To paint or not to paint....
I will have to do this when my husband is gone or he will go nuts. He doesn't like the cabinet but painting wood just drives him nuts! But this is so ugly as is and if I ever want to "restore" it I can always take the paint off with the other right?
Here is the link to my blog post http://cottageatheart.blogspot.com/2013/10/to-paint-or-not-to-paint.html #repurpose #Coffee #java
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Chris aka monkey on Oct 15, 2013my answer to this question will always be the same.... it is yours so do what ever blows your dress up lol iffen it was mine i'd have to paint it...the knobs are way cool xxHelpful Reply
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Jamala W on Oct 15, 2013I say paint it... and the handles are awesomeHelpful Reply
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Carole on Oct 15, 2013I would be checking first to see if it is an antique and more valuable left as it is, or restored. If not, then go crazy with the paint would be my thoughts!!Helpful Reply
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Anna Marie A on Oct 16, 2013This is a lovely piece. If it was kept better, as in oiled and protected, i would say no way! However, I think paint will give it dignity again. Love the pulls.Helpful Reply
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Paulette Niedo on Oct 16, 2013No way to painting. Lightly sand and steel wool it down. Restain then tung oil or varnish. The new stain will hide all problems.Helpful Reply
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Dec My Home Staging & Redesign on Oct 16, 2013I may suggest to paint it. Mixing the old with modern is cool and fun. A good sanding down will do the trick and selecting a nice color paint will work. Good luckHelpful Reply
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Paulette Niedo on Oct 16, 2013I'm not sure, but I would think it would keep the value better than painting. When most people see a painted antique, the first thing they want to do is strip it. I don't think resale is an issue here. She just wants to make it look nice to keep it.Helpful Reply
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Gail Salminen on Oct 16, 2013@Tanya Peterson Felsheim what a beautiful piece, I love it. I love the detail. I had a roadside rescue once that looked unsalvagable, with paint and other marks on the top. I refinished - stripped, sanded and stained - and it looks like it is from an upscale antique store. If it were mine, I would strip it down first and then decide to either stain or paint or a combination of the two. You have a real classy piece there and I am sure what ever you decide it will look gorgeous in the end. I hope you update us when you make the change. P.S. I love when my hubby goes on his golf week, but he never knows what he will find when he comes back LOLHelpful Reply
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Sandra T on Oct 17, 2013I'm with your husband. Don't paint you should refinish itHelpful Reply
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Linda on Oct 17, 2013The first thing I would do is clean the heck out of it and see if you liked it then. If you think so then wax and buff it real good. Polish up those beautiful lions and you might be surprised with what you have and so will Hubby. I'm all for keeping "real" old wood as is unless you really don't like it. But once you paint it and want to go back to wood it will be hard to get all of it off. And if you want to sell it later you won't get as much for a painted piece on something that old and in that good of shape. Good Luck either way and show us how it turned out.Helpful Reply
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Andy Flachs on Oct 17, 2013do not paint. Use all in one stain and varnish. Use steel wool first.Helpful Reply
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Zbeth W on Oct 17, 2013Well..... If you paint it it will really reduce the resale price as it still is true that a true antique lover or vintage collector will always prefer the original finish... If you have no desire to sell and will always want to keep it than do with it what you will... But I might see what it is worth... Then if you want change it ....Helpful Reply
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Sue Weiker on Oct 17, 2013If you are thinking of getting rid of it, there is no sentimental value to it, then, go ahead and sell the hardware to a salvage place, or antique buyer and have at it. It can be very much fun to restore an old piece that your not attached to and update it with new or old, repurposed pulls if you find some you like. I think it would be smashing since your going to make it a coffee bar ( GRRREAT idea BTW) , look for some collee pot or coffee mug pulls. There is an amazing array of pulls out there. Good luck and have fun restoring it. I buy pieces a lot and restore and repurpose them, and I hear a lot, "That is beautiful, and YOU saw that. I would have never thought of doing that". I can see keeping its value if you want to sell for a profit,but if not, let er rip and have fun. If you redo it, please post a pic. I'd love to see it finishedHelpful Reply
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Gretchen on Oct 17, 2013I am usually all about painting wood - IF the piece is run of the mill and the original wood or veneer is ugly. Your beautiful cabinet is not that case. Refinishing the wood is not hard at all if you take your time and do one step at a time. It is not a fast as painting but to see the wood come back is really rewarding. There are directions all over the web and You Tube. I vote to refinish the wood!Helpful Reply
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Marsha on Oct 17, 2013My personal choice would be to paint it with 'chalk paint' ...BUT... I find the value of furniture like this to be how YOU would ENJOY it. It wouldn't matter to me if it was worth a few hundred if I hated it unpainted and never wanted to look at it or use it. If you don't like it and don't use it as it is, paint it. Paint it a color that makes you smile or accents a new unexpected room or base coat /stencils on it. Oh my the possibilities are endless... think outside the box, search the web for ideas. These painted furniture items done well sell for LOTS of money. Make it a piece of art. Remember its ONLY paint and you can remove it or repaint it anytime you want. JMHO :)Helpful Reply
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Jeanette S on Oct 17, 2013My heart swells when I see a piece like this and I think, "Oh how I would cherish that piece". It would really be a shame to give up on this piece and paint it without trying to restore it. A light hand sanding is all it needs in most places, a touch of stain put on with a small brush and a good finish. If I had this piece and it belonged to my Mother, I would spend the money to have a professional repair it. (If you can get the paint off with a little effort, just a few coats of dark Old English oil would probably work wonders since old pieces deserve their bruises!)Helpful Reply
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Karen G on Oct 17, 2013Is the wood a veneer? If it is, paint away. It bugs me to paint over good wood as well. If it is wood, perhaps refinish it. If I can do it, you can, Do whatever will give new life to your decor or pass it on for someone else to treasure. I recently decide to pass on some furniture I collected over the years. It's stuff I still love but just doesn't funtion as much as something else might. My niece is furnishing a summer place and she is delighted with my cast offsHelpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Oct 17, 2013I say "do whatever makes you happy". Why do men cherish wood so much? I never understood that.Helpful Reply
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Shari on Oct 17, 2013When it's all said and done, my prediction is you will never get a general consensus here and you'll probably end up with just about a 50-50 split between those who say paint and the wood lovers who think painting old wood furniture is totally unthinkable. Even if this piece has some value as an antique, the fact is, it looks to be in very poor condition which probably considerably lessens any monetary value it could have potentially had if it was in better condition. Anything you do to it yourself, even refinishing rather than painting, will most likely devalue it even more. Since you are probably not a professional at antique restoration an appraiser would take that into consideration when placing a value on the piece. My advice is simple: Listen to your heart. What's the point of keeping an inanimate object if it doesn't work or make you happy? Your home is your haven and you should be surrounded by only things you love. If you plan to keep this piece and use it, then paint it, if that's what you want to do.Helpful Reply
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Sara Mahan on Oct 17, 2013As an antique dealer, painter of wood furniture and all around lover of old things, I have a few comments: this is not a "fine" antique. This is not a piece the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow are going to swoon over. It's from after prohibition (1933), so does not have huge value in the first place. That being said, it is totally a preference as to whether to refinish or paint. Painting is easier and faster. Refinishing will not detract from it's value, as it has little value all marred up in it's current state. If you paint, I recommend a commercial chalk paint (I have used many times and love the Annie Sloan Chalk paint and wax), saving you the trouble of sanding and priming. You can paint it, distress it, wax it and give it a whole new life. Or you can refinish it. I love the lion pulls! The only consideration you should have is: what will make you love this wonderful old piece again?Helpful Reply
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Michelle Wigman Nason on Oct 17, 2013How old is it? It doesn't look like a very high end valuable antique and with that being said, I think you should paint it. It will look totally awesome and updated Especially with the lion head handles. Go with your heart. You won't regret it.Helpful Reply
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Molly on Oct 17, 2013i'd try some simple restoration steps like light sanding w/ super fine or steel wool and some oil (Howards product maybe) first since i don't see any chipped veneer. If it comes out nice you could recoat the top only w/ poly ( i like the wipe-on). If u still don't like, then paint. I always try to radically prune a tree before i cut it down because you can't go backwards!Helpful Reply
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Barbara Aubrey on Oct 17, 2013I would ask yourself a few questions like why paint - to hide, to create a splash with color, to do what is popular now - 1930s was depression time that included depression glass and crochet lace doilies - are you considering a homage to the depression era - does the wood and style just not fit in with your decor - one thing I would do till I figure out the best treatment for the exterior I would cut and cover with fabric cardboard to fit each inside walls, top and bottom of the interior, spray bottom with a plastic spray for fabric. I would secure the covered cardboard (that I would pad with quilting batting) to the interior using some sort of removable adhesive or double sided tape. A large tray on top would hide the marks and give it some class while you decide where in the house is the best location and then how difficult and time consuming to attempt finishing the wood using a lighter or darker stain before you give up and paint it. Of course a hand-painted scene across the entire piece would be unique.Helpful Reply
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Christie Massey on Oct 17, 2013This piece would be sooo pretty with the top refinished in a dark stain and the rest painted in white and aged! I'd paint those beautiful knobs with an aged bronze to bring out the details.Helpful Reply
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Twila Palmatier on Oct 17, 2013Yes it might be nice all sanded, refinished, restored, etc. etc. but I'll bet Tanya doesn't want to do that and neither would I. Regardless of how easy others say it is. That said, my thought would be to put it on Craigs List or Ebay. If there are no hits then I'd take off the lions and just paint away-before hub gets home!Helpful Reply
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Kim Dagenais on Oct 17, 2013Nice cabinet. I would sand down any rough spots, and then prime and paint your unit an antique type of white or light cream milk paint inside and out. Then on the facing of the doors apply Some French stencils like the Eiffel Tower, French labels etc in black. (Any theme would look great) Then seal the stencils or labels with a clear water based urethane or Mod Podge. After that, scuff up some of the edges with fine sand paper, and apply a dark brown stain with a rag only on the scuffed up areas. Then you could apply a water based urethane to the entire cabinet, or apply wax. I myself have never used wax on any kind, but have read from other members that it is great and really gives the milk paint a beautiful finish.Helpful Reply
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Melissa Riche on Oct 17, 2013Paint it with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Aubusson Blue (blue is the new black), then the lion heads will look gorgeous against the tasteful blue, and you'll have a piece to cherish that took very little work, but gives you a lot of pleasure - not least because it's a family piece.Helpful Reply
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MARY on Oct 17, 2013I am of a mind of do what happys ya happy But in this case NO restore this gem, polish those loins heads and enjoyHelpful Reply
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Amanda Baker on Oct 17, 2013What a stunning piece!!! I would want to paint it also. I would use chalk paint then seal it with clear wax. Those lion head's will just pop and it will look fab!! My hubby also hates painted wood. He gets sooo mad about it! That's why I call ugly wood 'manwood.' It's wood only a man could love. Hhhmmmm.....since it's your piece do what you feel inspired to do.Helpful Reply
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Julie Moyna on Oct 18, 2013Chalk paint is very forgiving. I'm trying one today in graphite. Good luckHelpful Reply
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Patty on Oct 18, 2013I agree Annie Sloans is great, make sure you lightly sand it with steel wool...Helpful Reply
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Twila Palmatier on Oct 19, 2013I think you could still refinish it when it's painted. I think a good way to make a decision like this is to make a list of each option and list the pros and cons of each. Then make your decision. Restore, paint, sell, keep as is as an antique, Salvation Army, etc. Pros and cons? Guess that ones up to you! Good luck Tanya!Helpful Reply
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Jean DeSavage on Oct 19, 2013My number one question is, does the style of the cabinet fit in with your decor, or are you hanging on to it because it was your mother's? If you really love the piece, do what makes you happy. Or since you've had it for 20 years already, do you still love it, or are you really just tired of it? Many of us end up keeping items that our parents owned because we think we should. That's how hoarding starts-I know from family members' struggles. I know it's hard to give up parental items, especially if they are gone now, but if it's not truly useful, or if you don't just LOVE it, give it up. Then you can put something there that will make you smile every time you look at it.Helpful Reply
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Tlbinftw on Oct 20, 2013I love old furniture...and I find beauty the flaws that they have gotten over their life while being used. With that said, before I would paint I would do my best to refinish the wood in a natural state...you can always add a splash of color or even a mirror or granite top to add color to the top or inside it the back where you do not take away from the natural state of the furniture...it is also where you can change it out easily where paint may not be that forgiving...Helpful Reply
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Melody Jacobs on Oct 20, 2013I have a large secretary in my kitchen that I use as a hutch. It's an antique that my mother loves but not enough to keep at her house! It was bought by my grandparents at a garage sale back before my mom was born (75 years ago). It sat in her house forever with the front of one drawer refinished (just to see what it would look like but never finished). When my husband and I got it we spent a strike week refinishing it. I love it but I would LOVE to paint it white, along with my butt ugly pine cabinets. However, I was brought up with the belief that you NEVER paint wood. And my mother would hate it if I painted the secretary white.Helpful Reply
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Sherry Perleth on Oct 22, 2013I have seen some cabinet like that just sanded down... with a power sander around the edges. It really looked good. I have some ole pieces I was going to try it on. Then if you don't like it Paint or stain at that point. The pieces I seen were in a shop. Should have taken pics.Helpful Reply
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Linda on Oct 28, 2013I love painted furniture. However, if it were me I would clean it up first (vinegar/oil) and see what you think. If you don't care for the natural finish, then make the decision to paint. I love the look of a wood top and painted bottom. Good luck!!Helpful Reply
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Jacqueline on Oct 28, 2013I have same dilemma with my buffet cabinet and dining table. I've decided to do what Linda suggested refinish the wood top and paint the bottom with chalk paint. I think if I painted the top it would get too abused in my house with kids and pets, which defeats the purpose in my opinion. My 90 year old bedroom set however, I will completely refinish someday not paint..Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Oct 28, 2013I have the same dilemma with my mother's cedar chest. I want to refinish the top and paint the bottom. I have people telling me I should not. But what they don't see is that there is a chunk missing from the trim on the lower part. And having it that dark, it would not work anywhere in my house. Here is a picture after I sanded some on the top.Helpful Reply
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Kathy on Oct 28, 2013We have almost an identical piece, expect ours is more on the mahogany side. On ours, the top opens up to give you access to all the glasses and has a pullout shelf for you to make drinks on. We use ours as a bar, storing all of our alcohol in the bottom. I have never seen another piece the same as what we have, and I would be very hesitant to paint it. I hope that value has increased over the years. That said, you have to do what is best for you.Helpful Reply
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Kathy on Oct 28, 2013@Tanya Here are my pictures. I found one on ebay that is similar and it was listed at $400. which is more than I paid for it.Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Oct 28, 2013My brothers or sisters can't object! They didn't want it! So it's onward for me! I will post when it is all done!Helpful Reply
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Marlene Wilson on Dec 31, 2013I would restore it,don't paint it.Helpful Reply
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