This morning we shared pics from our recent thrifting trip and I promised you more details about a certain table that we adopted (along with my cleaning/restoring ritual for old musty wood) so here’s the rundown. We really liked this cool Moroccan accent table that we found at the first place we went (Love of Jesus Thrift here in Richmond). Especially since it reminded us of a few designer ones like this that are selling for $260+. So at $25 for a solid wood table with awesome lines, we took it home.
Boy was in rough shape, so I:
- gave him a wipe down with a damp cloth with a tiny amount of Mrs Meyers soap on it, just to remove the crud in the cracks, cobwebs, etc
- let him dry completely outside in the sun for a few hours
- gave him another wipe down with a damp cloth moistened with white vinegar (that helps to get rid of musty odors)
- let him completely dry out in the sun for a few more hours (vinegar + sunlight is the best way that we’ve found to get that musty old smell out of wood)
- brought him in and introduced him to our bedroom
Another optional step is to apply some sort of wood conditioner or oil to gloss things up if the wood is dry/matte, but I usually only do that when I’m sure we’re leaving something as-is (more on that in a minute). He’s still definitely not mint looking (his pretty ornate top is gorgeous in some areas, but still a little beat up in others) but a lot of the items that we bring home are in what we call a “trial phase” at first anyway.
That means before we rush to refinishing them or painting them or somehow adapting them for a certain spot, sometimes we like to leave them as-is, just to think things through a little more and see how we like them before doing anything too hasty slash hard to undo (like painting something we’d later wish we had left well enough alone). Hence waiting to oil or condition the wood, just in case we later decide we want to refinish or paint something, which is then all greased up and glossy.
Although his top wasn’t perfect when it was bare, once we added a stack of colorful books and a small potted plant, you could hardly tell. Totally works for now during his “trial phase,” right?
Here he is from afar. Don’t mind the weird rug placement, we’ve been meaning to shift that so it’s less awkward. I just need to ask John before he sinks into the sofa late at night, never to stand up again. Haha.
It’s kind of cute how the legs of the table tie into the pattern on the rug. We like that it’s subtle so we don’t have any plans to paint the table turquoise or anything too obvious. It’s actually really nice to have some dark hits of mocha in the room (thanks to the big leaning wall mirror and some oil-rubbed bronze frames around the rest of the room, which you can see here).
My favorite thing about the whole piece is that ornate wooden top. So I went picture happy and snapped another close up for all the wood-loving folks at home. It almost looks like a big Moroccan puzzle.
One idea that I had was to paint just the inside edge of each table leg white, so it would highlight the shape ever so slightly.
See how in this picture the legs sort of turn into one big blob because they’re all the same color and you can’t make out that cool keyhole shape as well from afar?
Now imagine just the lip on the inside of each leg being a clean white color? Might be a fun mix of old and new.
What do you guys think? Is it crazy to touch this guy at all? Would you paint the whole thing? Or just refinish it to clean things up a bit more?
Psst- We picked this week’s giveaway winner – click here to see if it’s you.
gemma@thesweetestdigs says
Love this!! We were in Morocco just over a year ago, and tables like this were dotted all over the place. Usually with a silver tray and some mint tea :)
Paint the legs, or don’t — I think either way it looks fab!
Ryan says
I’m in the “paint that sucka” club! :) Although, I would paint the entire thing and do an accent on their interior. I think the wood tone is a little muddy. But that’s just my opinion! :)
polymathamy says
Please don’t paint the whole thing! The inlaid wood is entirely too beautiful to cover up! I do looove the idea of painting just the inside edge of each leg, though, either white or a dusty turquoise to match the rug!
DanielleR says
My first instinct was to paint the whole thing a bring bold color, but when I see it with its dark old wood, with the bright books and happy green plant from the “afar” photo I kind of love it as is. I’m really torn.
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says
YES to painting the inside leg/whole underside!
Deese says
Love the table, such a great thrift find. I also like the idea of painting the inside edge of the legs to highlight their nifty shape. If you are hesitant to paint first and ask question later, how about putting some run of the mill cheap masking tape (the kind that is an off white color) along the edges? That way you can get the look without the commitment and then decide how you like it.
Just a thought! I’m off to a few local thrift stores right now, I’m on the look out for a little dresser for my TV…wish I had the room for a sideboard or buffet!
Happy thrifting!
Sheila says
I’d do gold leaf on those leg edges if it were mine but I’d love to see how silver or pewter rub-n-buff would look on it in your space.
Mandy says
i LOVE this!! What a great addition, and SO fateful that it matches the rug so well.
Jealous for sure:)
LauraElle says
Great find! I love the lines. I think you should refinish the table, not paint it.
Lux says
What a great find! I love the moorish look, and as you said, it pairs perfectly with the rug! I love the idea of the white interior on the legs, or I can even see you painting it blue on just the bottom part, leaving the top wood, butcher-block style…
Vicki K says
My first thought is to leave it as is. That’s the true look of the piece. But if you did decide to paint it I would suggest a light color , No (red/ blue/teal)! How about a light sanding on the inside and than finish it with a natural oil to complement the top color.
Beth says
Moroccans love painted and/or inlaid wood. Basically, their designs tend to be vibrant and filled with pattern (particularly geometric patterns) and color (lots of bright colors). I’ve also seen lots of pottery and other things where the inside is one color and the outside is another… so I’d say go for it! Paint it!
Elizabeth Burton says
Love, love, love the table……what a great find! I like the idea of painting the inside of the legs but don’t think I would use white. Maybe a warmer color that compliments the room.
Courtney S. says
“This old $5 chair looked like it could use some love. But picture it refinished in a rich stain color or painted navy or emerald green at a crisp white parson’s desk.”
When I first read this, I saw “white person’s desk.” I was all “Daaaaaang.” Then I realized what it actually said :)
judi says
i think i’d paint it turquoise, like the rug. i agree w/ what you said that it doesn’t need to be all turquoise to match b/c it ties in enough already. but if you’re going for a pop of color, it might be fun to tie in the rug just a wee little bit like that.
Steph says
I am in love with the idea of painting the inside of the legs! What a fun way of making it a little more Noreen, helping define those awesome patterns in the legs, all without taking away from the original design and color too much!
It’s so crazy that so many people had the same idea of taping the inside of the legs; I would have never thought of that! Your readers are so smart, haha :)
Steph says
Oh man, I meant to write “modern” not Noreen. Unless of corse your table is named Noreen, then it was totally intentional, in a “that’s just SO NOREEN!” kind of way :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha!
xo,
s
ROK says
I hear you on the white paint, and re: the gold you might consider the Krylon gold leaf pen. Hear good things on Little Green Notebook. And its Amazon-able.
T. Y. Lee says
I would not paint it. I wouldn’t even refinish it. I think that leaving it as is, all aged and imperfect, adds so much character and charm, like it’s something has handed down, or that you picked up years ago while traveling. It gives the piece a sense of time and history, and once you sand it off, you’re not going to get it back.
Great find, by the way! I’m so jealous! I have been hitting up all the antique and thrift stores in a 40 mile radius and the pieces are either too broken for me to fix with my limited skill set, or WAY overpriced. :(
I joke with my husband that we’re going to take a road trip to Seattle to Pevely, Missouri so I can hit up the old flea markets I used to haunt. Antique shopping out here just isn’t the same. The midwest is a GOLD MINE for this type of stuff!
T. Y. Lee says
Curse my typo!
“…like it’s something THAT has BEEN handed down”
Derp.
Erin says
I would paint the inside of the legs a really bright & happy color…like sunny yellow, or a pretty turquoise, or maybe even a limey green. I think it would help define the contours of the legs. I adore the wood as it is, even if it’s a “loved” — it adds character and interest. The combo of a bright color and the slightly dinged up wood sounds super intriguing to me!
how2home says
This side table is so unique! I think leaving it in the original state would be nice :)
Matt says
Don’t know if this has been suggested yet or not, but I suggest that you clean this a little more. I think you are missing some of the richer tones and the grain that is hidden under some of the stain/finish that is applied to this piece. Once the wood grains are more visible, I would lightly sand the inner edges of the legs and the inside of the legs and re-stain with a light color so the wood grain still shows through. For such a small area to stain, you could really use just some samples of stain and not have to spend much money at all on the project.
Suggestion for cleaning further:
Use a solution of 1 part Murphy’s Oil Soap to 5 parts water and spray over the area you want to clean, scrub with a scotch brite abrasive pad (like the ones on the back of sponges). Wipe away dirt/grime and clean again with pure distilled water. Wipe away all liquid and let dry. Work in small sections and repeat until you have the desired wood grain visible that you want. You can increase or decrease the strength of the oil soap if necessary. It has a lovely “clean wood” smell.
After sanding the leg edges and backsides, you could use one of the minwax stain’s found here (http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/?WT.srch=1&gclid=CP2X16jigLICFQs3nAodC2gAiQ)
I think they are carried at Lowe’s and Home Depot. I think the classic gray, sedona red or even mustard could look pretty cool. They also have a white wash, to give you that white color and still have some wood grain.
After cleaning the whole piece and staining the edge/interior of the legs, I would finish with a good wood oil or polycrylic (if you plan to put drinks on it). You can also find those at the link above under interior finishes and specialty products. Also, I don’t work for Minwax. They just have good products at affordable prices.
cheep3r5 says
No doubt someone else suggested this already but… I saw a tutorial on how to build one. They painted the inside a greek blue and the outside white. The blue extended to the inside edge of each leg so just a bit of the intense blue shows against the white overall. The table legs aren’t as open as your table, but I think it would look outstanding.
Fresh Home How to
http://www.freshhomeideas.com/diy-projects/furniture-projects/how-to-make-a-moroccan-table
YoungHouseLove says
Cool! Love all the tips/ideas/links everyone!
xo,
s
Kirsten says
Hi,
I work for the company who makes that Love Life book that I keep seeing in some of your posts.
We would love to work with you for a give-away. If you are interested contact us!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kirsten! We love that book! It’s such a pretty cover and so inspiring inside :)
xo,
s
Tara Jane says
Totally paint the edges!
Ashley S. says
I was browsing around on Z Gallerie today and this: http://www.zgallerie.com/p-12446-madeira-end-table.aspx looked a quite familiar! Originally 399!! Y’all got a steal, and its cuter than Z’s with all the detail on top and the slimmer legs :)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! That’s so funny. Love it!
xo,
s
Ashleigh says
Ugh, you always find the best stuff! I’m so jealous! :)
Clare says
I love this table! I think it goes perfectly in that spot. The white will look really nice inside those legs :)
Betsy says
Cute table. Great shape too. Before you paint the inside legs
I would tape some white computer paper on the legs just to
see if you like it. If not, no harm done just take off the paper.
Or, I’m sure you’ve got some colored scrap book paper around
that you could use as well. Test out the paper before paint!
alia says
If it were me, I would tack pretty fabric on the inside of the table legs, across the gap. It would not only highlight the negative space, it would make a hidden space in which I could store Stuff.
I have two small kids in a 2 bdrm apartment in NYC. I’m all about storage. :*)
Theresa Rivers says
Oh my goodness you are a genius!!! Paint that puppy white (the inside anyway, ha). Seriously, that will make the tabel SO personal to the space. You could even paint it blue like the rug, or the color of the walls? Okay, maybe the wall color would be just too much but I do think adding that small color will be so cool.
Jenny @ BAKE says
I wouldn’t got with white I would go with gold it would look far more morrocan ;-)
Karen says
I think it definitely could look great with the inner bit painted, but I love the way it looks as is. One thing you can do to take care of the wear is to rub the table down with a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of equal parts oil and vinegar. I have an antique table I do this on, and it does wonders. It especially works to even out wear patches and fix drink rings. You’ll eventually have to refresh it, but not for a good long while. :)
kristi says
I’d paint the lip of the legs–definitely–was thinking it before you mentioned it. Don’t know about white though, even though it’s your color. I like the idea of yellow, but maybe not in your room. How about a metallic? Seems more Moroccan anyway…
Christina says
I’m not sure that you have heard or not but there is a “new” cute little place in Ashland, you guys should check it out. It’s called ‘Thrill of the Hunt’, 315 England Street in Ashland VA
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Christina!
xo,
s
Ash says
Oooh! So pretty. I recommend painting just the inside of the table a fun pop of color, but leaving the outside and the edges alone. And then if you don’t like it, paint the whole thing! As is, needs a little something, I think. Gorgeous though!
J.D. Nesbitt says
I think a bright yellow painted all up inside the underneath of that bad boy would go great with your rug and really punch him up.
I think the outside of him needs to stay wood. Hopefully you’ll end up glossing him on the outside.
Super jealous that it was in your thrift store and not ours!!!!
Asten says
Haha, you need to do a poll! I think it might be too amazing as-is to take the risk… but then again, it might pay off big time. I’m a bit wary of trying a colour, though… I’m all for eclectic, and all for Moroccan, but in this crisp room I think you wanna work it back a little and white would probs do that… can’t wait to see whatever you decide!
Ken says
Great find. love the Moroccan / Asian furniture styles. Wish they had thrift stores here in the UK. All we seem to get is overpriced “Antique Shops” selling utter junk at silly prices.
I look forward to seeing what you do with the legs. I agree white would really look great and really accent the keyhole detail.
Heather says
I was clearing out some magazines, and came across what was described as a “moorish masterpiece”. It’s a side table reminiscent of yours. AND it’s painted different colors – one on the top/outside and a different color on the inside. Of course I checked to see if this table is still available for sale and I found it! It doesn’t have pricing on the site, but the magazine lists the price as $1,061!!!!!!!! Crazy! Here is the link: http://www.bakerfurniture.com/baker/1_1_5_0_coll_prod.jsp?brand=Baker&prod_id=4537450&prod_num=BST1156
YoungHouseLove says
Woah that’s crazy!!
xo,
s
amy c says
I L.O.V.E. this table. So much. I hope there is another one like it out there that I can find for my home. Cool, cool, cool.
grace garland says
great table! definitely paint. i would paint it he same turquoise in the rug that you have right in front of it. it would really bring out those architectural details.
sigari says
Holy cow! I hadn’t read your comment, but posted essentially the same idea below at 2am.
sigari says
In agreement with other postings: gold would be ideal. However, it wouldn’t swim with your decor. Try pulling in the turquoise from the rug as the accent color. Could even be metallic (see Martha Stewart metallics at The Home Depot). Beautiful find, regardless. I love how you reuse and restore good pieces that just need a little tending.
Amanda says
I know you were wanting to paint but when I was on the Joss & Main website I saw a table almost identical to yours and they had dressed it up with nail heads (I think that’s what it’s called) around the key hole edges…and you could even do a border up top below the trim? Either way the table looks awesome :) So jealous!
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the ideas guys! So much fun.
xo
s
Jen M. says
Just now seeing this post – thanks to your superlatives post! I hadn’t realized I’d missed one! :)
I think a good gold paint on the insides of those legs would look amazing. “Moroccan” always makes me envision gold lanterns and beautiful jewel tones (not sure why), and I think gold would make the legs stand out and really pull the “Moroccan” out of the table! It’s super cute, great find!
Tiffany says
What if rather than painting the entire inside of the table, you painted just the sides of the table legs (the sides of the cut out–not the outsides, nor the large, flat insides, but the narrow, skinny side between the two)? A beautiful antique-y gold would help the curves pop, but not be too drastic.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the fun ideas! Thanks everyone :)
xo,
s
Sarah D says
I thought of you and this table when I saw this post on Apartment Therapy. Might give you an idea of what this would look like with the color on the inside of the legs.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ubiquitous-ikea-birch-add-a-cool-block-of-color-176356?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apartmenttherapy%2Fmain+%28AT+Channel%3A+Main%29
YoungHouseLove says
Fun! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Kimberly says
There is a table similar to this one in the new September issue of Better Homes and Gardens…. Page 46. It is a terra-cotta color!
Jenn Milstead says
Hi there! I just wanted to say I love your site and I try to visit everyday! I am so excited for your book to come out and we just bought our own DIY project house (with a few things the ol pros need to tackle!) I just wanted to say HI and we just picked up a table like that at the thrift store on Monday. Love it!! I wanted to send a picture but I dont think I can attach it here. I will just add a post to my website if you want to see it later. Thanks for the great blog! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that! Can’t wait to see it!
xo
s
Anika says
I realize this post has been up for awhile but today I ran across a nursery re-do from a Canadian blogger who has the exact same table painted bright green. They were on an HGTV show and the table looks so modern painted a bright and cheery color. The pictures are at the bottom if you’re interested. Just thought I’d pass it along to add to the list of ideas.
http://lifebeginsatthirtyright.blogspot.com/2012/07/sodid-you-watch.html
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty! I love it!
xo,
s
Sara Jane says
Yes definitely paint the inside of the legs to accentuate those gorgeous keyhole shapes! Brilliant idea!!!! Can’t wait to see it–what a steal!!!!!!!