What would you do with it?

Question

This was left in the house we bought so I have no problem changing it. 
it is currently in the dining room..My hubby is a master trim carpenter and can build/remodel/refinish anything..I love to paint..we make a great team..

Linda P · Answer

It is 2 pieces..The top piece does have the plate grooves on the shelves..The 2 smaller drawers have felt and dividers.

Carole Alden · Answer

I love it as is too. Lots of good storage space too.

Patty · Answer

I agree, it is a beautiful piece. I would just wax it with a dark wax, and leave it as is.

Gail Salminen · Answer

What a beautiful piece. So many things you could do. What is your taste and what will be in the room with it and what room will you use it in. You could do a search for buffet renewals on this site - sooooo many ideas here from many creative people. I can see it refinished with a different wood finish or painted. One thing for sure I would love to see your finished product. Please post a pic.

Cori Warner · Answer

Paint it, change the hardware, and put a pretty paper or fabric on the back part behind the shelves. Would be pretty with black glaze over off-white paint, the details would really pop.

Cori Warner · Answer

If you keep the wood finish, I would degloss it, stain in a darker color, and go with distressed silver hardware. The color now is a bit dated.

Linda P · Answer

thank you all for your input..i will keep you posted to what I decide.

Diane C · Answer

It appears to be a beautiful piece and in good condition. You may find once it is filled with the items you love will make a difference. Maybe, change up some of the room's decor and accent pieces. Wait awhile, you may find you love it just as is.I rushed into painting a few pieces and now regret!!!!

Cindy Haskell · Answer

I agree with Diane C....once filled with your items, it may brighten up the piece! Gorgeous as is!!

Michele Eures · Answer

I like Cori Warner's ideas. I think the design would lend itself well to some colorful paint. The swirls and curls of all the beveled work would look great with a deeper color. I'm interested to see what you decide.

White Oak Studio Designs · Answer

What a lovely piece, I've always loved these open hutches with plates standing up on them. Hard to believe it was just left in your home! Consider painting this in a two-toned manner, painting some parts and leaves some parts natural. (At least to top of the base for example.) I love chalk paint, waxed. There are lots of two-tone furniture examples out there to study, or look on my blog as this is my own personal. preferred style of painting. Good luck and have fun with it!

Jeanette S · Answer

One thing about the natural wood is that it is easy to keep clean and it does not stain easily...that is why so much of it has survived over the years. You might want to add some lights in the top of this and just give it a good polish. It is a stunning piece! Keep in mind that all this 'painted' stuff is going to go out of style just as did cracking!

Patsy · Answer

I really like it the way it is, except I might change the hardware.

Karyl · Answer

I have a piece very similar to that except that mine has 3 glass doors at the top. I'm taking the doors off so that it will be the open concept. I'm sanding it, then making a milk paint using water, plaster of paris and granny apple green paint. It will be painted and sit in front of a white bead board wall. Good luck with your hutch!

Roberta Eagleston · Answer

Everyone seems to paint and call it shabby chic.  Used to be called antique finish back in the day.  This will fade out just as it did.  If you paint you will be taking the paint off  when the fad is no longer popular.  I suggest you remove the finish, seal with satin and change hardware.

Helen Yansak · Answer

Well I would take off the top and re-purpose the bottom into a vanity for my bathroom. Chalk paint the piece in a great color or antique white or leave as is. the top I think I might make into a hanging shelf for a dining room, or bedroom, even an office. Think out of the box!!! Great piece.

Brendalee Perryman · Answer

please leave it if you dont lke it trade it on craigs list for something you do like

Elizabeth Sagarminaga · Answer

This is a lovely piece. Pls leave it as it is. Use it to show off your crockery and cutlery. The max variation I would think, is converting it into a glass-doored chest although it would be a shame to waste all this lovely natural wood. Alternatively, you could use the upper part to show off your curios and the bottom part for storage.

DebLynn · Answer

I DO like painted reclaimed furniture….However, this piece shows no wear or damage so I would just cover or paint the back of the piece with paint or fabric on foam board which they carry at craft or $ Stores so you can easily change it for later…HAVE FUN!

Ladybea Bikerchick · Answer

What a beautiful piece. I would paint it white/wash and use it to display different china plates. Use the bottom to store table cloths, place mats and serving trays.

Martha Henriod · Answer

I'd paint it and have fun - it's not like it's a family heirloom. You can always sand it back down if you want it to be the original wood.

Liliana Wells · Answer

Changing the hardware will give it a new look without changing it drasticaly. If you then decide to paint, then do so. But it looks in good enough condition to use as is.

CC · Answer

I would leave it alone. Why fix what's not broken? Everyone wants to paint, refinish, decoupage stuff to items when there's nothing wrong with it in the first place. The reason items are made with beautiful woods is so you can see the grain and the life and story the tree has to tell us without using words. I say paint away on MDF and cheap fiber board and Items like that...but enjoy the priceless gift unpainted wood has to offer us. I would just use some colorful baskets on the top and on the shelves also some colorful plates and bowls and what most. Then you have color and your not messing with the integrity of the beautiful wood. I'm sorry but I have been refinishing and painting if necessary wood products over 30 years and when you spend so much time with the wood sanding years and years of globbed on paint and you finally see the wood and how gorgeous it is, you wonder why someone covered it up in the first place when you see the lines and the years of growing this tree did for you to eat off of our place your dishes on.

Diane Slater · Answer

The only thing I would do is, possibly put some wallpaper as a backdrop, in white, gray, something that reflects your own decor. I would also place some puck light under each shelf to display your collections. Clean up the piece, removing all the old wax, put on a nice coat of urethane. You could also highlight the details or just rub the hardware with a color paste.

Liana White · Answer

It is absolutely stunning as it is .If it is not your cup of tea I;m sure that someone would fatten your wallet for it .It is beautiful.

Kelly Patterson · Answer

I would paint it white and use a darker wax in the detail and really make it pop

Janet Smith · Answer

Definitely paint it. Cream with dark wax or perhaps a soft teal or sage green?

Jill · Answer

I love it the way it is, but if your furniture is different style, wood, maybe you can make it match by painting it. I have a hutch I got, then painted it black and painted the table bottom to match. The table top I left a dark stained oak. The brass on my hutch I painted an antiqued gold to match a lamp my dad gave me long ago. With all the curves in the lamp and hutch brass you would never know they didn't go together originally. My only wish was that the hutch was bigger.

Cherie · Answer

I would, since your hubby is a trim carpenter, take off the rococo trim around the top piece and either add plain trim or nothing depending on what it then looks like. If you don't paint it, I'd do a darker stain on it. I think all of us are assuming that it's wood, when it may be, in fact, 'fake' wood.

Cyndi · Answer

I would paint it, and highlight the detail to give it a shabby chic/French country look... I wouldn't try to make it match anything, but bring out it's own unique personality.

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