Asked on Feb 28, 2015

Paint or not?

Picked up a coffee table plus 2 end tables. We bought these for $30 and we think because people don't like the gold look. Trying to decide if we paint them black or gun metal grey? We want to sell them once we are done and originally we were going to place a top made of reclaimed lumber. Thoughts?
  20 answers
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Feb 28, 2015
    The first color I thought of was aged bronze and leave the glass. With the bronze they'd be beautiful, plus wherever they're placed they would be able to give a vision of openness. Wooden or solid tops would limit that, along with causing you more time and/or expense. I'd definitely love them in my home if they were bronze.
  • Connie Kitchener Connie Kitchener on Mar 01, 2015
    I love the glass tops but I agree, you should paint the base. Black sounds beautiful but I don't know how many people would. Maybe try one before doing all three?? Like to see what you end up doing.
  • Carol Loyer Carol Loyer on Mar 01, 2015
    Black
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 01, 2015
    I have had a couple of pieces like this. I left them gold, no sell. Painted them black, no sell. They sat until I painted them turquoise. THEN they sold! Might work for you since you're in Florida. Home Depot has lots of great new colors in spray paints.
    • See 2 previous
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 01, 2015
      This ones my favorite!!
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 01, 2015
    Everybody's been sick of gold for a long time, but I see it coming back in a big way in decorator magazines and catalogs. You might make the rustic dark wood tops first and leave the gold and see if they go.....Are we ready for gold?
  • Love tiny spaces! Love tiny spaces! on Mar 01, 2015
    I also see gold coming back big. However the size of the glass dates them. Why not have it cut to size or how about a rustic wood top. But depending on your decor, paint always works too!
  • The Shabby Chic Man The Shabby Chic Man on Mar 01, 2015
    Well surprised nobody likes the gunmetal silver. I have a table built with reclaimed wood on the top and hairpin legs. We paid almost $ 60 just for the legs. Somebody suggested we buy furniture on Craig's list and just use the base with a wood top. I made the top for maybe $40 in wood. When we got the tables home we were thinking the base might not look good with wood.
    • The Shabby Chic Man The Shabby Chic Man on Mar 01, 2015
      Wrong pictures. Well I can't find the right pictures so use your imagination with wood top and hairpin legs.
  • CK CK on Mar 01, 2015
    Well, that's a toughie ;-) I guess it depends on what's selling in your area. Yes, these are a bit dated but then again, gold is coming back. I think the thing that dates them too is the rounded edges on the glass. If they were squared off they'd actually look quite contemporary again. Even a round glass top will give them a new look. If you're thinking of painting the gold, I would probably go with gunmetal gray. Ya can never tell what people will like sometimes ;-)
  • Linda J Linda J on Mar 01, 2015
    Paint what sells in your area. Here in Clearwater an aqua, turquoise, the new coral, sand are only a few of the colors that are selling well. Used to have to worry about being too specific. Not so much now.
    • The Shabby Chic Man The Shabby Chic Man on Mar 01, 2015
      Got any pictures? We are near Daytona and a lot of people from Orlando own condo's at the Beach. I just can't visualize the colors u mentioned.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Mar 01, 2015
    Paint what sells. However, brass is coming back. It's only within the last year I have been able to get replacement brass taps for one of my bathrooms. Personally, I like the warmth of shiny brass - not the cheap, tinny gold stuff.
  • Donna J Donna J on Mar 01, 2015
    Before I attack a redo I search the net at the high end stores to see what is new and in vogue. These days its all about black, turquoise and the blues. Some months ago someone on Hometalk painted her dining room furniture in blue. It looked great but I don't think I would go that far. For these tables, why not. Paint it and if it doesn't sell, then just paint it again in another color.
  • Linda J Linda J on Mar 01, 2015
    @Shabby Chic Man. I used to live where you live!! lol Small world! Anyway, no I don't have any pics but I could send you some sites to check.
  • Susan Susan on Mar 01, 2015
    They would be oiled bronze in my world....:-)
  • The Shabby Chic Man The Shabby Chic Man on Mar 01, 2015
    Linda my Wife does Shabby Chic and has done turquoise and aqua. It did do well since she got stuck on off white for years. It's easier to re paint Aqua than paint over black.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 01, 2015
    The thing I always have to remind myself is work vs. reward when redoing pieces for sale. If I spend a lot of time and energy, plus supplies to recreate a piece of furniture, I need to make sure I am going to be reimbursed for it. You have to think about how much $$$ you will be able to charge if you paint the bases and make new wood tops for each piece vs. leaving it glass and just paint the bases,
  • JC Sipes JC Sipes on Mar 01, 2015
    How about matte turquoise for the metal part and white glass paint (or duct tape) in a lattice pattern for the top. You could do the glass decoration on the bottom for easier cleaning.
  • Don1357287 Don1357287 on Mar 02, 2015
    Did you give any consideration to antiquing it ??
  • Starr Durrant Starr Durrant on Mar 02, 2015
    I would go with a pewter color spray paint, some of the metal spray paints leave a textured surface which is really nice like Rust-oleum Hammered spray paint. When you're looking at them at the hardware store - the nozzles show you what it will look like when its dry. Best of luck!
  • Cor1374918 Cor1374918 on Mar 02, 2015
    leave it
  • Steffony Steffony on Mar 15, 2015
    Paint them gun metal. & decoupage glass with antique western pictures