My First DIY!

Josh wanted a fish tank :) Well, he wanted lots of fish tanks built into the walls of our basement, but as that would be a VERY expensive venture, and wouldn't happen for years and years he decided to go a different route.  He started searching on craigslist for just a tank, as they are quite expensive alone without any fish, coral, sand, etc and came across a couple that was selling everything.  Their 150 gallon tank, all the fish (very expensive fish I might add) all their coral and rock and the gigantic piece of furniture the tank sits in.  Josh went back and forth with them and got them down to half their original asking price and he said OK.  I will say, at first I was not so jazzed about spending any money on this adventure but after we got everything home I started looking at how much these people had spent in this tank and it was WELL over $10,000.00.  Um, we didn't pay them ANYTHING near that.  Turns out, we got a really good deal AND Josh now has his hobby back :)  He had salt water tanks (little ones) growing up and wanted another one, and if there's one thing to note about my husband is that once he sets his mind to something there is no stopping him.  Alas, we are the proud owners of a 150 gallon salt water tank with many different fish, sea cucumbers, sea serpents which are weird looking starfish, lots of snails, 3 shrimp, anemones, and whatever other tiny creatures are living in the sand.  It's pretty awesome to see.  I like it at night when the lights have been out for about 30 minutes and I go in there with a flashlight and look at all the nightlife that is out that hides during the day :) So...what was the DIY project you might ask?  Well, the piece of furniture that the tank came in was god awful.  Josh was quite concerned that I was going to hate it when we went to pick it up, and sure enough when I saw it I almost gagged, but I told him not to worry because I would refinish it to match our stuff...and I did!  Here's before

 

 

Honestly, that's straight out of 1983 with 10 layers of polyurethane on it.  I wasn't scared thought...I could see that the actual PIECE of furniture was pretty, it just needed a face lift :)  So here it is after....................................

 

 

Yay!  I'm quite proud of my work!  And everyone is happy and healthy in the tank :)  I've gotten some oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls to add to it as well (a target steal at only $15!  Whoop!!) which will change the look of it a bit.  I'm stoked!!