White-washed Coffee Table Re-do?

I got this coffee table that was painted with gesso and then had about 5 coats of paint on it. I thought it would be a good candidate for a rustic white-wash look. I repaired it, partially stripped it, sanded it and then used a white wash over the wood. I haven't had a lot of interest in it since its been for sale and was thinking of stripping off the rest of the paint and then painting it a solid soft white. Do you think it would be more attractive with a solid paint finish?
Jacqui
www.portaverdestudio.com
www.facebook.com/portaverdestudio
  33 answers
  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 24, 2013
    Just my opinion... Cheapest fix would be copy great ideas for a shabby chic or chalk paint project and display them on or beside it... otherwise,does it look like it needs a glaze,maybe?
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 24, 2013
    Hi Sharon, the look is supposed to be a "white wash" finish that is transparent. I personally don't care for the look much but other people like it. I think painting it might be the best option.
  • Larose LoganOakes Larose LoganOakes on Jun 24, 2013
    I like this look if maybe it had some browns or golds to highlight it.That's not the right terminology so please excuse my ignorance.Not completely overtake it if you know what I mean.:)
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 24, 2013
    Do you mean a coloured glaze? The kind that highlights the moldings?
  • Larose LoganOakes Larose LoganOakes on Jun 24, 2013
    Yep! That's what I had in mind.It sort of just goes into the grooves, makes it look aged.I see this on the furniture all the time in the furniture stores.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 24, 2013
    Sharon also mentioned a glaze. I used a white glaze on it to accent the piece but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Hubby says just re-paint it!
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Jun 25, 2013
    I think if you repaint the base a solid creamy white and then paint the top another color, add some cute drawer pulls, maybe some with flowers or leaves. I just saw a "Country Kitchen" table done like this and it was impressive. They chose a Forest Green for the top and it went well with the other green accents in the room...you decide~! Have fun.
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Jun 25, 2013
    You can also outline the edges with a fine line of gold, and make it look somewhat French Provincal...let us know what you decide!
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 25, 2013
    Great ideas everyone! Thanks for the input.
  • Trent-Tonya Sharp Trent-Tonya Sharp on Jun 25, 2013
    Stunning,,wow love it
  • Z Z on Jun 25, 2013
    Though I don't personally care for this look either @Porta, I agree with others that a nice brown/umber glaze might be the trick to give it the current aged look. You might even give it a light sanding before adding the glaze. If you can find four more drawer pulls to match the current ones I'd add them to the top two panels, even though they don't really open, to give it symmetry.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 26, 2013
    Good suggestion. I have lots of pulls and knobs. I actually make my own.
  • Kari Lavecchia Kari Lavecchia on Jun 26, 2013
    I think you should just completely sand the top and leave that stained and then paint the rest and distress a little.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 26, 2013
    Unfortunately, staining the top is not an option. There wood epoxy used as filler doesn't take the stain nicely.
  • Z Z on Jun 26, 2013
    Oh please share how you make your own pulls and knobs Jacqui.
  • Lori J Lori J on Jun 26, 2013
    A little more distressing, waxing...what about a color pop for the drawers? Maybe something Americana.
  • Vikki Vikki on Jun 26, 2013
    I like the look as is. I think the issue is functionality. it looks nice with everything staged on top, but reality is, every time you want to get in it, you have to take everything off the top. that would keep me from purchasing it no matter how much I liked its aesthetics.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 26, 2013
    Good point but I think if you just wanted to use it as a coffee table daily and only occasionally access it for storage, it would work.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Jun 26, 2013
    I re-read you said you can't stain the top but you could fake a dark stain look. I would re-paint it and do it a shabby chic. I would take dark wax and height light all those pretty little detail. Distress it. The great thing is you can do it a zillion different ways and it will turn out great. What would you like to do? If you don't like it just start over, it's a pretty piece. Have fun!
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 26, 2013
    Becky, take a look on my website at www.portaverdestudio.com on the Gallery page. I have some pics of my custom knobs there.
  • Z Z on Jun 26, 2013
    Thank you Jacqui!
  • Sherry R Sherry R on Jun 26, 2013
    I like the idea of coffee table that the lid will raise for magazines. This is a cool "extra piece" White is a great choice- I like it !!
  • Z Z on Jun 26, 2013
    Oh my gosh, I've drooled all over my chin, keyboard and my lap Jacqui! I had no idea you would have any MCM furniture. And you lovingly refinished it. Bless you! Okay now I need to go back and search for your knobs and pulls.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 26, 2013
    Thanks Sherry and Becky. I put an extra coat of whitewash on an its a softer look now. Still, I may repaint it. Becky, I've been dealing in MCM for a few years. I try to keep those peices as original as possible but will paint parts of them if the veneer is badly damaged. It's a bit of a weird mix to do MCM and traditional antiques but I love them both!
  • Z Z on Jun 26, 2013
    Well we would get along very well. We built a Victorian Revival home, are still working on finishing the wide woodwork, tough it leans toward late Victorian, early Craftsman in style and it's furniture with every thing from traditional to MCM furniture with a few new upholstered pieced tossed in the mix. I basically love furniture. I'm sitting at a Lane Acclaim student desk right now. The matching surf board coffee table in in the Ladies Parlor. That and Broyhill Brasilia are my favorite MCM lines, though I pretty much love anything walnut or teak from that era. I saw and loved your beautiful drawer knobs. Absolutely beautiful. Where do you find the backs? I've seen them before and for the life of me can't remember what you call then so I've not been able to find them again.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 27, 2013
    Becky, your house sounds lovely. We live in a home built in 1926 which has many furniture styles from different parts of the world. I have antique french prints and boxes from Thailand. Mexican artifacts and french provincial chairs. Somehow it all works together.
  • Z Z on Jun 27, 2013
    I'm sure it does Jacqui. When you decorate with things you love it usually does. It may not be everyone cup of tea, but most of the time others still seem to admire a home that's decorated with love.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 27, 2013
    So true. It's hard to resist beautiful things, especially when their hand-made - I say to just make a place for them!
  • Z Z on Jun 27, 2013
    I used to too, but am trying very hard to minimize decor so I can enjoy life more than all that dusting. Living in the country gives a whole new meaning to dust and dirt.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jun 27, 2013
    yep. I think it helps to be particular. I was raised in a small town on the east coat. The rural countryside was our playground!
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jul 26, 2013
    I left it as is, and it finally sold!
  • Z Z on Jul 26, 2013
    Yay! That's the best outcome!
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Jul 26, 2013
    I think so too!