I agree.. The furniture piece will be nice.. but in the meantime I would build a small temp cage... Either the one in the link or google how to build a cage... It'd make a buig difference for you to get your cham in some good temp housing in the meantime..
I'd give it a light sanding and some stain... Are you going to do a misting system? ... I'm guessing you'll be taking the wood from the inside top off I imagine right?..Will be nice as almost all equipment will be hidden... any ideas about drainage?