Paint Dilemma June 7, 2012
If I could change one thing about our past as a married couple, it would be that I would’ve never spent a ton of money on furniture. I wasn’t into DIY when we were first married. I thought the only way to get nice furniture is to go to Pilgrim Furniture City, Raymour & Flanigan, or Ethan Allen to spend way too much money on it. I remember walking around Pilgrim searching for a dining room set HATING everything I saw, and wondering why it was so hard to pick something out.
Ever have that problem?
We finally settled on this one. For $1100. Ouch.
(Please excuse this ANCIENT picture of our dining room. I clearly need to update our house tour photos!)
Not bad at all, minus the price. It was actually Pat’s choice…probably because I was being so incredibly indecisive about everything and he wanted to get the day over with. And I do really enjoy this set. I love the contrast of the dark and white wood, and the clean lines. However…………………
Something happens when you live in a house with dark furniture and you have a tornado dog and crazy cat.
Scratches. Scratches happen. A LOT of them. All over the place.
Enter my dilemma. I’ve been wanting to paint our dining room set white and distressing the edges for a while now. I’ve come up with a minor list of pros and cons to the job, and while I have a feeling I know what the better answer is, I need YOUR help on deciding. I need that little push that I’m so hesitant to give myself.
Pros of painting my $1100 dining room set white:
- no. more. scratches.
- distressing the edges actually allows for the furniture to be further damaged without it being noticed
- brightens up our dining room!
- I can’t change it back.
- It may take FORever.
So HELP ME! Would you repaint it knowing how much $$$$$ was spent on it? Is it worth the labor? Leave me your thoughts in a comment below!
And stay tuned because next week I will *HOPEFULLY* have another video tutorial (one where I say “um” a lot less) about using this awesome stuff…
Plus lots more fun stuff coming your way! π
Distress it!!! We bought our dr set for $1200. We took I outside a few months ago, stripped it with paint thinner, power washed it to make look old, then we blow torched all the small pieces of wood that lifted, giving it some burn marks. It’s looks awesome AND it’s one of a kind. We had a big piece of glass on top of it before and with all the traffic from the pets, I had to dust it everyday. Now with all this texture to the table, it stays clean looking much longer. We just need to get 2 metal chairs to complete the look!!!! Good luck!
WOW, that’s intense work!!! I’d love to see a picture of it! Can you e-mail one to me? I need to see this blow torch look! I know some great sites for metal chairs, check out my post on tolix chairs if you haven’t already! π
Ok um….seriously? Exact same situation over here! Ha! We moved into our first townhouse together, spent $2000 on a handmade wood dining set, and now I wish I had’nt!!
I wouldn’t paint it :S Personally every time I paint furniture, Im never 100% happy with it, and although others say it looks great, Im picky. Plus, you wouldn’t be able to go back if you dont like it. I would probably sell it and use the money towards a new set you really like, or one you wouldn’t feel bad messing up (something from Craigslist, etc). Thats my future plan for our set anyways π
That’s definitely an option. I just know I won’t get what I paid for it. Decisions, decisions….
How noticeable are the scratches?? If they aren’t that bad I would try to sell the table (on craigslist or something like that) and use the money you make to buy a cheap table at a salvage place, tag sale, etc. And refinish that! Depending on how much you get for selling the table, you might have money left over after supplies and new table…. So you’ll have a table you love AND more $$$!
Definitely an option! The scratches aren’t too horrible, but I highly doubt I will get anything close to what I spent on the table :/
you only live once! if you want it white, go for it!
that’s true! thanks Cassie!
that’s a very nice set. I wouldn’t paint it and take the chance of ruining it… although you are pretty much the expert on that stuff & do great work π maybe you can call a wood shop place and see what they think ?
If you do sell it, being it’s used and you’ve had a couple years or so, you definitely would not get close to what you spent. So it’s either try and sell it for what folks are willing to pay or just do it and hope for the best π
good luck!
You bring up some great points…thanks Elaine!
That’s a toughie. I think it’d be okay to re-do your current one even though you paid $$$$ for it. You’ve had it already for approx 3 years if you bought it in 2009. You would probably be lucky to get $600-800 for it since it does have wear and tear. People are more likely looking for a good deal and might settle on something cheaper. Unless you’re willing to take almost a 50% hit and sell it, it’d allow you that much money towards purchasing something else to DIY. If you go the route of not loving the outcome (DIYing your current table set), you could always sell it for $1100-1500 for the “up cycle” and then the world is your oyster. π
Good points Taylor! Ahhhh, decisions, decisions.
I say DO IT! I know how much you want to paint your kitchen cabinets white, but can’t. So the next best thing would be to paint your furniture.
Good point Sarah! I didn’t even think about that, lol.
ps if a dining room table purchase is your one regret as a married couple…. way to go! haha
I say go for it! ~ Im with Jess….You loved it then, you wont get what you paid, or even close, with the times, and prices…..I am picturing in my mind, and Im with Jess, I love the antique, burn it, distress it, whitewash, old school look and the white, will give you the ‘pop’ The legs on that table are a great shape, be really cute. Then some great chair pillows. I know for me my set is very similar. I love it, its very tall, tho, and the wood chairs are rough on the butt and body after awhile….and here, we love to hang at the table and chat it up even long after dinner…so they are not incredibly comfy…….Id love to see Jess’ pics also ” : )
Cant wait to get an update….. “: )
Thanks for the insight! I will definitely keep you updated π
Paint it or it will drive you crazy thinking about it! You can’t go wrong painting it white, and if the scratches are bugging you, you should go for it : ) It will take a hefty amount of time but will be so worth it in the end.
Thanks Brittany!!
Hi Lauren!!!
Just wondering what you ever decided to do with this table. I have a similar situation with a dark table. It is rustic enough but it has so much gloss on it that it gets scratched all the time and looks awful. Just wondering what your solution was!
I ended up building one and sold this one π