I don't think the gold is necessarily a problem in itself, it is more about the style of the lamps and frames. If the frames are really heavily scrolled and detailed, and the lamps are very formal, then that is more the issue. Gold and browns can be very nice together.

Wow! Look at those colors! I really love and admire color in a home. But i've never been comfortable with it in MY home. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say, i have a "neutral minimal" personality. :) This room i'm working up is a departure for me. Having said that, i love the idea of that lounge. There's a pillar at the entrance to the room that may make for an awkward traffic flow if something as substantial as a lounge is used. But if i can swing it, it would be much better than bench seating. I'll play with that! Thank you ... And as for mixing styles, like you, Parma42, i'm all for it! My mother always said if you surround yourself with things you love, somehow it all seems to work.

I would just antique/stain over the gold paint with a waterbased acrylic. There is a color of Patio Paint (found at any craft store) called 'wrought iron black' which is a shade between a true black and a true brown. It would probably be perfect for your project. All you need to do is brush on your paint(be generous), let it sit for about a minute, then with a soft rag rub the excess off. You might have to thin the paint a little to a stain consistency for a smoother application. Let it dry and if you need it darker repeat the process again. It is best to do several light coats instead of one heavy one because you will have more control over the end result. Repeat the process until you achieve the look you want. *It's always best to do a small test area first before diving in to your project.

I've used the same technique SisterSunnie has. It works well, mutes the gold. If you're interested more in having it a solid black and less translucence, with almost "chippy" areas of gold, I'd say rub candle wax fairly heavily on edged areas of the frame, use your craft paint over the whole thing, and then rub away the waxed areas. That works pretty well too. --Jenn