You may remember this jewel that entered my house about a month ago via the free section of CraigsList.
In fact, I’m positive that if you saw my post back then and my letter to the table’s original “creator”, then you most definitely remember it. How would it be possible to forget such a wonderful collaboration between Britney Spears and Kid Rock? It’s probably seared into your brain, and for that I am sorry.
But…did you ever think it could be reborn as this?
“Wait, what? That’s the same table?” you are asking yourself. Why yes, yes it is.
After stripping, sanding, rebuilding, priming, painting, distressing and sealing, my free Britney Spears coffee table as turned into one of my favorite pieces in my home.
I added new legs and used them to make the table a little taller. I added new dividers, covered them with wainscoting, and edged them with trim. I painted the table with paint left over from the playroom armoire redo. The whole project probably cost me about $40.
I distressed it with a hammer and some sort of nail-type thing I found in the garage.
When adding accessories to my coffee table, I tried to remember the tablescape discussion we had last week. I think I was able to pull off the books-natural element-bowl/plate/tray trifecta pretty well.
I cut some branches off of one of the bushes in our front yard, added them to a glass vase that had come with a floral bouquet years ago, and tied a scrap of burlap around the vase. The books are some of my favorites: a thrift store poetry book and a Texas gardening book on the top and a stack of Pottery Barn decorating books in one of the bottom sections. A little urn filled with acorns sits on top of the Pottery Barn books and a white tray filled with to-be-read magazines sits on the other side. I bought a basket from Target to put in the middle section to collect the random stuff that finds it’s way to the living room. I added a sweet Tiger Stripe pumpkin and a few candles to complete the look.
There’s plenty of space left for feet, board games, computers, dirty socks, school work, and all the other things you guys mentioned that are on top of your coffee tables. Believe it or not, but my child/dogs/husband have not touched ANYTHING on this table once in the past week. NOT ONCE. Go me!
What do you think? I LOVE it, and I feel like I have righted a wrong in this world.
I LOVE it, you are so clever, it is a perfect coffee table now. I need to get one with a shelf so the that the top stays clear of my junk. It looks beautiful – YAY you!
Woo hoo, you nailed it!!! Great job.
you are the most amazing DIYer ever. Wanna do one for me? Think we can find another kid rock and britney table to start with?
What an unbelievable transformation! You done good, girl!!
I LOVE it, wonderful job!
I was rendered virtually speechless when you first posted that table–and not because of its beauty. Today I am again rendered virtually speechless, but this time in a You-Are-Awesome-And-So-Is-That-Table kind of way. Amazing!
Oh my word, I know I commented on this horrendous thing in the past, but now it gives me great pleasure! Someone has worse taste than I do! By the way, LOOKS INCREDIBLE now!
I have a linky party going on, come by and link up! http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/10/room-month-monster-dominoes.html
It's absolutely gorgeous. And yes, your karma should be insane after this good deed!
I have been wating anxiously to see the transformation and it was so worth the wait! I love a re-do that transoforms the unloved into a loved and cherished item. way to go!
Lindsay, that is awesome. You have made the world a LOT less ugly.
I wonder what the original owner would say? 
Oh good Lord! Why on Earth would someone do that to such a lovely piece of furniture?
I'm so glad you rescued it and made it beautiful – it looks absolutely amazing.
Holy buckets!! That's aMAZing!! I think I would have run far, far away from that "piece," but you turned it in to something beautiful. Congratulations!
Truly, if there were a Nobel prize awarded for this sort of thing, you would be the winner! Wondering where you got your replacement legs? I am going to make a coffee table out of an old leaded window but don't know where to look for nice legs. (I have seen the cheesy turned spindle looking things and those won't do!)
Simply amazing redo! I love it all!
Great job! For once I saw the potential too (I never see beyond the ugly)and you exceeded my my idea!
WOW!! Totally amazing transformation! I never would have had the vision……
You did a fantastic job with it.
Awesome!
Absolutely love it! Question: Did you spraypaint or use a brush to paint the table?
I love it – what a great transformation!
I really believe that seeing the potential in something is a skill that can be learned – over the last few years, I'm finally getting good at seeing what something could look like once I paint it. Now I'm working on seeing even farther beyond that, so I love to see transformations like this. I really love the changes you made to the legs and the dividers to dress up your table.
Wow! That is amazing! You did an awesome job!
Bravo! Nough said!
You have done this world a great service! So awesome. Just beautiful!
Holy cow! That is so pottery barn and awesome! What color paint did you use? It looks fab!
Brilliant. You did a really great job.
I seriously just spit up some of my coffee, Lindsay. I mean, really, what is there to say? The picture of it Before is just too much for words. Holy cow. And $40. Really?
Kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
p.s. I really, really like the color that you chose to paint it. It seems like a very rich cream.
p.s.s. I'd love to see a detail photo of the trim you put around the center pieces, if you have one.
Absolutely beautiful!!! I love it and now I want one. Who would ever know the travesty it was…fabulous now. You are too smart.
It looks awesome! Love it.
girl – you did a FABULOUS job! the person who gave it to you for free is kicking themselves right now! well done!
Wowsers…..what a knockout Brittany is NOW!!!! I love, love, love it!!
Suzanne
Incredible Lindsay! You did an amazing job saving that table and making it a beautiful centerpiece to the living room.
You know the saying 'You can't make a silkpurse from a sow's ear'? Well, you just made a silk purse! That is one beautiful coffee table!
that has got to be one of the most amazing things I've seen in a a while! WOW!
All I can say is WOW! That is amazing!
You did an amazing job. Truly inspirational.
That is TRULY one of the best transformations I have ever seen. Award worthy, Darlin'.
I really can't believe it's the same table! I love the spindles especially~it looks fantastic, Lindsay!
I can't believe this transformation! Excellent makeover Lindsey! I love the new table.
pk @ Room Remix
I love it! You made it even better than I had imagined! I mean, I knew it would be fabulous but you always go the extra mile
Great job!
I am amazed. I love your blog, and this transformation confirms why I keep coming back. I never imagined that there would be hope for that table. It is beautiful.
Good gracious! Amazing! You should really send the original owners of that table a picture of what you did with it. It's gorgeous. Thanks to you and In the Fun Lane, I'm looking at 1980s furniture with whole new eyes.
Amazing transformation! It is so beautiful!
That is so beautiful! What a transformation!
You did a wonderful job. Looks like something you would find in a PB catalog. Enjoyed the visit!
That is the most amazing transformation I have seen in a long time! Love how you added the new legs and the beadboard. Simply stunning!!
Wow! What a great redo!!!! You did such a terrific job!! Isn't it crazy that people just give things away….lucky for you:) ~Ashley
you rock my decorating world! Amazing, amazing job.
That's probably the best before and after I've ever seen. I love it!
holy crap, that is amazing.
That table looks amazing. Great Job!
you.did.not.do.that.
wow
Fab.U.Lous. Serious talent.
It looks amazing!!! I absolutely love it. I think I have painted at least 10 things that exact color lately. It is beautiful!
I don't know…I really think it "reeked" of class the way it was before. Ha Ha! J/K You are amazing! I love it!
I love it! I was wondering what you were going to do with those "S" shaped pieces. Replacing them was perfect! It's a great piece! Great job!
While I was sad to see Britney and Kid go, this turned out beautifully! Another smashing success from Lindsay! : )
That is a fantastic before and after!! Very inspiring!
My goodness Lindsay! That is awesome! I am off to go scour craigslist's free section right now!
What a super transformation. You did such a fabulous job. I love the new look and you do have a great eye for what can be instead of what is. Looks wonderful. Hugs, Marty
GREAT job! I also like your glue gun graphic by your signature.
Kelly
I love it! You did such a great job! Don't you just love recreating cheap items into something fabulous?!
That's amazing! I wouldn't have thought of replacing the legs and dividers–beautiful job. I want one! Love the paint color, too.
That does not even look like the same table! it really looks amazing and I love the new legs:)
This transformation is unreal, I kept going between the before and after photos…truly amazing. You definitely have a gift for seeing the potential in a piece of "mis-styled" furniture!
Chelsea
OMFG, You did it again! I have been dying to see Britney reincarnated. GORGEOUS, girl! I say you earned 2mil karma pts
I am in complete awe. That's AMAZING! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Seriously, you rock.
GORGEOUS!!! You'd never know that such an ugly table could be turned into something this beautiful. Bravo!!!
Amazing! That is all I can say! Absolutely amazing! I wish I had one.
WOW! I can't believe how amazing it turned out!
Good job!
I think every home should pay homage to Kid Rock and Britney, but in this case, I am so glad you made an exception. I am completely amazed at the transformation!
Wow! That is truly incredible! You have done a fantastic job.
Mary Lou
Proof that with a bit of imagination, a bit of work and hope you can make something beautiful out of something, um, like that. Hehe.
That is an AMAZING transformation!
What a fabulous transformation. You did an awesome job.
Fantastic! I have to be honest, I think my eyes would have been scroched from that before, I doubt I would have been able to see past that. Isn't Craigslist the best?
OH Thank You !
You have righted a terrible wrong.
That table was hilarious now it is gorgeous, we will all probably sleep a little better tonight.
You did a great job.
love your blog.
"Oops, you did it again…"
Oh. My. Gosh. I have been waiting and waiting to see what you'd do with that hideousness.
It is completely awesome. I now have hope for all those icky things I see at Salvation Army.
You rock, Lindsay…and so does your new profile pic.
What more can I say that hasn't already been said!!! Gorgeous transformation – great vision to see that now beautiful table from what it previously was. Great job as always!!
Jane
That is one of the most amazing transformations I've ever seen! I seriously had to scroll up and down between the "before" and the "after" picture about a dozen times just to make sure that it was indeed the same table! Your work is outstanding!
I cannot believe that is the same table! You did a fabulous job!!!
That's an incredible transformation. I can't believe it's the same table. Thank goodness it started out as a whole lotta ugly.
I've got a free kiddie table and chairs available to me but it has sticker all over it. Maybe I can give it life after all. Fabulous job!
Poor poor Britney!!!
Awesome transformation Linds..you have so much more patience than me.
This is by far one of the most phenom do-overs that I have ever seen! L-O-V-E it!!!!!!!!!!!
omg, this transformation makes my heart so happy.
GIRL GET OUT! I had to look at the before photo over and over! I love it and for $40 you did a great job.
Oh Lindsay, you have outdone yourself. This is unrecognizable, thank goodness! It looks amazing. I love the wainscoting and the table scape is just right.
Lindsay, perfect! I would never have known it was the same table!! Beautiful!
That is amazing – I am agog!
I can't get over it. I just keep going back and forth between the two pictures. Just wonderful!
NICELY DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely beautiful! I found a similar ugly/beat up coffee table, although not quite as {ahem} good looking as your before version, for $5 at the Goodwill clearance center. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but now I know. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow! I was hoping to see the swirly table legs revived, but it looks absolutely perfect. Even my husband was speechless!
Hooray! I have to say that I've been waiting expectantly to see this after–the "before" has been HAUNTING me
Love the way it turned out!
Holy heck I am in love. Fantastic job as always Linds!
I have to say that is one of the best re-do jobs I have ever seen. I saw that table when you posted it (well, I say saw, but really I had to shield my eyes from the screen when it came up).
Now it looks classic & just plain gorgeous! You need to enter that into a before & after contest!!!
I think I liked the before better.
I'm just saying.
I AM KIDDING. Great job.
LOVE the whole room!
Blessings-
Amanda
"Lieutenant Dan, you got new legs!!!"
I love it Lynds, you outdid yourself.
Sounds like a lot of work but it's GORG!
~Beth
Seriously has to be one of the best before/after transformations I've seen! I just stumbled across you today… adding your site to my favorites list!
WOW that is all I can say. Good riddance to the old table
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a question for you though, where did you get the legs that hold up the table? I saw this type of coffee table idea in Ballard Designs that I plan on making from scratch, but haven't found good legs. The one's in Ballard Design are bulkier than yours, but I am liking your a lot! Let me know
THANKS! jen.justforrachel@gmail.com
Also, what do you use to seal? Thanks again! jen.justforrachel@gmail.com
This transformation just blows me away, especially the little details you added like the wainscotting, trim and distressing. Seriously, one of my favorites ever !
Move over Pottery Barn, there's a new designer in town. Fabulous Ms. Lindsay !
I just saw this over at Better After and had to come by and tell you how great this looks! You're right ~ it does look like a totally different table. You did a fantastic job!
OMG! That's amazing. I just read a post about you on Centsational and I can't wait to read through the rest of your blog.
what a transformation, great job!
wow, that gives my ballard design coffe table obsession {the La Roche} a run for its money!! the original is as shockingly horrifying as the transformation is simply sublime.
I LOVE the after. Its so gorgeous! I would love to do that!
nancyalliston@yahoo.com
This is hands down the most incredible DIY transformation I have ever seen. You are a crafting goddess!