apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I agree with Maxwell - you want a bruch mark on this, as it is (is it?) supposed to be wood. Red it a nice idea, though I don't think the rack is so great. I'd opt for clean shelves or fun hooks instead.

Good luck!

How long ago did you get the bench? I don't see it on the IKEA website, only the hat/coat rack. (I'm not answering your question--sorry--I just want one of those.)

A related good question: is it possible to change the tint of the stain (I'd like it darker) without stripping the piece?

I've thought about getting pieces from this series, but wanted a deeper brown finish.

I echo Michelle's comment. I really like the Leksvik coffee table as a cheaper alternative that still has storage space. But I want a deeper brown finish--something more espresso. Is it possible to paint it or refinish it? How would one go about doing that? Help!

i recently used an oil-based stain+poly product (minwax polyshades) to darken a pre-finished tv stand from a deep cherry to more of an espresso color. i didn't sand or anything - just painted on a few coats. it looks good, but the tv stand doesn't take as much abuse as a bench or coffee table would, so i can't make any claims about the durability of this re-finish method.

Just my opinion, but I find that when mixing styles or periods that it always looks best when you "skip" a few "eras" in between.

In other words, I don;t know how "modern" your modern apt is...but these pieces are too "transitional". ( in other words, not close enough to tie in, and not far enough to be quirky)

If I were you, I would distress the hell out of them. and I am not talking the DIY bang it with a chain porcess...

I would pick up the dominant color in your room, and using layers upon layars of paint, varnish, stain, scraping, sanding, burning, whatever. try to recreate these items so they appear to be the perfect consignment store find...

there are lovely frames from Thailand at uncommmon goods dot com that are reported to be made of old boats and houses that have a well worn milk painted looking finish. that is what I am thinking.

it then may not fit the style, but the color/tone/ uniqueness will allow it to fit in.

trying to make this piece modern with a coat of slick lacquer will only highlight that is doesn't belong.

IMHO that it.

I agree with Jess about the top. I've almost thrown it away a million times. Maybe I will. Making it more wood-like is the opposite of what I want, unless I go dark. The wood grains look/are fake.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll paint and if I hate it out it goes.

Just a thought...but you may want to look into milk paint. It won't be a shiny finish, but I think it would look great considering the style has an early-ish/american-ish style. If you want to get fancy, you can paint a robin's egg blue on first and then paint over it in a mahogany red. Distress the piece by sanding off some of the red and the blue will show through. You could also paint the interior a different color.

I have milk-painted book cases that I just love. They're easy to clean and look wonderful after 12 years.

Should I scrap it all, sell the pair, and buy the Thomas O'Brien Hall Bench from Target? (What I really want is a lovely built in, but $ is an issue.

(I tried to post the link, but it keeps morphing in to a weird URL.)

I would paint the shoe rack but I think the coat and hat rack might be Ikea overkill.
Lately, I have had some great results with black spray paint (including a lampshade of all things). Whether you spray or brush, I say give it a go. If you take a little bit of care, it won't affect how much you get on craigslist when it is time to say goodbye and you can afford a built-in. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Paint it! Great idea. I am all for painting Ikea pieces.

Use a primer and a brush.... if you want a really glossy candy apple red, i have had good experiences with rustoleum.

For those of you looking for a darker version, I think that it is kind of silly to faux paint an IKEA piece (a bit of gilding the lilly) maybe try it in black... or a really dark esspresso brown. I think that it is hard to distinguish between an espresso paint and the spray on dark stain that places like west elm use.

But all of the debbie travis faux wood stuff just ends up looking silly to me.

Hey Alice, some of that Thomas O'Brien furniture looks great but I think the bench you have is better looking than the hall bench.

I agree with eeks that you should paint the shoe bench and not put up the hat/coat rack.

I saved this link from craigslist recently in case I ever wanted to do a lacquer finish:
http://forums.newyork.craigslist.org/?ID=48455954

Auto spray paint works great! The nozzle produces an extra fine spray. I painted a dark wood four-post bed black using SEM color coat (find at auto supply stores or online)and I'm so happy I did it. The drab wood has been replaced by a lovely velvety black. I got the tip from my industrial designer boyfriend who frequently uses this paint to bring new life to furniture for trade shows etc.

We own the same items. They hide in a back hall/pantry. With two kids it keeps rainboots, cleats, clarinet, jackets & school gear confined (somewhat). I'd also planned to repaint when the adjacent kitchen gets its re-do. They are pine and a completely blah brown stain w/o any gloss. The auto paint idea sounds like a sturdy option, but the goofy hooks need to go as well.

I say paint it! Use a primer (as previously mentioned), and paint it. I like the idea of red.
If you do the entire thing in a solid color, it will help blend it into a more modern space. The single color can miminize the swooshie traditional aspects. Having it in a different color will also help reduce its "Ikea-ness".

PAINT IT!
try the primer, sand that, then painting enamel with a brush or spray.
you CAN get quite a range of spray colors these days, but you might have to go to an art store (maybe one that specializes in hip hop, some sort of grafitti shop) and if you're in NYC, that should be no problem.
if you're worried about the 'modernity' of the pieces, you could also sand/prime then paint the exact same color as the walls and they might disappear.

Sell it to Joan!

:)

Paint it, but get one of those rollers that is used for a smooth finish on furniture. Just use a brush for corners and small areas.

Whatever you do, don't forget to polyurethane it several times. Very importnat for durability!!!

Alice,
I had a white Ikea coffee table that I wanted to make darker. After reading Maxwell's comments, I set off to buy primer, enamel paint, and all the fixings. But Home Depot had one very slow guy working the paint section and a huge line of people. Ikea is not worth that much time so I ditched the fancy stuff and grabbed some spray primer and spray paint in Espresso. I roughed up the suface of the table a bit with some sandpaper, and becuase the spray primer and paint dried fast, I was able to do multiple coats within just a few hours. It couldn't have been easier. The table came out well, too. I am sure I could have made it "perfect" using a brush, but again, it's Ikea and I don't have a lot of free time to fuss with perfection. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I am going to get rid of the hat rack. It's not worth the effort and it's just too corny looking for me. I'm going to check out the auto spray paint idea, because - after all it is Ikea and it's just not worth that much time.

If any one in NY and wants it let me know.

Did you end up painting it and how did it turn out?
I am thinking about getting one, but have mixed feelings about it.