To paint, sand lightly, prime with Bullseye 123 primer(Zinsser makes it) and paint with whatever paint you choose.

To stain it, you will need to strip the finish with a chemical stripper(the non-toxic orange stuff is fine). Then clean the stripper residue, and sand with 150 grit paper. Then apply a preconditioner----that limits the blotching pine is famous for . You can but a premade conditioner or make one with shellac----one pound of flakes dissolved in one gallon of denatured alcohol.

Then apply stain. I have not used gel stain, since it is basically a thin paint and sits on the surface moreso than oil based stains.

I have done a number of jobs with a colored paint, followed by a glaze (what the gel stain is acting as). Since I spray, I normally use tinted lacquer, an oil-based glaze, and seal with a lacquer clear coat.

I do not like latex paint for furniture -- I think it is too soft and prone to blocking. If you are brushing, oil-based enamel is a good choice.

Don't beat yourself up too much; pine is notoriously difficult to stain even in the best of circumstances.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glazing

thanks! we've decided to paint the thing.
i'll be looking a little closer next time i
volunteer to do something like this!
boysmom