project: my new desk

I found a super cool drop leaf table in the gutter the other night while I was out running and immediately went back for it. {my carpenter tells me not to call it the gutter, it's the borrow ditch!} I've sanded it down, replaced the top with a solid piece of pine because the original was too warped to work with.  I made it a bit longer so I could really spread out though I might trim it down a bit more because the proportion is off but I'll wait til I see it painted.

Now the fun part: how should I finish it??

I brought it inside and put it in place so I could dream about the possibilities.  The original idea was to leave it natural with a clear polyurethane top coat but color is much more appealing now. 
Next stop: mis-tints at the paint store to see what 50 cent possibilities are out there. The goal: keep this project under $30.  {It is a stray after all.}