Silver leaf it.

Guess I should have been more specific. Little Green Notebook has a good tutorial, but you should add some polyurethane at the end, unlike her project.

I wonder if you could use the stick-on "stainless steel" backsplash panels sold at home centers. You'd have seams, but it could be done to look cool. I'd want to distress it a little though, and I don't know how those things would hold up to a little sandpaper.

You could use silver leaf, and once it is applied, paint over it with slightly watered-down grey acrylic paint (or you could buy Golden's translucent grey). Use a brush to apply, and a dry cloth to buff it down while it's still wet.

Spray on a metallic silver spray paint ( http://www.homedepot.ca/product/rust-paint-aluminum-340g-aerosol/979955 ) a little at a time, brush it over with a stiff bristle paint brush, add nails before hand it your going to add that touch as well.

*if your going to NOT "it", hey AT, ever considered giving us an edit button? lol

i'm a decorative painter. I specialize in furniture. I agree that silver leaf would work and it's actually pretty fun to do. most craft stores sell the supplies you would need. I have also used krylon brand spraypaint in satin nickel and then topcoat with a minwax gel stain- I use antique oak. either finish would need a protective topcoat. wax is great, but a wipe on poly would work as well.

Isn't there stick on faux stainless steel for recovering appliances? That might be worth scoping out at the Home Box Store.

Try Metallic Master paints, you can use two close shades or darken the table first and then use a stiff bristle brush (almost dry). Try create X's in the motion as using RL suede faux paint. If using polyurethane, do not forget to sand in between coats.
Mishka www.interiordesignarts.com

Yep, silver leaf, but I'd look for something with Parson table legs, not tapered ones if you want this look.

For the detailing of the nailheads, use real nails (or, more likely, tacks.)

Here you go:
www.freckledlaundry.com/.../diy-restoration-hardware-inspired-faux.html

Yes, silver leaf and look for a Parsons table, not the tapered legs. Silver leaf is super fun to do and you will want to do everything in your flat with it, once you get started.

Or google 'peel and stick stainless steel' or 'faux stainless steel' to find stick on stainless steel. You'd need to doctor it a bit to look worn and add nails.

Concur with gold/silver leaf idea

my mom mod-podged a box with tin foil, and then antiqued it. It came out pretty cool. And I painted a shelf with satin silver spray paint, and then brushed watered down black craft paint over it. It looks very much like an old zinc shelf. Dont forget to use polyacrylic!

Thera--what the heck do you mean?

I have the IKEA table that's the exact shape as the one featured in the first photo. I've grown tired of seeing the birch veneer and the split leg top and have wanted to take it a new direction for my new digs. This is perfect, came at a great time. There are SO many great ideas here, expecially the mod podge treatment. (But airexurb, what do mean you 'antiqued it'? How?)

I was also going to suggest silver leaf, except I was going to say if it is going to be a desk, have a piece of glass cut to fit the top so you can bang things around and not worry about the finish.

Thera means:

I meant to type "if you're going to add..." NOT "it you're going to add..."

Right, Thera? Sorry, my copyediting compulsion made me change "your" (possessive) to "you're" (contraction of "you are").

veslabeachgirl--I mixed regular old black craft paint with a bit of water. Then just brushed it on over the shelf...then I used a paper towel to wipe it down afterwards. The black kinda streaked it and hung to the grooves. It turned out better than I could have hoped!

Decorative painting is not nearly as easy as HGTV makes it look. Those who do it well are very talented, Practice, practice, practice on posterboard before attacking it.

Great timining -- I have a parsons table and have been thinking about silver leaf -- can a wax (like Briwax) be put on over the silver leaf as the sealant?

Yes that is what I meant :)
p.s. still hoping an edit button is in the future

Silver leaf, yes, but to get that slightly battered/antiqued finish you should go with light glaze rather than acrylic.

FYI - Ana has a plan to build this desk yourself drawers and all. A little math can make it fit into whatever space you want.

http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plan-parson-table-knock-off-of-west.html