This is a link for a site I happened upon a few weeks ago. Now their lamp started out as shiny brass, and they wanted to tone it down. They used Rub N Buff and I loved the results they got.

I like your thoughts about spray painting it. I'd do that first and then try the Rub N Buff if you want to make it a bit more 'mellow'.

http://www.viewalongtheway.com/2012/08/rescue-lamp-a-story-of-the-transformative-power-of-love/

I'd grab that table. It would be easy to change to brass. I honestly don't feel you could mess it up.

Get a spray primer for metal. Rustoleum or Krylon would be fine. Rust-oleum American Accents bright metallics spray paint in Gold. I think that looks pretty good on it's own, but I would also use Rub N Buff in Antique Gold.

I've did a layering technique on a mini chandelier with Rust-oleum Metallic in Antique Brass Metallic and added some Rub N Buff in the Antique Gold.

I've also used straight up Antique Gold Rub N Buff, but think the spray paint first would be easier.

ETA

This bird was brown and blue and I used the Rust-oleum American Accents bright metallics in Gold after primer. I think this would look good by itself though I still might use the A.gold Rub N Buff for a little more dimension.

The mini chandelier is in the attic and I couldn't find it. The R. in Antique Brass Metallic is a little more bronze in color and you'd have to definitely do some layering with at least the Rub N Buff, IMO.

Here's Antique Gold Rub N Buff I used on the corners of picture frames. I also ran a tiny bit along the edges. It can be uneven on wider surfaces as you can see here. I could have blended it better, but I taped off and did this quick and was fine with how it looked for this space. It doesn't look like crap unless you make a point to stare and compare close up.

I did a search a long time ago where a blogger compared three different brass paints. They all looked good, but the best one, I believe Kryon, was in a small can I couldn't find anywhere locally.

My3dogs - Just looked at your link. I agree their lamp looks really great! I was mainly trying to show the colors, but that also shows how you can rub and blend the Rub N Buff out so it's not streaky.

Now I'm sitting here wondering what I can give a makeover!!

I have contacted the seller to ask about the height of the table. I'm hoping it's not too short. She said she's away for the weekend and will get back to me on Sunday. She just listed the table a day ago. Why would you list something for sale on CL when you're going to be away the day after you list it? Oh well, it would have been difficult to find time to look at it tomorrow anyway.

Thanks for the link, my3dogs. It looks like Rub n Buff might be the easiest way to change the table. I'll look around for more tutorials about changing silver to brass.

Rustoleum spray paint comes in antique brass. My advice would be before spraying the table, find a sample piece of metal that you could spray to test the color and see how much you like it before using it on the final piece. There just seems to be something about spray paint that makes the colors harder to gauge. I painted a file cabinet intense plum (or something along those lines). The cap color looked absolute perfect. Well, the color is really a bright plum. I might have realized it had I looked at pictures of things done in this shade online but I really should have tested it out before hand.

Thanks for the pictures, shee. Boy there are a lot of options out there in paint. And tish, you are absolutely right. I need to do a lot of experimenting before I do anything to the table, but first I have to get the table! :) I hope the seller follows thru and gets back to me on Sunday as she said she would.

I heard back from the seller with the height of the table, but have decided that I'm not going to attempt to paint the table. I have no experience in doing anything like that and I'm just too chicken to try. I'll keep looking for something that is the color I'm looking for. It seemed like a good idea at the time. :)

It's so easy to do, and a table for $50 is pretty hard to beat! Metal is much easier than other materials because it's non-absorbent, unlike wood, which could come out splotchy. I have sprayed metal picture/mirror frames, shoe racks, plate racks, candle holders, all metal items, and all came out beautifully. Imo, I don't see how you can mess up what is such an easy project. Get on Rustoleums website and read about the process. You might rethink your decision. ;)

Does that mean you've ruled out the new ones you were considering?

Aw, I'm sorry to hear you're going to pass on this one. Have you ever spray painted anything? A picture frame even? Spray paint on something this small/thin is very forgivable. I really think you can do it if that's the part that's holding you back. I still think you could use a single brass paint color. There are others out there. The Rub N Buff is very easy to work with too.

I haven't ruled out the ones I was considering. I just happened to be looking on CL and found the silver one and liked the simplicity of it and the price! I have VERY little experience with spray painting, but I suppose at $50, it's not a big investment to give it a try.

I'm really not sure what will look best for a coffee table in my LR. I know I want simple lines, but now am torn between using an oval shape and a rectangle.