White coffee table, that is. Yessiree. I have been riding the white bus for quite some time. And let me tell ya, this white boy is making me jump (jump).
Before the coffee table had a stained finish. Kinda looked like, well, coffee. Although it was decently built, the bottom shelf was damaged a bit and needed to be removed. I figured I could replace it with a bit of beadboard. And the price was too good to pass up – $10 on craigslist. Since the glass was unscratched and the octogonal shape was exactly what I wanted, I figured this was my winner. Jeremy, being the good husband that he is, drove me the 40 minutes to pick it up. in the rain. in the boonies. Thanks baby – I award you one Get-Outta-Housework-For-Free card….we’ll talk about the limitations later.
After a quick couple coats of primer, this baby is looking pretty darn tootin’ good. I love the clean lines and the open feel of the piece. I also like how it picks up the white of the fireplace and the adjoining kitchen stools (not seen above). The shape also ties in the different seating in the room without taking up too much space. So now we come to the question –
Should I get the beadboard like planned and paint the whole sucker a nice crisp white finish?
or
Should I leave the bottom open like pictured above and paint it as-is a nice crisp white finish?
It’s up to you peeps. The beadboard might actually take up more space visually because the floor would no longer be exposed or it might help lighten the space by allowing more white to be in the den. What do you think? I need your help like Ashton needs practical jokes.
Leave the beadboard off. The open space looks better. I think it would look more like a big white blob in the middle of your room. BUT I am not the best at envisioning how things would look. I just know what I like!
I vote to leave it as is and paint it. I think having it bottomless opens up the space.
Yea, I vote to leave it open as well. I think it looks fabulous as-is!
I agree – leave it as is. It looks amazing. Nicely done!
Definitely think you should leave it open, as is. BUT consider anchoring the space with a colorful rug so its visible below the table? Then you’d get to bring in some fun color AND keep it nice and visible through the table. 🙂
I’ve been secretly reading your blog. 🙂 I say leave it as-is since it looks great!
~Heather
athomewithh.blogspot.com
No beadboard – that’s my vote : ) I love how the white really brightened up the space!
Instead of beadboard, maybe a beveled mirror to add a touch of glam, or a simple piece of glass, cut to size, so that you could utilize that space underneath the table top might be a nice solution… Good luck!
~ Arlynn from Fleur De Licious
p.s. I think my parents have that EXACT same table, only they haven’t updated it. Yet.
Another vote for leaving it the way it is! It looks great!
I love it open at the bottom- much more interesting.
I love the way it looks as is. The beadboard may make it look to heavy in my opinion which is worth a grain of salt when I desperately need you to come over to my house. I think I need some white in my space maybe it will lighten things up a bit. Stop by any time.
I like it open – definitely airy-er. Love it!
I am (almost) speechless at the moment for I am once again so freaking impressed by what white paint (let alone primer) can do. It really brings out the fantastic shape of the piece. You have such an eye for pieces w/ potential!! I vote for leave it as is!
I vote NO beadboard! Looks great and very clean!
I vote leave it as-is, it makes it look like you have more floor space and opens things up nicely. Great idea going with the white instead of the black you did on the dresser and side table- I love how it brightens up the room! 🙂
I feel bad that he went all the way out there to get the bead board- but unless you have something you want to place on the bead board- I think it looks great open.
I like it open.
It looks great. What a difference a coat of paint makes.
Looks great! I think it looks fine just the way it is but putting in a bottom shelf will allow you to put books or accessories down there which will help break up the white.
Wow, I never would have imagined that change! Beautiful! I’d leave it as is.
It looks beautiful! But I think I’m going to disagree with the masses and vote for beadboard… not for looks, but for functionality. I like keeping coffee table books or photo albums on the shelf under my coffee table. If that’s too cluttered for your taste, then leave it as is! 🙂
I have to agree – leave as is! you are a pro at fancifying furniture!
Like everyone else said…no beadboard. Love your blog! When I see new posts in my reader, and you have one yours is the first post I click on 🙂 Esp like the dresser makeover you did the other week.
Beth
Have you thought about ordering a piece of glass to fit into the bottom? Assuming it has a ledge to rest the glass on, I love the open feeling it creates now that you’ve removed the shelf. The white looks awesome, it hightlights the unique shape of the coffee table. You rock!
What’s a beadboard?
Leave it off! It looks great!!!!!!!
Apparently, I’m about to buck the trend and say that you do need something to ‘anchor’ that room and leaving the coffee table with an empty bottom is maybe a bit to ‘floaty’?… I think what another poster suggested would be a fantastic idea if you decide to NOT do the beadboard – and that is a rug. I think a nice rug would help finish off the room and give it that little punch!! But apparently everyone likes it as is so either way it’s going to look great!
Leave it off, leave it off! It looks amazing! How did you pop out that bottom piece? Was it just screwed in? I love it!
Leave it as it is! It looks great!!! 🙂
Just to make sure you know this is basically a unanimous decision — open looks awesome! I’m always impressed by the work you do on your home – good luck with the gardening! (I’ll be looking to you to figure out how to take care of the beds I inherited last summer)
Just wanted to let you know you’ve inspired me (greatly), and posted about your wonderful re-do here!
http://amandajillsblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-promised.html
Thanks so much! You need to post a “Craigslist Searching” topic… “How To Get The Results You’re Looking For!”
Amanda
Hi Katie! I’m a huge fan of your blog and was so excited when I came upon the exact same coffee table on craigslist. Can you believe it?! I was wondering if I could get any tips on how to get the same look, even down to the paint color you used. Thanks so much! 🙂 ~Lauren
Hi Lauren –
Congrats on scoring the octo table online! I am sure you are gonna love it. In terms of tips – I just roughed up the existing finish with a bit of sandpaper and then did a coat of Zinnser’s primer. It’s oil-based so it blocks stains, smells, and provides a solid base for your topcoat. Then it just needed a swipe of semi-gloss pastel white paint to finish it off. I used Benjamin Moore’s Pastel White Base…no additives needed 🙂 Good luck with your redo!
Happy Painting Lauren!
XO – Katie
I think Im in love…with that beautiful $10 find! It looks amazing now that its all done:)Great job!
I have to admit that I started following your blog because of this coffee table and I just found my very own!