Ideas for this table?
 

I've spent a long time repairing the Bernina that came out of this table. I've got the machine fixed finally, and am just so turned off by the looks of this table that I'm having problems visualizing what to do. I've refinished and refurbed several vintage tables and usually have some sort of goal in mind. I'm not fully against painting it if I thought it would end up looking better. With this table the end goal would be to not hate it like I do now. LOL. I don't like the color at all, I don't like the hardware and I don't like the lines of it, or the pegs. I know I can't really change the pegs or the feet on it, but I don't know if changing out the hardware to something else would even be worth it. Hardware is not cheap and if it's still an ugly table...well....

Ideas?

Here's the machine. Most of the furniture in my house is very modern (clean lines, metal or non-wood) and if there's wood the wood is very dark.

I think the pegs are horrible:<

I'd take the base off and replace it something solid. You may only need to take the front piece off, trim the edges of the side pieces and fit another front piece to it that is flush with the cabinet - not sticking out to be flush with the drawers (like it is now).

The hardware ... ich.

To make it more modern looking (to match your decor) you might consider refinishing the drawers in one color and the remainder of the cabinet in another. Perhaps a very dark cabinet housing with almost bleached drawers, finished with a crisp brushed steel or black hardware that has simple lines to it.

you could remove the pegs and put in plugs or [just a small piece of a dowel rod ....]paint it if you don't like it .....myself i like the wood look but paint is cheap and check the trader baker or restore or yard sales for new [to you hardware ] i could see that machine in a black cabinet with some knobs to match one color of the machine [green perhaps]

I don't think I'm game for cutting wood or serious redoing of the base. Cutting dowels and putting them in the peg areas to be flush is a good idea. I also don't need to match the machine to the table. I'd prefer to match the machine to what I have already in the house. I'll have to price hardware. I've been able to redo existing hardware in the past, but this hardware is not worth touching!

Definitely paint and put some sort of modern looking pulls on drawers.

Afraid I don't have any suggestions but had to smile at the drawer pulls because they were the same ones we had (my sisters & I) on our dressers and desks when we were growing up. Believe my parents bought them in 1959.

A darker stain would probably work. But honestly, painting it really intrigues me. Painting the base of the table (The top, sides, etc.) in a white or cream/off-white colour, then painting the drawers a rich plum.

Painting it would probably be the easier option and I wouldn't have to worry about the peg hole/dowels turning a different color from stain.

Boy, do I remember cabinets, desks etc. in this style! you could sand the plugs flush,,paint it dark, green, or black,or maybe dark wood color. even do a faux jade or maybe black stone look / if you like to stencil or paint designs all over it. I paint tables and cover them with roses , leaves, etc. It looks like real wood so that is a plus.
Like to see what you come up with!

Ah! So there is the infamous cabinet.

I can actually see it in a black lacquer - Chinoiserie style. Like this!

I think I would paint it with Chalk paint...A new paint that is really catching on here in Charleston..It is so popular that they are teaching classes. The colors are awesome....I plan to try some this paint.

I love it. If you don't, strip it and restain it a dark color(cherry or what you like). Then change the handles and I'm sure you will like it.

Send it to me I'll take it off your hands. I would have DH put a coat of clear whatever it is he uses. I hate painted wood. Especially if it's solid. BUT! That being said, you can sand the pegs of and square up the curves in the bottom. Then use modern pulls that lay flush. Paint to coordinate with the décor. or you could put a dark stain on it.

I won't be sanding any pegs. They should pop out easily. One is already missing. LOL.

I do not like the color or style either. Donate it to Goodwill. Then shop !!!!Love to shop the thrift stores. Hugs

My kind of furniture, I would take it off your hands if I lived closer and had room, refinish a better color and paint/replace hardware and enjoy it.

Me, too! You are all far more critical of this sewing table than I would be. I like the design, like the handles. Not crazy about the color or those pegs! I'd strip and restain it a darker color and get rid of the pegs. Hey, it's real wood, right? That's always worth salvaging, imho.

My machine needs its table. LOL. I look at it as a challenge to make it better.

Well, we have different eyes then, because all my eyes see is yuck.

There is no shortage of table makeovers online. Might I suggest a nice, bright paint job, or a trip over to Pinterest? :)

I love it the way it is, but then, I love antiques. What is not to like??? Different strokes for different folks...that is for sure!!

First, I'd take a chisel and knock off those pegs. Fill it with either a dowel or wood putty. Sarah Richardson, the designer always takes pieces like this and sends them off to a place that professionally spray paints them...I actually think it might be an automotive paint place. I think a professional coat of hard surface off-white with some kind of contemporary pull might be pleasing and so much less trouble than you having to strip and sand and paint and finish...ugh. And, if not off-white then some other color you like that would basically be very hard wearing and professionally done.

I would paint it bright white /w/ black hardware , make a ironingboard for the top, w/ black zebra print, when not using it. I would keep it because it is all wood, don't have to worry about it falling apart . Dottie Bug:thumbup:

Paint it your favorite color and definitely change those handles. How about White and then do some free motion feathers on it in your favorite color!
peace

I like that black lacquer w/ the gold. But what a lot of work.

To me, that cabinet is square enough that you don't notice the colonial feet at first. I think I have even seen some Craftsman furniture that had a bit of colonial flair.

I would take it a little toward Mission or Shaker, in a cherry stain. I'm lazy, so I would pick a drawer pull with a backplate to help cover up if old holes if I can''t find new pulls that are the same centers. http://www.knobsandhardware.com/cabi...ductItemsImage
[ATTACH=CONFIG]413310[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]413312[/ATTACH]
http://www.voorheescraftsman.com/img...20Inspired.jpg

I'd use a cherry or a chestnut color of stain.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]413311[/ATTACH]

I don't care for cherry, it will be painted I think!! You all have given me some good ideas. It's a very large table, much larger than most of my other tables. An ironing board cover is a good idea!

I'm with you on fake colonial. You might be able to remove the pulls and the escutcheon plates behind them before refinishing and then replace only the pulls, adding some small washers to the bolts.

Milk paint in light turquoise with crystal drawer pulls....fill in the pegs with wood putty and sand to flat. This is a gorgeous piece...I'd love to have it....

i'm 100% with doghousemom. it's like she read my mind. putting a blank piece of wood on the front after removing the faux colonial wood would be easy. measure, go to lowes/home depot and ask the nice man in the lumber department to cut 2 pieces that size. take them home and wood glue them in place. done and done. not hard or time consuming and not expensive either. good luck! underneath it all there are good bones.

And it's your table. So you should do with it whatever pleases you.

What wood? It looks like hard rock maple. If so, be sure to do proper prepping before you paint and use a base coat so the paint will stick good. Maple has such fine grain paint doesn't like it so much. Personally, I am like you, don't care for light woods, I would refinish it in Minwax Dark Walnut mixed with a touch of Red Mahagony (my personal favorite stain recipe LOL). The drawers could be jazzed up a bit with some wood carvings from Van Dykes or Rocklers to give it a bit of pizzazz.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/ard/3794983942.html

Candace, I thought you would be amused by someone else's idea of refurbishing a very similar cabinet.

Oh wow. Let me add that to the list of what not to do!!

I actually have a similar cabinet and like it. Maybe some new pulls?

Monolithic! hehehehehe! I must publish the picture ... :-D

I like this too.