Over the long weekend I tackled a project I’ve been meaning to get done for a while: painting an old Heywood-Wakefield end table with high-gloss black paint. The whole time I was singing to myself, “I see a red door and I want it painted black…” (thanks, Rolling Stones) and thinking about Larry Vodak, the owner of Scout, who is a huge promoter of painting/lacquering things black (though he has a fine refinisher, such as Furniture Revival, do it for the products in his store).

While I was kicking myself a little when I saw the same table on eBay for $495 (above, left), I still stand by my decision (um, what choice do I have now?). Sometimes tired forms need a little kick, and besides, getting around to selling my table on eBay would have taken me another few years.