To paint or not to paint....

Question

I Have had this in my home for about 20 years. Used to be my moms. She had no room for it. It is an actual BAR, had places for Ice buckets in the door, a slide out tray for getting to items, places to hang glasses, places for bottles in the door... BUT it wasn't useful for anything else at all.I have removed and SAVED all of those special items from the inside...along with the screws etc. But the outside is just a little too.So what is your opinion? 
 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

Chris aka monkey · Answer

my 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 xx

Jamala W · Answer

I say paint it... and the handles are awesome

Carole · Answer

I 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!!

Anna Marie A · Answer

This 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.

Paulette Niedo · Answer

No way to painting. Lightly sand and steel wool it down. Restain then tung oil or varnish. The new stain will hide all problems.

Dec My Home Staging & Redesign · Answer

I 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 luck

Paulette Niedo · Answer

I'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.

Gail Salminen · Answer

@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 LOL

Sandra T · Answer

I'm with your husband. Don't paint you should refinish it

Linda · Answer

The 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.

Andy Flachs · Answer

do not paint. Use all in one stain and varnish. Use steel wool first.

Zbeth W · Answer

Well..... 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 ....

Sue Weiker · Answer

If 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 finished

Gretchen · Answer

I 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!

Marsha · Answer

My 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 :)

Jeanette S · Answer

My 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!)

Karen G · Answer

Is 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 offs

Elaine Simmons · Answer

I say 'do whatever makes you happy'. Why do men cherish wood so much? I never understood that.

Shari · Answer

When 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.

Sara Mahan · Answer

As 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?

Michelle Wigman Nason · Answer

How 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.

Molly · Answer

i'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!

Barbara Aubrey · Answer

I 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.

Christie Massey · Answer

This 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.

Twila Palmatier · Answer

Yes 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!

Kim Dagenais · Answer

Nice 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.

Melissa Riche · Answer

Paint 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.

MARY · Answer

I am of a mind of do what happys ya happy But in this case NO restore this gem, polish those loins heads and enjoy

Amanda Baker · Answer

What 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.

Julie Moyna · Answer

Chalk paint is very forgiving.  I'm trying one today in graphite.  Good luck

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