Hmmm. Well your inspiration piece is dramatic because of the color it was painted. If you painted your piece in an equally dramatic way, an unusual color, I think it would be worth painting. That said, your piece is quite nice as is. I am not clear from your post if you are planning to leave your piece between the washer and dryer. If you are, I would not paint it because it would bring too much attention to the washer and dryer.
Diane

Thanks, Diane. And to clarify - yes, the piece will remain in its current location between the w&d. :-)

Yup, I would paint that in a heart beat. I like the wood too but just like me, you have a lot of wood in your rooms and painting a piece helps to break it up a bit and add some visual interest. Nice inspiration piece, I like it.

I'm not opposed to painting it, but given it's location I would leave it as-is or spruce it up with Restore-A-Finish. You already have a lot of painted interest in your room with the red painted trim and woodwork. I'd let that be the star and also I do agree it would draw attention to the W/D.

Well, you already know that I am very anti painting an old piece to look like something it isn't....because it never looks like anything but an old piece painted. Think that turqoise thing in the picture looks like "early marriage".
How about if you mix up some shellac thinner with about 1/3rd as much lacquer thinner, take the buffet outside while the weather is still warm. Have a roll of paper towels and maybe two and a sleeve of 4 ought steel wool. Sop on some of the solvent mixture, scrub it around a little with the steel wool and mop it up with the paper towels. I believe you will end up with a color very like the color on the edge of the top, You can then wax it and call it done, add a coat of poly on the top to protect from spills or add some gel stain at the places where it wouldn't be worn off......and in one afternoon you would have a piece that would contrast with your other stuff and not be "something old updated by painting". Total cost would be under $10....time spent 3 or 4 hours.....and if you still wanted to paint it....you have a nice smooth surface to work with.
Linda C

Well.......since it is obvious there is a washer and dryer there I might be tempted to go ahead and paint since I can see a washstand look. Might also use some vintage laundry accents.....sad iron, or bottle of old bluing, starch etc. (anyone know what those things are?)

I like it very much the way it is. But, I have always adored dark wood and probably have way too much of it in my own home.
Dee

I like painted furniture and while I think it would look good painted, because you already have so much painted wood - trim, doors, etc. I would not paint it. If you do paint it however, I don't think it would look bad at all, just not my first preference for the room. Love the turq piece!

Now that I've seen your inspiration piece.. thought I would show you this. It's a desk my daughter bought off of Craig's list and refinished to look almost like your inspirations piece. It was really very easy. Since the piece is already brown underneath you would just clean it up and sand slightly. Then paint on your color of choice, she put on two coats. Then you take de-natured alcohol on a rough rag and rub off to your liking. The original brown stain will show where rubbed off. This is called a "Chippy" finish. Then she did put on one or two coats of polyurethane. She also did a chair to match and used it in some photo shoots. She is a model for a photographers web site. I love the look of your inspirations piece and this desk. It is not quite as blue as this photo makes it look, it's more turquoise.

I wouldn't paint it.

I don't see any other painted pieces in the room. Am I missing something? I love your second picture (turquoise). I think for the cottage look you are going for - painting would look great!

Dbfirewife - love that desk!

tina

i wouldn't paint it either...but would consider restor-a-finish if the finish is bad---that is pretty good stuff!!

Even though I LOVE painted furniture and you are right up my alley with turquoise..I would leave it alone, brighten it up with restor a finish and just add more turquoise accessories. Maybe that will quench your thirst for the turquoise.

Dbfirewife, that is a stunning piece! I love the finish and that is one of my favorite colors. Very nicely done. Thanks too for the instructions on how it was done. I have to admit that I've never tried anything like this before, and I'm afraid it might turn into a bit of an "experiment" since I'm not experienced with distressing painted furniture. The chair that you posted - oh my, that color is just so yummy! (Oh, and is that your daughter? Lovely girl!)

I think it's fairly obvious that I'm just itchin' to paint something this way, since I keep posting about it here. ;-) I don't, however, want to turn a decent piece into something that looks like a failed art project. I do see the point about the wood tones being a good counterpoint to the painted walls and trim going on in the room. Tina, there aren't any other painted furniture pieces in the room. I have since added all laundry-themed vintage decor to the sideboard too: A small "Busy Bee" washboard sitting in an old green-painted basket (also filled with vintage linens), old painted soap flake dispenser, basket full of old wooden clothespins, red & white vintage canister/tin, and an old toleware lamp. I took down the fruit stained glass piece and replaced it with an antique stained glass window.

I'll think this over some more before deciding for sure. I really appreciate the thoughts and suggestions!

I totally agree with Katy--b!!! BRILLIANT!!! (& yes Katy, I DO know what those items are!!!)

~Jeana

I would chalk paint the piece in a heartbeat. There's an infinite number of colors you could work with, and this piece would be a perfect candidate.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miss Mustard Seed did it......

I am intrigued by Annie Sloan chalk paint! I am sort of envisioning the piece done in A.S. Olive, like this ...

Gee, sorry! That's enormous! =:-O

I think you should paint it if you want to. I have NO problem painting older pieces. I can't tell you how many times I've stripped old painted pieces and brought them back to original. Therefore, I feel if someone in the next couple of generations wants to do the same with one of my painted pieces (muttering the whole time "what was she thinking?"), that's just the way it is. I don't think your room needs a colored piece of furniture, but that's up to you and your preference. My DR is all dark pine (some old, some not so) and I have been looking for the right piece of furniture to paint and add unexpected color to the room. What do you have to lose? I wouldn't try to "shabby chic" it or "antique color" it. I would just get a really good paint job on it.
PS -- men seem to really have a problem with painted wood, especially furniture -- I don't get it.
Annie

I think that will be lovely Auntjen. Kind of reminds me of the two pieces we have in our bedroom. I have had the dressers for many years and they have been in lots of locations in various houses. I bought them (and the whole apt) from a lady that lived in the same rent controlled apt in the village in Manhattan since the 20's. Who knows when she painted them, but I have left them just the way I got them from her. :)

I think she painted them because they were not "matching" :) How interesting is that since so many on GW seem to aim for non matching furniture?

I say that because I have a little nightstand that she painted that same color too.

(they don't look quiet as "muddy" IRL.

Didn't you just paint your kitchen because you had moved ito a muted phase after your trip to England? Do you want to return already to the bright southwest colors? If so, do the turquoise, but then paint the kitchen walls a bright color, too.

I'd do exactly what Lindac suggested. You already have plenty going on with colors and accessories. Leave a good thing alone!

Jen...I have loved all your rooms and pieces of color. You have always come through with the ideas flowing through your head.

In the first pic my thought was no. But the finished ones said yes. And I'm humbled now knowing someone else has a combined laundry area. Believed I was the only one around, it still bugs me but cannot change the location.

Lived in Corrales, miss NM so much. And hot air balloons landing in my backyard. One cannot get away from color inside and out. Always felt enamored surrounded by so much art and creative aspects of the homes and landscape.

Don't miss the thread on chalk paint, for this project or another.

B

Here is a link that might be useful: Missed the thread..went to the link

I have one very similar, still has felt in the drawers, and I believe they were made in the 1940s. As much as I love painted wood, I wouldn't paint that particular piece.

I also don't think painting it will go with the cottage style you've been leaning to because I think it will look more SW if you paint it.

I change out the runner on mine when I get bored. Right now I have a Williams-Sonama gold, red, green plaid on it. Runners will brighten it up quie a bit if that's what you're going for.

Boop......I meant to respond to your pieces. They look like the first ones I painted in the late 50s. Could be the first "kit" for refinishing. It came in 3 stages, a basic paint, gel stain and poly. The most popular color was olive green.

My mother hated painted furniture, there was a time in the 40s, 50s that people painted antique items black. The only saving grace was the paint actually saved the wood and refinishing was like finding wonderful wood floors under linoleum or carpet. This isn't my answer to whether Jen should paint her piece.

Thanks again for all of the responses and photos! Boop, those pieces of yours are wonderful! What pleasing shapes - just love them!

I'm a little surprised by the comments that my piece would take on a Southwestern look if painted. I really don't see it that way. I never said I'd paint it turquoise, and to me, the Annie Sloan Olive that I posted above just looks vintage, not Southwest. But we all see things differently I guess!

I just learned that I'm about to get very busy with a work-related project, so any home/furniture painting project will have to go on the backburner for now. But that's ok. I'll have more time to really weigh my options and decide for sure how I want to proceed. Although my piece isn't necessarily valuable, I sure don't want to do anything that will make me feel like I've screwed it up. ;-)

Thanks again all!