New Furniture Before and Afters

Over the past few weeks we've made some home improvements in the way of new furniture purchases. The first is a new console for our living room. The old one had definitely served it's purpose. I bought it when I first moved into my Brooklyn apartment in 1998 so for many years it dependably held my TV.

[caption id="attachment_5795" align="alignnone" width="480"] In my Brooklyn apartment.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5796" align="alignnone" width="560"] Look at all that stuff, not to mention that old tube TV.[/caption]

It had a paint job and traveled across the country:

[caption id="attachment_5797" align="alignnone" width="480"] In my first apartment in San Francisco, circa 2007.[/caption]

And then made its way to our current apartment and stayed there for almost 4 years. Our inspiration for getting a new one was one little miss named Penelope. A favorite pastime had become touching (i.e hitting, smudging, licking) the TV as well as pressing the power and function buttons on the side. We decided a taller unit would remedy this, for a while anyway. Plus we felt the living room was in need of a refresher.

BEFORE:


[caption id="attachment_5794" align="alignnone" width="560"] Caught in the button-pressing act. The sunglasses do make it a little cuter.[/caption]

And AFTER:


[caption id="attachment_5792" align="alignnone" width="560"] Even stepping on the pillow she can't reach (yet).[/caption]

Another room we felt needed a lift was the kitchen. We always talked about getting a larger table, but felt there wasn't enough room with all the items we had around. These included 3 bar stools that were not being used other than to place mail or bags on. By removing those and relocating a cabinet we were able to make room for our newest addition.

But first, a flashback to Gabe's last SF apartment:


[caption id="attachment_5799" align="alignnone" width="560"] Many a dinner was shared by us at that table.[/caption]

Current apartment BEFORE:


And AFTER:


We love it and the fact that we can easily seat 6 with room for 8 if we rotate the table and add the leaf. And this weekend we are spraying the older birch chairs completely white for what we think will be a great pop and contrast to the walnut table and end chairs.

But saying goodbye to our old table was bittersweet. It's hard not to get a little sentimental when you let go of something that has many memories associated with it. This table goes back to Gabe's apartment in Brooklyn, not to mention the many hours Penny spent at it, either in her highchair or Bumbo seat:


or lamby chair:


But we know we'll make great memories at this new table…. homework, holiday dinners, art projects (with a mat under us, of course :)).