So for the last few months I've been on the hunt for a new vanity. I wanted something pretty and full of storage and narrow enough to fit in the niche in our bedroom. I'd seen the mirrored vanities that are becoming the rage now, but thought the look was too 'done', too common. I wanted something different. I scoured craiglist hoping to find something I could reinvent with a bit of paint and elbow grease.

Then I found this. On our trip to scout office stuff at Ikea, this little pretty was calling my name. So I moved my brushes and blushes in and made her mine. She came with the striped yellow and white panel in the drawer but I added a swath of wallpaper under the glass. And I was happy.


But this is where my timing failed me. No sooner had I become accustomed to starting my morning routine seated at my new vanity, than I came across desks being sold by a hotel liquidator. As these pieces were made to survive the wear and tear of hotel guests, they have sturdy construction. And since they were designed for small hotel rooms, they are narrow in size. In other words, they would have been perfect to use as a makeup vanity! Argh!! Oh - and did I mention that all of these cost less than $100? Yes, even the cream one with the real marble top. To score a deal like this, google 'hotel liquidator' and your city.