Looks like that would make a great changing table--is it for the baby's room (and Congratulations, btw--!!!)? I guess I'd say that before you go to the trouble to sand, prime and paint, decide how much you love it. If I didn't love it, I would eat the 40% restocking fee. If you love it, however, I think it would certainly be worth painting. :)

Do you know what type of wood it is? It looks like pine, which can take the stain unevenly. It's also a softer wood, that will nick and dent more easily than a hard-wood such as oak or ash. It definitely has a country look. You could paint the entire thing or start by just painting the face fronts of the doors/drawers to either a blue, white or black, change out the knobs to something more decorative (crystal) and get a cute changing pad with colors to tie in with the walls. I'd hate to eat the 40% restocking fee plus the cost of the staining & finishing. I'd sell it privately before paying that much. It's a cute piece of furniture. Love the wall color.

I see you've noted that it actually *is* a changing table. Sorry: not enough coffee yet this morning.

I wanted to add: I think it would be beautiful painted the same white as your trim, and with crystal knobs.

It's Aspen wood. When we saw it unfinished in the store there was very little grain visible.

It is going to be a changing table for a boy's room. Would it be an insane amount of trouble to sand, prime and paint? If I return it I'd have to eat about $200.

We have that same piece of furntiure. We bought it online and received it unfinished. Ours is maple and my DH stained it. We put different knobs on.

I would sand, prime and paint it a nice color. It's a nice piece of furniture because after you kid no longer needs a changing table it's a nice regular dresser.

Yes, it would be worth painting, imo.

If the furniture folks had prepared the wood correctly, the stain wouldn't be blotchy in spots. You'd think they would know better. That's a shame you have to repaint, but I think that's the only way to go at this point.

I kept looking at your table and thinking "now where did I see that table" then it hit me, I saw one like it on Craig's list but it was a piece of junk. Now I know it's a changing table. BTW congratulations on the baby.

STOP!!!!

Does it look anything like the floor sample that you based your purchase on? If it doesn't then why don't you take it back and have THEM re-stain it?

If you want it darker it can easily be darkened stain wise w/o painting it.

If they give you a hard time and/or you just don't want to deal w/ the drama that sometimes ensues and are willing to spend a little extra money, consider having it re-stained elsewhere by a professional if you don't want to attempt it yourself.

I repainted a small nightstand last year and I have never painted anything before. My husband usually does all the painting. It was super easy.
First I put a coat of Zineer Primer with a brush.
Then I put a coat of satin paint with a small foam roller.

What does the crib look like? Is it darker or lighter than the dresser. Maybe, if its not varnished, it could be restained darker? I would see if the store will make it right and re-refinish the dresser. If not, I would try some of the ideas mentioned above and save your money for later. New black or blue knobs could change the hole look of the dresser. This is how I look at it....in 2 to 2 1/2 years your son will be ready for a new bed...and chances are you will buy a boys bedroom set with a new bed, nightstand, desk and dresser.... and this will all be history:)

When I called and spoke to someone they were not very helpful. They told me they could tone the wood to take away some of the graininess but then it would look more like paint.

I know it's only a somewhat temporary piece but I'm nervous about going through all the effort of sanding/priming/painting. I don't really want to shovel more money at the problem either.

Hi, It look's like they didnt condition the wood before they stained it. That is why the stain look's blotchy and uneven. When you have unfinished wood it should alway's be conditioned first with a conditioner you brush on before you apply the stain. The conditioner seals the grain of the wood and gives a more uniformed look after applying the stain. Also note that when you see unfinished wood furniture in a store you dont notice the grain as much. Staining and finishing a piece DOES bring out the grain more. So you have a choice.....Call the store where it was purchased and tell them you are unhappy with the finish on it. Speak to the manager. Find out what products they used and how they went about finishing it and see what they can do for you, if they wont take it back to correct the problem and without a restocking fee (ridiculous) Make the best of it. It is really a beautifull piece of furniture and you can make some nice changes to it until you are satisfied. Dont paint it just yet. If you really like the look of stained wood (that is what you wanted) find someone that can do it properly for you (anyone close to you that wouldnt charge?) Start with changing the hardware on it. Those wooden knob's on it give it more of a country look. Only paint over the dresser as a last alternative if you are still unhappy with the dresser. Once you paint furniture it is a lot more work to take off the paint if you decide to go back to the original wood finish.

Good luck and congrats to you on your pregnancy....Keep us updated.

cutter, they did a terrible job on the piece. It's not just the wood that takes stain unevenly, it is the person who stained it. I would either paint it or take it back, as I agree it looks awful!

If you put it on a credit card I would return the piece and then dispute the charge with your credit card company. You have to do this in writing within 60 days of purchase. I can't believe they would make you pay a 40% restocking fee for that. Make sure you take pictures of the table showing the poor quality work before you return it, and get a receipt for the return. When you are in the store, take a photo of any sign that says "we'll stain it professionally for you" or anything like that.

Sorry cutter we posted about the same time. Glad you got some response from them but I would ask them what kind of product they would use to tone it. Ask them if they have done it before and tell them you would like to see some examples of the workmanship they have done using that method before you commit to it if you do.

From a pure functionality perspective, I don't really much care for that piece. I'd be worried that the baby might get his head bumped against the raised ledge on the right--either by someone changing baby or later by the baby himself if he tried to sit up or was squirming. In addition to the issues that you brought up regarding the stain, it just does not look like a well designed piece of baby furniture. It looks like a piece where they are trying to make it still be useful after the baby stage. Chances are, however, you will invest in a new set of children's furniture in 2-3 years and may want a different coordinated look so just get a simple changing table that works for the next 1-2 years and assume you will either use it for another baby or get rid of it.

BTW, for my 3rd child I did not even use a changing table as I had disposed of the one I had after baby #2 and was not about to spend a few hundred on such a temporary piece of furniture. I just used a good quality pad which I slid under her older sister's bed and more often than not I changed her on the bed with a plastic pad below. Diapers I stored in a cloth diaper stacker.

I agree, the stain is an awful job. The wood should have had something like BM Neutral Blender on it before they stained it. And val is right, I thought changing tables have a frame aroound them to keep the baby from rolling off.

As long as she uses something like what I linked below she should be fine as far as baby rolling--esp as you are not supposed to leave baby unattended at the table. I think it's a style thing. The one I used with my now teenagers had the little railings; but when I had my youngest I noticed a switch to these dresser topped ones with the sloped changing pad.

Here is a link that might be useful: Changing pad

I am glad someone else mentioned the safety of the changing table.

Is there a safety railing that goes with the table? Also, the table looks too small to hold a baby that is any larger than an infant.

As for the finish, you could try just sanding it down again and re-staining yourself. That is, if you couldn't talk the furniture store into re-doing the piece.

I think changing the knobs will go a long way toward improving the "feel" of the piece.

Mainly I wanted to say that I think it will be an excellent changing table. I used a small dresser as changing table for my son. I kept a changing pad on it that had "non-skid" on the back and three different covers for the front. All the supplies fit into the drawers. He did not roll off because I never left him unattended on the dresser. Even with railing I think an active baby will roll off; better not to have a false sense of security. As far as baby bumping its head, just aim the head to the left :-) The nice thing about the higher part on the right is that baby won't be able to kick things off the edge.

I could have written everything valinsv wrote; about using a pad on the bed. I would have saved my floor space for a dresser or tall chest and just grabbed waterproof pads or those baby placemat things for the changing routine. But rather than eat the restocking fee for taking it back, here is what I would do....

Call to see if the manager is in and tell him you are bringing the table back to the store to let him see the terrible stain job for himself. Tell him it looks blotchy and like something YOU would do. Tell him YOU don't know a bloomin' thing about staining, which is why you wanted a pro to do it. Then see what he can do about getting the stain made right. Once you're there, you can simply use the piece until it doesn't work for you anymore. But don't fix it yourself. That's utterly ridiculous. They need to do it.

Later down the road, if you want to prime & paint the piece, do it then. For now, it's the store's job.

p.s. If he says he can't fix it, see if they will then refund ALL your money.

Red

I did not mean to say that an active baby will roll off. What I meant is that it would be possible. Good luck, whatever you decide.

Prior to buying the dresser that I used as a changing table, I changed DS on his pack n play and, as I recovered from delivery, on the floor. I kept diaper supplies in a plastic bin alongside the pad, both tucked away when not in use. I definitely think a dresser is better for getting more years of use out of the item than a regular changing table.

If you just use the changing pad linked above you will be fine. That is the same type that we used on the same dresser/changing table. The pad actually is attached to the back of the dresser with screws so it will not slip off. I used the changing pad for my DS until he was out of diapers. The height is perfect and I have a bad back so changing the kid on the bed or floor was hard on my back.

We chose that type of changing table/dresser because it did not cost too much more than a regular changing table but can be used for a much longer period of time. I can't remember the price but it was less than $200 with shipping. We now just use it as a dresser in DS room.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I called the store and they said they were willing to tone it for free, but the way they described toning is just that it would look like paint. Would toning work on this piece? Should i insist they just paint it a cream color?

Cream would be a good choice - it would look less country, which I think you are aiming for, & would be more unisex if you will use it as a changing table for future children -