I own a weird number of small side and end tables for three reasons:
1. When I was in college, my parents inexplicably developed a habit of buying me tables as presents (during my freshman year they brought one with them nearly every time they visited, perhaps fearing that a lack of surface areas upon which to rest my books would leave me vulnerable to things like not-studying and keg stands)
2. The Upper East Side, where Kendrick and I used to live, is a treasure trove of discarded furniture on weekend mornings, and we went through a phase where we frequently dragged pieces up to our apartment for a little rehab;
3. I like them. Maybe it’s genetic.
Awhile back I discovered this iron table with pretty curved legs hanging out in my parents’ storage unit, and – despite the fact that I certainly didn’t need it – asked if I could have it. I didn’t love the finish – it felt dated – so for a long time it sat in our bedroom, covered with a vintage silk scarf. When we moved, I decided to put it by our front door and planned to paint it white…but when I added some glossy black paint to our entryway it occurred to me that it might look kind of cool to paint the table the same color, so that it felt almost like an extension of the floor.
But here’s the problem: I stockpile little jars of gold leaf and glitter paints, and it is extremely hard for me to resist using them on each and every project that comes my way. For this table, though, I thought I’d try something different: rather than add sparkly accents, I actually layered gold glitter under the black so that it peeked through just the tiniest bit, adding a hint of shimmer and making the table stand out from its surroundings just slightly.
Black gloss latex paint (Note: gloss paint shows imperfections; if the surface of the table you’re painting is rough go for a matte finish instead)
A synthetic-bristle brush (Note: a natural-bristle brush will not work with latex paint)
Martha Stewart Living Glitter Specialty Finish Paint
1. Start by using the synthetic-bristle brush to apply two coats of black paint (allow paint to dry in between coats). Don’t forget a drop-cloth – you will spill paint, and you will be annoyed that you didn’t take those extra five seconds to put something down (speaking from experience, here).
2. Once the table is fully coated with black paint, use the foam brush to apply the glitter paint, slowly building it up (and allowing to dry between coats) until you have a relatively dense layer of glitter.
3. Use the synthetic-bristle brush to apply another (thin) layer of black gloss paint.
I swear, I tried to get a photo where you could see the shimmer effect that the glitter paint creates, but that’s apparently beyond my capacities. It’s very subtle and pretty…and also, FYI, only worth the work to add the glitter layer if the table is placed in an area that will catch the light.
