Remember how I had been diligently scouring the online classifieds for a credenza for the living room with no luck? Well, I have been doing the same thing looking for a coffee table. Except this time, I did have luck. Woot! I forgot to take a screenshot of the ad before it was sold (to us), but a guy about 30 minutes up the road was selling this 70s tiered swivel coffee table for $50 and it was just what we were looking for.
Well, almost what we were looking for. As much as brass is making a comeback–it wasn’t working in our house or in the living room–especially with our large satin nickel arc floor lamp that we are keeping. But before I get into how we made it work in our living room, let’s rewind so I can explain why I snatched this baby up–in case it isn’t obvious. Which I am sure it isn’t to everyone.
First off, this coffee table is a little quirky. And every room needs an item that is kinda weird in a cool way and this fit the bill. Second, it was round. We really wanted a round coffee table to break up all the square edges going on in the room–and we don’t even have the gallery wall up yet. Yeesh. Also, round edges + kids= mom approved. This one gets double (triple?) points for being round because it is actually made up of three circles which works with our extra long couch even better. Third, it was fifty smackaroos. Which was $100 less than my second favorite classified’s coffee table. So, see? No brainer.
Chris was on board as long as we could kiss the brass goodbye. Oh, and it had to fit in the car. If you remember this photo we shared on Facebook over the weekend:
It totally fit in the car. Once we got her home, I sprayed the whole thing with primer and then a few coats of oil rubbed bronze spray paint all of which I had on hand and let it dry over the weekend.
Once I got the coffee table back inside I feel okay about it. I mean–I am still in love with the coffee table, but the new finish? I like it. Really, I kind of miss that all the light that reflected off the brass and the cool black block feature on the legs. Maybe I can spray paint it a nickel color and reintroduce the black detail? We’ll see.
It’s still quirky cool. What other coffee table can spread its confident wings and do this:
And then maybe start feeling a little shy and clam up like this:
Or just relax somewhere in the middle, sending off a cool vibe like so:
Feel free to spill your thoughts on finishes, coffee tables, classified finds or giving inanimate objects personalities. We’re all ears.
P.S. Speaking of ears, thanks for the love on Friday’s post. It was a rough weekend. In fact, I am ready for a weekend after that weekend, but Greta is doing so much better today and we’re feeling grateful. So grateful.
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Well the majority speaks for itself, but I honestly was cringing until I saw it black. I prefer classic and safe I guess? Ha!
Brass was it for me, esp. given the sciencey/optometrist feel (A or B, A or B (or C))! Is there any way to remove the spraypaint? If not, I think the nickel might look too matchy-matchy and cheap. What about adding back in some of the contrast by going matte/shiny but via varnishes and sticking with the black for both?
Curious. You mention living with a things a few days before making changes, but it seems like you didn’t before painting it? Or could be that it was the weekend before last? If you didn’t, do you think that would’ve helped? (Please excuse me if I’m assuming you’re not sold on the decision to paint it — I could totally be misreading the tone in your response to some of the other comments!.)
I love the design but liked it in brass so much more. I think the table needs the shininess to keep it from falling into 80s land. I think the next best thing behind brass is nickel with black color locking…like you are thinking. Great find!
I’m a big fan of brass and I think it looks great with grey accents. With that said..if you are thinking of repainting it again, how about a bright color? lime green, aqua, or yellow?
That table is so funky cool! I love it! I’m definitely team nickel finish too!
I love the design – but would have personally have kept it brass. I think if I really needed/wanted to have painted it, I would have gone with a shiny finish. But it’s your house, and your table. Does it make you happy? I hope so, because that is what is ultimately important. I do love the swivel!
I have to say I looooved the brass finish. I feel that the black makes it look kinda flat. I think your best bet now is to go with a silvery finish. I agree with no crime in mixing metals- it can look really cool!
Satin nickel all the way! Cool find!
There is no crime in mixing metals, Chris!
It looks good in the black, but I am in LOVE with brass right now :) I would have kept it all shiny. A quirky coffee table is always a must. Did you watch this past season of Design Star? I think it was called Design Star All Stars…anyway…the judges always said that unique coffee tables make a room. So awesome that you found this one!
I agree with everyone else….definitely think it needs some sparkle and shine. Awesome find though!
This is such a great table!
I need to work on this with Anthony, he really likes to climb on it and dance..
Yeah at first brass seems too much but if you spotted the table in black you’d not even notice. I think it was the mixture of metallics that made the room look collected. Some nickel might do! I think the chair looks good and agree with the other person, own it!
Hahaha. Fingers crossed! Oh man.
Greta is doing much better! And this coffee table feels more kid friendly to me than our last wooden, rectangular coffee table with sharp corners! She knows not to climb on it, but that was our biggest fear. Round corners=mama’s happy.
Hi Julia, How is little Greta doing? I hope she is doing great. I have a question about the table. Arent you afraid that she will get hurt ( Talking about your little lady ) if she tries to climb on it ? Or maybe runs into it playing? Im always afraid of glass around kids.
I think I would have gotten a new lamp instead…but you live and learn, right? You’ll figure out a way to make it pop again.
I agree. :/ We’ll get it figured out
Ooh I see what you mean. It’s still a fab table but with the black it just seems to be a little.. flat? Its lacking that WOW!
Great table…although, I think it was better in the before. The gold finish really gave it that extra pow…and now, not so much. I know brass isn’t for everyone, but it seemed to give your room that added glamour and contrast to the deep walls.
I think it could be cool to rub n buff just the circles and leave the rest of the base/legs orb. Great piece!
What an awesome table! I didn’t expect the finish to change it so much but I think it might be nice with the nickle and black accents. I’m not a brass person either but I think the shiny-ness really did something for it – the smoked glass and ORB are giving it a different vibe.
The glass is smoked. We always like to live with things for a couple days before changing them. So, we’ll see where we end up!
Is the glass clear or smoked? I can see it being fun for entertaining but truthfully, I am on the fence on this one. I do like it better in ORB and would probably give that a chance before changing it up again. If your gallery wall will have dark frames, it may help tie the dark finishes together.
I totally just looked into rub n buff! I’m intrigued!
Shhh. Me too. It did kind of clash with the big floor lamp in the corner, but man! I loved the reflective qualities. The black is sucking the life out of the room, right?
I love it! I can appreciate that you didn’t love the brass, but I think the two tone effect really added a lot to the table. I just used rub n buff on some picture frames, and I’m hooked now. It also comes in silver tones. Maybe that’s an option to look into down the line? Also, I know you’ve gone back and forth on the ikat chair. I think it totally works in the space – you just have to own it!
That is the coolest table I’ve ever seen!!! I’m not gonna lie, I kind of liked the brass too! It brightened the room up, but the black definitely made the table modern. I love how versitle it is with tHe extension of each table. So neat!!
Such a great find! I am shocked as I say this, but I was actually feeling the brass more. I maybe going crazy.
It really did clash with our big arc lamp, but I do miss the shiny metallic. Hopefully we can restore some of that.
Love the table! I think you should have left it the way it was though, it went perfectly with your other pieces.
I love the quirk! I think a nickel finish would look wonderful and give off the reflective look the brass finish did while still being modern.