A few years back, Jim and I absconded with a wrought iron Singer sewing machine base from a yard sale. It had an awful plank top on it, but I was so happy to find the base. I think the seller actually forgot she had it out for sale.

A short time later, I located a chess board tabletop. The wood top was very unique and had been made in a High School woodshop in NYC, according to a stamp on the underside.

We had someone professionally restore the tabletop and mount it to the wrought iron base, but during that process, the base was inadvertently cracked. For a while we still used it in our den as a game table (although I don’t ever think we ever actually played a game at it) and later in the dining room.

During the last remodeling project, we decided to discard the cracked base and instead try to convert the tabletop into a coffee table. We needed a second one anyway, as we’d just created an informal living room off the kitchen and were temporarily using an ottoman.

I was able to purchase unfinished turned pine 17″ legs. I then had the same vendor craft a custom table apron (or, skirt) based on the dimensions of the chess board top.

The legs and apron attached in a few steps with only a handful of tools, I painted the legs and part of the underside,  and voila — instant coffee table!

I love that I’ve been able to get a second life out of the table, and I think I like this version better.

I’ve got big plush pillows that can be used around it for an impromptu game of Scrabble or movie and pizza night. Now, off to find some whimsical chess pieces…