Decisions, decisions... will you help me, Please?

[De Smith]

Okay, I've got this very old table. I don't know if it is antique or not. It either came with the house or we picked it up somewhere (trash diving or something) about when we moved in, so we've had it for 15 years. The paint (I worry it is lead-based!) has been flaking worse and worse and up until today, I had thought I wanted to restore it. Dave's really good with a paintbrush... well, very good at anything artsy. So, I had asked him a few weeks ago if he would take pictures of it, strip it and re-paint it to look like it did new. Well, he hadn't gotten around to by Tuesday afternoon, and I'm almost finished with the area I want to put it in, so he went to take pictures. Well, the last couple days, I've been wondering if I hold onto old stuff too much/too long and value stuff more just because it is old... So, I started thinking of how else I could do it up to fit into the area I'm putting it better AND have it be original. Well, let me start with how it looks, now.

It's got a top part that's not quite half the size of the bottom part:

another shot:

I guess Dave couldn't get all of the artwork detail on the larger, bottom portion in one photo, so here's the top half and the bottom half directly below (hope the two of them together blend like one picture):

And lastly, the detail of the picture (what's left) on the smaller, top part:

I really don't have any attachment to the artwork that's on it now, I just hate destroying someone else's artwork (and yeah, I know it could be something that was mass produced), plus it being so old... But, the thoughts I had to make it original were to completely strip it and clear-coat it (varnish or polyurethane or something to see the wood itself), which would match the bare wood shelf/coatpegs and shelf/coathooks I have nearby. Then I was *going* to see if Dave could paint those metal inserts (is that a weave? a mesh? a screen?) on the side between the top and bottom shelves a different metalic color like platinum. But then I got a bright idea (I won't say *good*... I'm not sure, yet)! I told him I wanted him to spray them copper and then the boys and I could do something in those diamond "panes" to look like stained glass! My original thought was plexiglass behind it that we colored on or painted, but then I realized it was metal and we might actually be able to take broken chunks of clear plastic and melt them into the diamonds! That was an exciting thought.

So, what do you think? Tell me if you think I should restore it or do it over in something original?

[De Smith]

Thanks, Kelly. I just worry that if I redo it in my own concept, I'll wish I'd have restored it instead. But, I guess that I could always re-strip it again, melt the plastic out of the metal and restore it, right? Duh. Why didn't I think of that! LOL Thanks for helping me think that through!!

[De Smith]

Thanks, Mary. I kind of like it, but then again, I kind of hate it. LOL Too old and "junky"-not that it's poor quality or anything-for my tastes. It just makes me think of something that would be at an aunt's house where you see it every time you go over to visit and think to yourself, "Why don't you get RID of that old thing??" IYKWIM

[Kelly Nishan]

I am so not a do it yourselfer but you asked soooo......I say do it over. I love the stained glass idea sounds cool.

[Mary]

Wow De, What a cool table :D

I can see your dilemma, because it would look great restored. Then again, it could be amazing with a new look. I guess I'd have to say to make it into an art project that you envision. Its more creative and more fun to do.