Sink them and finish, then put on matching filler as needed.

by "filler' i mean the colored stuff used to cover nails, not paste wood grain filler.

If the white wash is water based, put some neutral filler over them first.

They are likely to then show as white spots though (the whitewash pigment will collect on the filler).

You can then go back and use a darker filler when the final finish is applied to hide them.

Hopefully there are not that many face nails showing.

This post was edited by brickeyee on Tue, Jun 18, 13 at 12:28

Thanks brickeyee.

The whitewash is water-based. So you're suggesting I should put some neutral wood filler over the countersunk nails, then whitewash and polyurethane, then another darker filler to match the final result?

What about using some of the sawdust from the floor mixed with glue? I've read some people recommend that as the filler. Would that change your approach?

There are not too many nails, but some of them are bent at a right angle, so sinking them is a little tricky, but doable.