Should i paint it or leave it alone?

Jamala W
by Jamala W
I found the perfect side table for my kitchen to hold my stereo.. now im wondering should i paint it or leave it alone... what's your take?
my soon-to-be stereo station..
  68 answers
  • Z Z on Feb 10, 2013
    I have a feeling you know what I'll say, but I'll say it anyway. Leave it, it's beautiful just the way it is. What a great find Jamala!
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 10, 2013
    thanks Becky..i appreciate your opinion.. i strongly feel your way.. :-)
  • Z Z on Feb 10, 2013
    I thought so, which made me quite surprised you even asked. If it needs a bit of care try some Howard's Restore A Finish. I get it at HoDe. It comes in colors that you get to match the original color. Works beautifully. Quite easy to do too.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 10, 2013
    Yes..it just have a small scuff mark on the front right.. (i'll call it character chuckles).. but other than that .. nothing is wrong with it.. (i took care of the dust and cob webs already.. :-)
  • Z Z on Feb 10, 2013
    Oh than all you need is a little Old English Scratch Cover for Dark Wood. It works wonders. Just check in any store that carries furniture polish and you'll find it. http://www.oldenglishpolish.com/sf2_scratch.shtml
  • Sidnia Soto Sidnia Soto on Feb 10, 2013
    That's a beautiful table as it is, it will be a shame to alter it.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Feb 11, 2013
    I like it the way it is too. A little elbow grease and it will be like new. Now, if it doesn't quite match your kitchen decor you can buy a couple cloth placemats that match the rest of your kitchen and put your stereo on them. It will pull it together and protect the finish. One thing that I do on my vintage furniture is to have a piece of glass cut for the top. You can put anything on top and you can also slide pictures, pretty wrapping paper, fabric etc under the glass.
  • Cathy Neely-Kedzuch Cathy Neely-Kedzuch on Feb 11, 2013
    What a beauty. I would leave it as is. Good find!
  • Jeri Jeri on Feb 11, 2013
    paint it...in a vivid striking color...thinking diy chalkpaint?
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Feb 11, 2013
    I vote keeping it wood
  • Linda T Linda T on Feb 11, 2013
    This is an ornate piece, that cries 'antique', so have patience! If you live near an antique shop, a museum or auction house, take a good, clear photo of it and try to find an expert to tell you if it's valuable. (Or if they want money to value it for you, don't pay, just ask, "Valuable or not?" Even if you paint, it could be stripped again, but it's difficult to totally clean again, and usually original patina on good furniture enhances the value. As written above, Old English works well, but if you have any deep gouges, scribble over them with a matching Crayola, then polish off the excess. If it turns out to be of no particular value I could see it in a flat, pale olive green (If it would fit into the decor)
  • Farah Muzaffar Farah Muzaffar on Feb 11, 2013
    Its a beautiful piece... If you want to settle it insome bright colour decorated room than sure paint it ....
  • Linda Webster Linda Webster on Feb 11, 2013
    It is beautiful as is..The dark color is really the "in" thing now, for the wood pieces. So it is already in style. If you want some bright colors, do it with drapes or pillows or paint on the walls! Add something bright, Vase or picture frames etc on the piece.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 11, 2013
    Thanks Sidnia.. looks like the verdict is in.. i'll leave it alone.. thanks to everyone for your feedback
  • Tracey T Tracey T on Feb 11, 2013
    Oh please don't paint it, it is beautiful just the way it is! Some things you just don't want to put paint to..
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Feb 11, 2013
    I am so torn, in my mind I can see it beautiful both ways. I agree with, if it is valuable..etc, but if it is not..why not? at some time, perhaps.
  • Tammy Slavin Tammy Slavin on Feb 11, 2013
    I would leave it natural . If you want some colour , add a runner , or some bright place mats
  • Jeanine Jeanine on Feb 11, 2013
    Paint & distress the body, keep the top as it is.
  • Maxine St.Clair Maxine St.Clair on Feb 11, 2013
    It's a beautiful piece, don't harm it, the old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 11, 2013
    Than you all for your valuable input..
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Feb 11, 2013
    @SheilaG, Plum Doodles what do you think?
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Feb 11, 2013
    You know if the veneer were peeling or if it had a huge gouge in the top I might say "sand it" (or fill it with wood putty) and go for it...but she's really holding up beautifully especially considering how old it is...so I vote leave it as is and give it a good coating of liquid gold or something to re-hydrate the wood... It's a lovely piece...
  • Pamela F Pamela F on Feb 12, 2013
    Its beautiful just the way it is, lucky find!
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 12, 2013
    Thanks Sheila.. (i kinda thought the same thing) i love painted furniture.. but it 's perfect if the piece was damaged...this one isn't
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Feb 12, 2013
    What a GOOD idea @SheilaG, Plum Doodles that WOULD be a surprise and fun!
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Feb 12, 2013
    @Jamala W I have been following this post with great interest. I think the piece is beautiful, it was a great find. While I don't disagree that as is it is wonderful, I think you need to decide what will fit best in your kitchen. You may consider painting the lower half and just refinishing the top and keeping it wood. If it were a family heirloom I might advise otherwise, but this is a wonderful find - do with it as you think will look best and add charm to your kitchen while being a functional piece. Would really love to see the final product. Thanks so much for posting :)
  • Irene Irene on Feb 13, 2013
    I think it would be nice to paint it a pretty contrasting color that will look good in your kitchen. A great place to put pretty glass ware like maybe depression glass. A collection of small and tall vases with flowers in them. Or a collection of cookie cutters.
  • Irene Irene on Feb 13, 2013
    If you decide to leave it as is I would use Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Preserver. Beeswax and orange oil. I use it on all my furniture including my two antique buffets. One left to me from my mother and one left to me from my mother in law. It keeps my furniture looking beautiful and it just needs dusting in between times. I buy mine at Home Depot. I'm sure other places carry it too. Hi Bernice.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 13, 2013
    Great.. thanks Irene for the tidbit info.. i appreciate it.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 13, 2013
    Thanks Gail for following and giving me your take on it.. I think I'm going to keep it the wood tone.. I needed it for my stereo station. and it'll serve its purpose perfectly for it... i had it on my counter and it was eating up too much space.. and this freed up a lot of space. I will take a pic and post it..
  • Betty Conder Betty Conder on Feb 17, 2013
    That is a beautiful piece of furniture please don't ruin it by painting it. From what I can see it looks like it was made in the late 1930's or early 1940 so you really do have a great find here. I know you said you wanted to use it in your kitchen but why not think of it as a small desk with a few antiuques sitting on it.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Feb 17, 2013
    Hey Betty, I did think aobut using it in my foyer..i have some collectibles to display but i really need a stero holder.. and it fit so perfectly on it....if come across another stereo holder.. i'll move it.. thanks for your input..
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on Mar 14, 2013
    I am in agreement with Betty. It may not match, it may look out of place but a coat of paint (and it will probably take several) will be difficult to remove. Hey- they don't make these anymore. But you decide what works for you.
  • Karen Darby Karen Darby on Mar 18, 2013
    Jamala, I had a peice like this also, I fought with myself to paint it or not. I ended up painting it, and regreted it the moment i did it. I love color and being different, but in this case, I messed up.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Mar 18, 2013
    Thank you for your feedback.. and I thought strongly about it and said i may regret painting it so i just chose to leave it alone.. espcially since it wasn't damaged.
  • Laura Tabor Laura Tabor on Apr 06, 2013
    I would leave it, it looks beautiful as it is.
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Apr 06, 2013
    thanks Laura.. That s exactly what I did
  • Sheila R Sheila R on Apr 07, 2013
    I say paint it!! Color will pop this great peice!
  • Karyn Lisk Karyn Lisk on Apr 17, 2013
    Love to see it with the stereo on it! beautiful piece!
  • Barbara White Barbara White on Jan 06, 2014
    Oooops by the time I saw this I'm hoping you left it alone. It's a beutiful piece of furniture with a lot of natural character.
    • Jamala W Jamala W on Jan 08, 2014
      @Barbara White Yes I did leave it.. thanks for looking and advising :-)
  • Karen B Karen B on Jan 06, 2014
    I love the look of hold wood so I like it just like it is.
  • Lena Grasso Lena Grasso on Jan 06, 2014
    oh I would leave it as is expect polish it up with furniture oil...beautiful piece!!
  • Love Digging in the Dirt Love Digging in the Dirt on Jan 06, 2014
    Love it just the way it is!
  • Jamala W Jamala W on Jan 08, 2014
    Thank you for you advice.. and I sure did leave it alone.. :-) and glad i did. :-)
  • Jmarie813 Jmarie813 on Jan 08, 2014
    Ooh!! Pretty vanity ( dressing table).Wish I had one to match my french Provincial stuff. I hope you post a pic of how it looks as a stereo table. I'll bet it's cute! :0)
  • Jmarie813 Jmarie813 on Jan 08, 2014
    Thank you,Jamala.. Can't wait to see it. creative idea! :0) Hope your weather is better than Fl. We're freezing here.. brrr..
  • Kathryn Botard Kathryn Botard on Jan 08, 2014
    I love it! Is that a leak proof container for your plants?
  • Janet Smith Janet Smith on Jan 08, 2014
    Such a beautiful piece, Jamala. So glad you decided not to paint it.
  • Jennie polis Jennie polis on Jul 01, 2016
    Paint it high gloss black with mirror tops. j
  • Gina Gina on Jul 03, 2016
    This has shabby chic written all over it! Beautiful dressing table!
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jul 03, 2016
    I would not paint it...What I would do instead is re-stain it a lighter color to bring out the grain of the wood. I assume the cut out part is where you are planning to put the stereo...So I would use the 2 drawers as your CD collection storage to keep everything neat.
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Sep 26, 2016
    I love this just the way it is, but it is yours so painting it a wonderful color of your choice will be a great adventure. Maybe chalk paint.......
  • Lisa.flowerbiz Lisa.flowerbiz on Oct 01, 2016
    I would have it appraised before I decide. If it is a valuable piece, you might want to take the advice of an antique dealer. If it's not valuable, have fun with it. Either way, it's a unique and pretty piece.
  • Sharon hughes Sharon hughes on Oct 19, 2016
    I would not paint! Maybe add a touch of gold.
  • Richard Edgeworth Richard Edgeworth on Oct 19, 2016
    I would definitely NOT paint it. It looks very old and may have more value by restoring its original beauty.
  • Joanie Joanie on Oct 19, 2016
    NO, NO, NO.........do nothing with it, except use it.......adore it!!!! It is VERY beautiful!!
  • Fenella Fenella on Oct 30, 2016
    Paint it. I have just chalk painted a Georgian (18thC) mahogany chest of drawers. It can always be stripped.
  • Yellow Barn Interiors Yellow Barn Interiors on Oct 30, 2016
    Definitely paint the bottom and distress it. You will see all the details come alive. The top could be refinished in a lighter stain. Seal with poly. yellowbarninteriors.com
  • Tina Duggin Kinsey Tina Duggin Kinsey on Nov 06, 2016
    never paint if it looks that good to start with. you will regret it..
  • IFortuna IFortuna on Nov 06, 2016
    The wood looks seasoned and that takes years. I would leave it, It is a beautiful piece. : )
  • Joanie Joanie on Nov 07, 2016
    Listen to ALL these people...........leave an old look, OLD, and cherish the looks!
    • Joanie Joanie on Dec 14, 2016

      I would definitely use this for a makeup table. I totally love it!! It has a drawer for your beauty supplies......a front table for your magnifying mirror and two top sides for little lamps. My Mom had one and I sure wish I would have it now. Somehow it got lost when she got new furniture.

  • Anita shull Anita shull on Nov 14, 2016
    Depends I think in how your kitchen is decorated. If you are an all wood stain on all cabinets? Then a pop of color would be great. Even going metallic might. E fun? In any case, your taste and desires are what really counts
  • Sharon hughes Sharon hughes on Nov 15, 2016
    Just use a wood cleaner on it , maybe high lite the drawer pulls with a little gold.
  • Judy Judy on Dec 12, 2016

    painting makes the pieces look cheap...distressing is even worse....I like natural wood...I would refinish it the way it was intended.

  • Mary Mary on Dec 12, 2016

    Lovely piece! You could give it a bit of a sanding and see the grain come alive when you put a nice furniture oil on it, or wipe on a thinned paint color you like and wipe off called (pickling). It does not seem to need a heavy refinish, just alittle love.

  • Mary Mary on Dec 12, 2016

    Leave it alone!

  • Judy Judy on Dec 13, 2016

    yes I agree leave it alone...it is beautiful...no paint...do not distress it...you will wreck its beauty...distressing is ugly


  • Ginny Ginny on Dec 21, 2016

    Leave it alone! Why do people insist on painting vintage furniture when it is in good condition like yours? Clean it with a solution of warm water and Murphy's Oil Soap or Ivory Soap to remove old wax; dry immediately with a Turkish towel; let stand for a few hours. Apply an oil base conditioner (Old English liquid) to feed the wood and keep wood from drying out. This piece is a vanity and would be a lovely addition to your BR or a hallway as well as your kitchen. Maybe you could find a nice old mirror or have a piece of glass framed to hang over it and tie the two together. Side compartments would make good candle/accessory storage if you use it in a hallway or kitchen. The possibilities are endless. Think, think, think and enjoy your end result.