Mine has a formica top, but I love the idea of maybe glass . . . although our porch is kinda low brow for glass . . .. Spray painting the base will be easy enough, but we're still trying to figure out how to deal with the top. The plywood is "de-laminating" as my husband calls it, and the wood had the woven trim which I'm worried about wrecking, and then the top is stained white formica in two pieces with a seam 2/3 of the way along the top, that is also coming unglued . . .

I'd welcome any tips TR, since my top looks almost exactly like your "before" photo . . .

I started to revive some old wicker last year that has been in my family for many years. Most pieces were my grandparents. I washed it and took all of the old loose paint off. I had planned to take it to a couple and have it painted a darker color. I was going to use it, along with a porch swing, on my new front porch. That is until both of my daughters and a neighbor told me not to bother. Said it was too old fashion and I should look for something more modern. I am torn, and time is running out. I don't see spending money on new porch furniture when I have something perfectly good

Here is a piece similar to your desk that my mother had redone. It will remain in a bedroom.

Some of my wicker furniture on a porch in a previous home. I did not use it at my last home. We have brown faux wicker that we used. We will either use that on our new screened porch, or buy new for the screened back porch and use the brown on the front porch. Decisions, decisions.
I rocked all of my children and grandchildren in this rocker of my grandmothers. I loved sitting in it as a little girl. The couch was also a favorite and in excellent condition. Just needs a new paint color.

This table served as a diapering table, and then a bathroom table when my children were young.

Thanks! The wicker isn't going anywhere.

I have added to my post!!!

Love your table, Trailrunner.

Hubs took the top off. He thinks he can take the braid off and not damage it . . . You actually braided a new trim piece?!! No way could I ever do that. It's just not me. I have terrible hand dexterity issues. I can barely part my hair, for example. We'll see how it goes, I may check back. Right now I'm mulling buying a paint sprayer for doing the bottom. I waste a lot of money and resources on spray paint cans . . . Nothing to big and fancy, I'm not doing a house, but do a lot of small jobs of stuff around the house and yard . . .

Dad said last time he painted it he had a hard time getting the pain to stick, but I'm hoping a good primer coat will help with that . . . I read online that a good outdoor latex will work . . . I've got metal Bertolia chairs too that we use on the porch that are overdue for a paint job . . .

Not mine . . . but mine look just like this. Except they are old and original and right now look kinda grody. That's why I'm thinking of getting a paint sprayer . . .

I'm going to tackle the bottom first. So far I think the top will be ok but it could yet get damaged. Hubs took off the formica and the plywood. He wants to go simple with luan. I'm toying with tile . . . I have white tile from our kitchen backsplash. But I think that would make it kind of top heavy. But I do see examples of that kind of top online.

Love all the wicker pieces! Can't wait to see your finished piece, I pinkmountain. I agree the luan would be my choice for your top-love the examples you posted.

nhb22, can you tell me what the paint is in the room in your first picture? So rich and warm.

Glad to know there are still some wicker lovers out there. I've been one my whole life, inherited love from my mother and probably she got it from my grandmother. I have some heirloom pieces and some more recent acquisitions from my mother that probably still count as heirlooms. We have that same wicker chest that you have Nhb, but Dad has it in his place now at the foot of the bed. My other heirlooms outside of the above pictured table include a planter and a rocker. I also have a side table and magazine holder of unknown provenance.

Mom had a headboard for her king sized bed, but had to get rid of it because it collected dust that bothered her allergies, too hard to get it out of all the nooks and crannies. I had two of the fan chairs in my childhood bedroom but they weren't practical to have in my youthful apts, too much moving around risking damage. Mom had them on her porch for a while but finally sold as she had too much porch furniture and not enough porch, lol!

We have a big wicker warehouse locally and we used to go there for sales but I'm maxed out on wicker. I even had a smaller set of chairs, lounge and table for my dolls when I was a kid. We also had a wicker shelf unit in the bathroom growing up, not sure that happened to that . . . and don't get me started on picnic baskets . . . ah the wicker life!! I even wrote a research paper on wicker willow.

Last year, I bought a paint sprayer. After doing a fair amount of research, I purchased the Home Right sprayer from AMZ. I first purchased the cheaper model. It worked for one weekend and then did not work again despite my meticulous cleaning before putting it away. The company refunded my money and I purchased the better grade. I have had no problems with it. There are some You Tube videos on how to best use it that are extremely useful to get the best performance out of the sprayer.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071X9FZ7R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love wicker and there's nothing old-fashioned about it, except that it's been around a long time. I would agree that the fancy, over-the-top kind that's for indoor use may not be what most of us would want today, but nhb22's wicker furniture is fine. I wish I had a covered porch to put wicker furniture on. I've sat on a family member's wicker chairs on her beautiful front porch and they're very comfortable.

lizbeth-gardener - The color you see in the photo is actually a bright yellow versus what you see. It's a BM brand in the historical family. The name slips my thoughts. If you are wanting a yellow, I can look it up for you.

l pinkmountain - That wicker chest is not old like the rest of the pieces. Came from a Pier 1 type place. It was a light brown color when purchased. I probably bought it in the early 80's.

nhb22, thanks, but i'm not wanting a bright yellow. The way it shows on my monitor is a very soft, warm, goldish yellow.

Here is another photo of the same color.

Ah, so old, so out of fashion...just deadful. ._Not!! .

Gorgeous wicker furniture, everyone! I've always loved wicker furniture and baskets and ended up teaching myself how to weave through odd circumstances. I also always try to repair or restore pieces because I know *exactly* what goes into the making. lol!

Trailrunner, did you use twisted paper for the braid? That's what it looks like to me in the photos. I just wanted to say that there is a pattern out there for making that braided rim! I made this Victorian basket from a Lyn Siler pattern several years ago... it's a bad pic taken right after the braid was finished and I hadn't trimmed the ends yet, but you can see it's the same braid. In this case, the blue weavers were added later and fully incorporated into the existing weaving.

@User, you did a great job figuring it out yourself! That basket rim is woven in multiple rows... it's not easy. lol! It took 2nd place in its division at the NYS Fair. I'm betting you bought from Frank's because they list several different paper weaving supplies (size, twist, ply, etc.). Even a photo of whatever you have would probably tell me a lot about whether I could/would use it and be worth the cost of shipping.

Such a talent!!! Who knew that this was how wicker braiding was done. I don't think there is any missing on my wicker pieces. I'll have to check when I can get a closer look at them.

@User, yes, I can definitely use the reed and I think I could use the twisted paper somehow. If nothing else, it looks like it would make a nice rim filler! I currently generally use twisted seagrass as filler and it's rough on my hands. :) I will see if I can PM you.... eta, I cannot. Can you PM me?

Nbh our wicker chest is from the same era. I'm getting so dang old that the stuff I like from my youth is now classified as "vintage." We got that chest right before the rage for plastic wicker started. I can see how it is a plus if you are leaving it out without a covered porch or deck and still want the wicker look, but give me the real thing any day. It is very comfortable. I have a good friend who furnished his bungalow living room with a wicker couch and chair set. I always longed for a wicker themed bedroom but at this point in my small cottage home, I just am going to have to love up on what I already have . . .

Edited to add that here are my two other true heirlooms from Grandma. The fernery is filled up with fake red geraniums because that's what Grandma always had in boxes in front. The light on my porch is too low to even grow real asparagus ferns, so I decided as long as I couldn't grow any real plants, I was going to use fake geraniums in honor of Grandma. I used to love to hang out on her summer porch as a child, and some of her porch items are still with me on mine.

My refinished wicker table is going next to the rocker at some point. Hubs puts his portable stereo in that spot so we can chill out to jazz on the porch.

Martinica I have a very similar iron planter/stand but mine's still black. Love your white one. And I have those same woven rugs . . .

Wondering what kind of white rose is growing in that pot? I had an Iceberg rose in a pot going OK for two years but something did it in last winter. Probably the dramatic temp. swings . . . Going to try again but not til next year. I couldn't find anything I liked this spring.

l pinkmountain - My grandmother also had those planters. I don't know what happened to them.

My grandfather had a set like those planters too! I have no idea who in the family got them. He'd always grow coleus in them -- he'd move them to a certain spot in his yard each growing season, then move them inside near a bank of sunny kitchen windows to grow for the winter. :)

eta: Thank you, @User! I replied by email. :)

My Dad apparently had a paint sprayer which he gave to me so hopefully it will work. Not sure when I can get this project done, we have so many projects!! Both the table and the planter need to be redone, plus those chairs I mentioned. We're going to have to set up some kind of spray booth!

Look what the neighbor left on my porch! lol!

lpink, if the paint sprayer doesn't work out, and you don't already have one, buy yourself one of these: Spray paint comfort grip

Just trying to avoid buying a gazillion little spray cans, considering how many pieces I have to do and all basically the same paint.