Where's Craig When It's Time to Paint?

Instead of spending over a thousand dollars on the Pottery Barn desk that I've been daydreaming about for the two months since we moved, Jason and I recently carried home a craigslist purchase: IKEA desk, $35. We'd been to IKEA a few weeks ago (long odyssey, full of misdirection and argument) but I hadn't seen a desk that seemed suitable. However, tagged with the lure of a bargain price on craigslist, this desk, plus sliding drawer unit, now seemed entirely appropriate and appealing.
Unfortunately, it was a blonde pine color, and in our apartment of honey-colored wood floors, with chests in a cherry color, and a coffee-colored wood bookcase, another shade of wood would have been just chaotic. So I am painting the desk black, which will help it match with at least some things in the living room.
It's taken three trips to the hardware store so far, an approximate expenditure of about $50, and hours out on the deck during the weekend that has been Chicago's hottest this summer. (The paint was turning to roofing tar with every brush stroke.) Tougher still was the shiny laminate surface that seemed as though it might refuse new paint. So I cleaned, pre-treated, sanded, primed and finally (whew!) painted. The disassembled desk remains on the back deck this evening, drying.
On a painting break, it was a little disheartening to realize via perusal of the IKEA website that this same desk is still available at IKEA, and in black. But surely, my elbow grease is still saving me money, right? Oooh, barely. The desk is $60, so really the only thing holding me in the black (ironic term, considering my paint color of choice) is the cost of the sliding drawer unit, which sells new for about $50-80. But, there's still cheer: it's not available in all black.

Before and After photos courtesy of IKEA.
Entertainment while waiting for paint to dry courtesy of best of craigslist.