Any ideas welcome for this cupboard

Sarah
by Sarah
I bought this cupboard at auction for £5, it was something of a surprise when I carried it out to the car and found the drawers were not jammed and the top lifted up. I could paint it and put in a top shelf but I am sure that there is someone out there with much more creative ideas.
Apparently a nice cupboard with 2 drawers
Surprise! Vinyl here and turntable there.
  29 answers
  • Roselane Siler Roselane Siler on Jan 18, 2015
    very nice piece. Looks like it has the beginings of a mini bar.
  • Stacy | BlakeHillHouse Stacy | BlakeHillHouse on Jan 18, 2015
    It is beautiful! I see many pieces on Hometalk that are improved by being painted, but I do not think this is one of them. It is beautiful as-is. I'm jealous! :)
  • Nelda Nelda on Jan 18, 2015
    I agree Stacy. I wouldnt paint it...looks perfect as is. Wish I could come across a deal like that!! LUCKY YOU!
  • Debs Debs on Jan 18, 2015
    I also agree it is beautiful as it is. Let us know what you finally decide to do with it. So many on here have such brilliant ideas, this will be interesting to follow!
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Jan 18, 2015
    I love the lines and functional-ness of this wonderful vintage piece. If this was mine I'd two- tone paint this using chalk paint and then hand wax. This is a fabulous look for vintage furniture. I have lots of wood tones in my home so I like to add accent painted pieces painted that are part painted and part natural wood. Your piece would look wonderful in an entryway or bathroom and make some wonderful extra storage. With the various doors and sections a two-tone look would make this very special and totally unique. I have lots of two-toned examples on my blog and Hometalk page.
  • Carolynn Elder Carolynn Elder on Jan 18, 2015
    I am seeing that with casters and made into a kitchen island.
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Jan 18, 2015
    I also like it the way it is. If ya decide ya dont like it ill take it!! lol. It would look fantastic in my living room up against the half wall that separates the kitchen and living areas. Ive been looking for a piece to go there kinda like a console table then i decided recently id really LOVE an old pie safe cabinet instead. This would work!! If ya like the KONTRY look you COULD take the doors off and replace the front of them (after a hole is cut into each on to the appropriate size of course and leave the edge pieces) and put PUNCHED TIN in that. Just a thought. I actually have a long three drawer chest BEHIND the front door that keeps my garden flags and two small junk drawers on top like batteries and such and then all our gloves and scarves and hats and such are in the second drawer and it MATCHES perfectly. Someone had painted it so i stripped and redid it dark pine or light oak..cant remember which. It had three different coats of pain on it so it was a pain but well worth it. (technically is 4 total drawers...two up top small and two regular long drawers)
  • Donna Donna on Jan 18, 2015
    leave it the way it is
  • Deedee JAMES Deedee JAMES on Jan 18, 2015
    I would agree Not to paint it if it was Oak. As it looks like teak..!! Personally I would definitely paint it with Annie Sloan chalk paint..painting the inside a different colour. hope this helps.
  • Elizabeth Dion Elizabeth Dion on Jan 18, 2015
    What a beautiful find! As much as I personally love painted furniture, this piece is perfect just the way it is. I would leave it just as it is.
  • Nancy Magnuson Nancy Magnuson on Jan 18, 2015
    Do the bottom doors open? Since I see hinges I assume they do. If they do I'd add roll out shelves. It would make access to contents below much easier. If this becomes a dining room piece I'd consider how the wood blends with existing furniture. Same if it becomes a mini bar in a family room. The yellowed finish might benefit from stripping (not easy with the fret work at the base of the lid & raised panel doors) and then you could consider leaving the finish natural or stain to match your existing pieces. Visible flooring is much lighter so at least change out the hardware to more modern. You're right, it appears to be a stereo cabinet with slots deep enough for vinyl albums. The unfinished area where the turntable was removed might benefit from a new surface so you can use it to mix drinks. Maybe just make a removable tray that sits there to hold glasses & ice bucket as you mix drinks. Not many people are formal enough to serve guests drinks on a tray but you could at least remove it to wipe down.
  • Sarah Sarah on Jan 18, 2015
    Thanks for some great ideas. My son has decided that he cant live without this piece and would like it painted black. He wants to use it as a drinks cabinet but the idea of painting the inside a contrasting colour would lighten it. At first I thought I would leave it unpainted but there are some scratches and a really unsightly mark on the side where a previous owner screwed in the the timber support for the turntable.
  • Hol1133097 Hol1133097 on Jan 18, 2015
    Please don't paint it! This is a beautiful piece.
    • See 1 previous
    • Mariele Mariele on Jan 18, 2015
      @Holmanga Sí totalmente de acuerdo, me encanta la veta de la madera, la terminación, todo!!! Felicitaciones! Excelente compra!
  • Gloria tulip Gloria tulip on Jan 18, 2015
    If you paint, you will be sorry.
  • Myrna Engle Myrna Engle on Jan 18, 2015
    I agree with majority. I'd not EVEN think of paint for a piece of such high quality. Sometimes an old ugly rag tag nothing can be surprisingly lovely painted, but some have just gone to far. In decorating you only need a painted accent piece here and there. If you put in to many pieces it gives the impression they were all you could afford, so you painted to hide this fact.
  • Betty Betty on Jan 18, 2015
    I have seen cabinets like this made into chairs by removing the front about down to seat level and making a cushion to fit the seat. You leave the the sides and back and can make a cushion for the back. Was really neat.
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Jan 18, 2015
    This looks like Mahogany Wood... I wouldn't paint it either...
  • Jeanette A Snyder Jeanette A Snyder on Jan 18, 2015
    Before painting check for dates or names of manufacturing company and check the value of the piece. In place of paint use patches of leather or high quality material. This will cause the least amount of damage, with a great look.
  • PattyV PattyV on Jan 18, 2015
    I would just use a high quality cleaner and wax on it. Place a glass table top to protect the top and spif it up a bit.
  • Sol Chalker Sol Chalker on Jan 18, 2015
    You can convert this to a changing table . Use the drawers for diapers, wipes , creams etc hope have fun.
  • Sue Scimeca Sue Scimeca on Jan 18, 2015
    It does have beautiful lines, and apparently is not a cheap piece of furniture. I would try cleaning it first before you did anything else to it. It might remain more valuable in its original condition then painted. IMHO.
  • David Shelley David Shelley on Jan 18, 2015
    I wouldn't paint a lot of things, but this for some reason I do like the idea of it being painted, especially with a second color on the inside. Obviously it does sound like it is destined for paint - black. The bar idea is interesting. I would suggest using some simple earthy (probably gray in various tones) tiles with felt on back for coasters which could be stored in the piece and/or set on top of it when not in use. Would add a nice layer of tonal color to it and/or some white ceramic tiles. Certainly could use other colors depending on the aesthetic.
  • Barbara P Barbara P on Jan 18, 2015
    I would clean and shine.
  • Mary z Mary z on Jan 18, 2015
    Forget painting it!!! It's beautiful just the way it is! If it's vintage painting will destroy the value!!
  • Diana Martin Diana Martin on Jan 18, 2015
    I would put a Keurig and turn in into a coffee station. I'm with the majority. DO NOT PAINT,
  • David Shelley David Shelley on Jan 18, 2015
    Value is partly to others and partly to self. Obviously in this case the son likes it and sometimes resale value makes more sense. Sometimes less and even then it depends on the buyer. Either way, classic tends to last, and black is classic enough. The value consideration though is worth considering perhaps for the right person, and then just accessorize it well like with a black runner (or whatever other color)
  • Marlene Marlene on Jan 19, 2015
    PLEASE DON"T RUIN IT WITH PAINT???????????? Get some wood restorer and cleaner and polisher and give it a good cleaning, you will be amazed.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 19, 2015
    Do not paint! Just condition it. If the dividers are deep enough, you could use it for some files, photos, mags you don't want to toss, etc. I would keep any source of moisture away from it.
  • Nancy Magnuson Nancy Magnuson on Jan 19, 2015
    please post the pics after you paint it black!