so copy cat-able. I love the idea. As for the movie, we saw it back when we were living in The Money Pit. We still laughed, but OY… My niece has just put in an offer (and it has been accepted) on an old house to fix up. You have reminded me that I need to direct her to this movie. She’ll be OK with me doing so since from the beginning, I was the ONLY one in the family rooting for her to do this.
What a clever idea – it looks great. Thanks for sharing.
This is amazing! And I think of all the microwave stands we’ve given away or left on the street. I’m loving chalkboard everything these days! Might have to scrounge one up for our back yard. Great idea, Vanessa!
What a fun idea! You’ve really given that table a new life. I love the color and the chalk board on top is just fun. It’s great for outdoors with the wheels.
I’m visiting today from DIY Showoff. I hope you get a chance to visit my blog, too. I’m co-hosting the DIY Sunday Showcase and would love for you to come by and link up!
~ Megin of VMG206
Open Now! DIY Showcase ~ Come Link Up!
I feel your money pit pain! Roof, whole-home heating unit, exterior paint, appliances… Ouch. Sure sucks the money out of your decorating budget 😉 You found the perfect fit though. That couldn’t look any cuter or be more perfect! Love how you can pop your little bev tub underneath. We always need that extra storage.
What a super cute THRIFTY table you have here…luv the chalkboard idea!
Blessings,
Linda
What a fantastic project! I know that you guys must be enjoying this SO much! Hugs!
Take care,
Trish
LOVE this idea – might need to make one myself 🙂
[…] has been a “Money Pit” year for us, which means everything needs to be done for pennies…PENNIES I tell […]
I think we are in the same “pit” this year. I just want to do little things on the cheap to update but it keeps leading to new flooring, appliances giving up, etc. Love the table – really great find & the chalkboard top is a cute idea.
Love it! A perfect little table to sit by in the sun!! It’s a great place to display your herb pots and so convenient to snip a few fresh leaves of mint for your mojito too! Wink!
What a wonderful and fun idea!
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What a great way to upcycle an unused tv table! Great idea!
Love, love , love it.. and you picked the perfect song to share.. thank you for the summer experience..
[…] At the Picket Fence – DIY chalkboard top outdoor coffee table […]
Love the use of the chalkboard. We just did a corner cabinet and created a door with a chalkboard front! Kids and adults loved it!!!
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Oh! My daughter would go crazy with this table!! Thanks for the fun idea!!
[…] Vanessa’s contribution to the blog hop was her Outdoor Coffee Table with Chalkboard Top! […]
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Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer.
I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon.
Thanks
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