I have two metal floor lamps that I'm planning to re-paint with a metallic finish. Both are made of steel and have a small amount of rust. The lamps aren't valuable, but they have nice shapes. One is a vintage lamp, probably from the '40's, that has a fluted column and an ornate base and the other is more modern. I'd like to paint the older one a mid-tone bronze (not ORB) and the modern one a satin nickel. I was thinking of using a spray paint but I don't mind using a brush-on. What's the best brand? The stores around here carry Krylon and Rust-oleum. Both companies have several lines of metallic paints, which I find very confusing. I called Rustoleum and the person I spoke to wasn't at all helpful in sorting them out. I'd also like color recommendations. The color choices are completely different in the various lines. Neither the Krylon nor the Rust-oleum site has real-life photos of their metallic paints, and somehow I don't trust the accuracy of the colors on the plastic caps on the paint cans. For the vintage lamp, I was thinking of using one of the following: * Rust-oleum American Accents "Classic Bronze" * Rust-oleum Metallic "Burnished Brass" * Krylon Premium "Gilded Brass" and for the modern lamp: * Rustoleum American Accents Designer Metallic "Satin Nickel" * Rustoleum Stops Rust Metallic "Matte Nickel" * Krylon Premium Metallic "Sterling Silver" * Krylon Brushed Metallic "Satin Nickel" Has anyone here used any of these colors? How did they turn out? Also, what about primers? I'm not really changing the orginal colors of the lamps, but they both have a little rust, which I can remove. Thanks!

I like either Rustoleum or Krylon. You need to scuff-sand all surfaces with a fairly fine sandpaper (especially the resin bits) wipe totally clean, and prime with a high-adhesion primer such as Zinsser's BIN spray. Then put on two thin coats of a matte or satin black spray paint (or as directed on the paint can). Top with a matte or satin clear finish to minimize potential chipping. If you want a textured finish, try Rustoleum's or Krylon's "hammered finish" spray paint although it's a somewhat shinier finish. I've been quite happy with Rustoleum's "American Accents" line of plain solid-color spray paints when I've used it in the past. I haven't tried it but the info for Rustoleum's Universal Hammered Spray Paint says that it can go on both metal and plastics. I do recommend picking up one of those attachments that turns a spray can into a trigger spray. Makes spraying so much easier on your hands.

Probably not at this stage...course, I would also have been sorely tempted (and probably wrong) to use GEII and lay the crash glass over those roses. Now that you've revealed all that lovely, softly shiny metal, I'd just do it in plain crash glass and grout with white or off white to further emphasize the icy quality of the crash glass. Pat

I have a mish mash of styles of furniture - shaker, mid century modern, industrial Home Depot, second hand cottage, elderly IKEA, early hippie. That generally doesn't bother me. However I have been looking for a small dining table for years - so far when I find a reasonably priced one in ok shape I generally veto it because of the turned legs. I have nothing against turned legs but it is my sticking point. One style too many. Meanwhile I eat on the couch. I can completely understand being uncomfortable with visual chaos and the difficulty of integrating one's vision with someone else's. Especially if their vision is summarily plopped on me. If it is temporary I would try to set up the most comfortable space possible and use whichever lamp works best for functionality.