I would paint over the fruit and leave the rest of the cabinet as it is. You'll have to use green in the room to make it work.

Alternatively, you could select a coordinating fabric that is a bit more lively than the upholstery on the chairs and make small panels (using cardboard and several layers of interfacing) to fit into and over the painted panels. If you do a very precise job and the edges are very straight, you would not even need to add any kind of edging. Or, you could add very thin gimp or ribbon around the edges to finish them if needed.

The checked edging on the top trim is the kicker for me - that needs to be painted out. The dining set is all curvy lines, the cabinet is straight and almost Shaker-like. Not that you can't mix styles but they are competing for attention because of the painting on the cabinet and my guess is you want the dining set to star. In that case, I'd paint the cabinet the same as your wall color (or possibly a bit darker) and then do a simple glaze to age it a bit - nothing overly dramatic - K.I.S.S and I think you can make it work. I know what it's like to have furniture that fits an awkward space and that you find practical but not attractive anymore. I have a dining room full of it!

I personally like the cabinet as is and think it adds interest and character. Maybe you can finish the rest of the room before you decide whether or not you want to paint it. I think it can be a stand alone piece. I love an eclectic mix. Your room doesn't have to be decorated in fruit to make this work.

Paint it black and change out the knobs. You may be able to glue some material in the inset panels on the door where the the fruit is. Maybe burlap or heavy linen. The lines are straight which would keep it from competing with the DR set. Beautiful dining room table and chairs.

WOW! Thanks for all the great ideas. I feel better just knowing there are options. I just didn't want to have one more piece of furniture to part with.
I would love to go with green decorating as it is my favorite décor color and what I had planned all along for this remodel. Unfortunately I have new granite in the kitchen which opens to this room and green is the "one" color that looks bad with it. lol
I have been anxious to try glazing this might be my chance. :) I will post back when the chest is finished.
Thanks again, Lynn

I just saw a photo of a beautiful, formal dining room, with traditional dining room furniture, and it had an antique distressed yellow cabinet against the wall. It looked fabulous!

I think solid/distressed black would look great, but it's a shame to paint over the fruit. Another variation would be to leave the fruit painting, but paint/distress the rest of the cabinet black. Then perhaps paint the inner, thin panel frame with an accent color that ties into the color you will be using in the room.

My first thought was a black distressed look. Maybe that would work, maybe. Some people are real good at distressing furniture. I'm not one of those people, however.

You don't want anything real cutsy or country with that tradtional dining table.

Good luck to you Lynn!

I'm with jerseygirl, paint it black and put on some new hardware.

I bought the cr@ppiest looking old cabinet because it was the right size for holding all the kids toys. I painted it black and everyone that comes over wants to know where they can get one.

Well, I'll be a dissenting opinion. I think it's beautifully done and if I were in this situation I would sell it on CL or via consignment, take the money and go to the unfinished furniture store (since you're willing to paint). Someone put a lot of work into painting that, and IMO the shape of it doesn't go with your dining table and chairs at all anyway.

Many antique armoires are also quite shallow in depth, so you might be able to find something in an antique that is more compatible with the dining set.

Okay, Johnmarie is right, just pack it up and send it to me:-)

Black seems to be the majority here. I think someone told me that every rooms needs something black? but hat distressed yellow sure sounds pretty. Johnmari, I have had a hard time with the fact that I would be painting someone's art work. I have never thought of selling so someone else could enjoy. budge--lol, check a craigslist near you soon. lol

Thanks for all the advice, lots to think about, whatever happens I will post follow up pics CLL

If it were me, I would take those doors off and save them. I would make (or in my case, have my dad make) new doors, then paint the whole thing. That way if you ever decide to paint it off white again, you can still reuse your doors. But that's just me. The minute I painted over then I would wish I hadn't, that's why I would make new doors.