For reference.. here are photos of the sofa and the rug..

I think you need to prioritize whether you want mod-century modern, or if you want cottage more. If it's mid-century, leave that piece as it is and don't paint it. Use the furniture you have for now, and replace pieces as you can/want. But if you're wanting a more cottage/eclectic, then you can paint that piece. But once it's painted I don't think it's really saying MCM anymore.

I am very clear that I don't want a literal MCM decor.. however, I do want to bring in the lines and hints of the mid century style but without the strong colors and patterns.

Nor do I want a literal cottage style- which I think would look ridiculous in this style home. So no chunky furniture.. but I'd like to borrow from the color schemes and mixed patterns and textures to make the space more soft, cozy and warm.

So now that I've clarified.. is it too schizophrenic? I've seen some lovely inspiration rooms that marry the two-- but as with so many decorator rooms, the right pieces -make- the look.

I think you can blend them very well with taking it slowly and adding little by little. At this point I think the sofa you have will work just fine and I'd paint the dresser a dark green that you'll find in the rug. If you decide to use it for a large screen t.v., it would look super. I like a blend of different times and styles myself, I'm not big on trendy or matchy matchy. I think you'll create a room that your own and it will be very tasteful.

I would certainly use that buffet with that sofa - unpainted because it's lovely walnut and a classic MCM design being paired with classic traditional design. I'm not so enthused with the rug, but it's the colors, not the design. So it's personal prejudice.

"cottage" has a warm, slightly cluttered feel and you could get the feel with eclectic mixes of classic pieces

I agree....don't paint that piece....you will cheapen your whole look. The warm wood is wonderful with the rug and the sofa...get some lightness in there in other ways. But don't make a great MCM piece look like early attic....that stuff you got from your parents and are painting to make it look more "contemporary".
Leave that piece as is...add cottage in other ways....get a coupole of cats....add plants, but don't make it look contrived by painting something that was never intended to be "painted furniture".

Cluttered isnt a problem for me lol.. but that's part of what I am trying to trim down. Layered just short of cluttered will work for me ;)

Yes, I will replace the rug.. the colors are more muted and I do love it but it's a bit much for the new LR. I do realize that it may take awhile to replace though. I am pretty particular about rugs.. and I don't have the rug of my mind's eye in budget.

Yaya, you are always a breath of fresh air and encouragement! I too picture the dresser in a green!

hmm.. i get your point about painting the dresser. I am going not so much for contemporary .. but rather hoping to make it look less like a dresser and more like a console and to add some funky color to the room. (Though I was also considering a shiny black paint-- which wouldnt add color). I can wait and see how it works with the wood finish. I can also look for another piece to use instead.

Part of why I am asking this question now is that I have a consignment shop coming to look at the other furniture in the house-- much of it mid century. If I am not going to try to use this, I'll have them take it as well.

FA, please don't paint that piece despite the current trend. Gorgeous MCM should not be muddled as others will really appreciate it unmarred. If you are just tired of it, maybe selling it and going with a more mundane credenza (or one severely damaged) might be best. If you find another meeting that criteria, paint to your heart's content. Just my $.015.

Go for it Funkart. I found a small marble topped old short chest and people said "don't paint it" but I/ did in four stages starting with white and ending in aqua with a glaze. Now they come in and ask where I bought the gorgeous chest lol. You have to believe in your own vision.

Abundantblessings.. no, I am not tired of it-- it is one of many pieces in my grandmother's house and will be new to me. I think I just wanted to give it another look than it has in her bedroom. None of the other pieces will work for me.. but this one charmed me as is. I guess that's reason enough to keep it unpainted.

What do you think of having a mirror cut for the top? Too blingy?

Yaya, I so love your spirit.. and I would absolutely press forward if I had a more solid vision. I don't yet know how I will pull the room together or how I will add the mid century vibe. That is probably the single best reason to leave it unpainted. I can decide what to do with it as the room evolves.. and if I go another direction, I won't have ruined the piece for someone else..

Welcome to my world.... :)
I love traditional/cottage but have to also incorporate my husband's family MCM pieces! It's not easy, lol!!!
Wishing you all the best with this and hope that you will share pix along the way!

Without the mirror, that dresser would make a nice console or buffet.

I think it would look fine, as is, as a console. But you could also think about having a piece of granite or marble cut for the top to give it a different look without painting that beautiful wood.

I've read on here several times that the key to mixing different styles is to use the best example of each style that you can find. It makes the finished product look intentionally eclectic and not looking like the Goodwill showroom.

I don't think your plan to mix styles is a bad one, but I think it's wise to go slow and use caution.

That dresser is definitely MCM just as it is, and I think painting it or altering it will muddy up the style in a way that will diminish it's impact. I'm all for painted furniture, but not this time. Let it be what it is, or pass it on to someone who will. I think with the mirror removed, it could be a very cool console.

And don't forget the accessories! They can help you mix and match styles so that it all looks cohesive, but eclectic.

I agree-take the mirror off (store it though in case you decide to sell it) and use it as a console. I think it is a marvelous piece.

Franksmom, thanks for the tip on mixing styles. I hadn't heard that rule but it does fit in with the approach I am taking. There are multiple pieces I could have kept but I don't want MCM for MCM's sake. I want a very few select pieces that echo the era in which the house was built-- it is surely not by coincidence that the style and size of MCM furniture fits the size and scale of the rooms. I want to take advantage of what works best while bringing in some great design.

I have been on the search for a few chairs to recover and for a dining table. I don't necessarily need "designer names" but I am seeing that the designer names have the lines and wood tones that really speak to me. If that means waiting a little longer for the stunning pieces that make a statement and set the tone, then I'll wait.

The wood is very nice on the dresser-- much nicer than it looks in the photo. I think it will be fine in the LR. I will definitely remove/store the mirror.

I do hope to replace the sofa sooner rather than later. I won't likely go with a very MCM style. I imagine a comfy sofa with square lines.. I'd love a velvet but budget is a concern at the moment. I am tempted by a velvet chesterfield sofa but much as I loooove it, it doesn't fit will with my plan.. well, at least not until I change it again! lol

I know someone mentioned that the rug doesn't work at all. I do plan to replace that as well but I am just not clear on what I want on the floor. I have been leaning towards a pattern of grays and golds but I hesitate to start to narrowing down selections until I have everything in the room (and the walls painted, etc). I am open to suggestions though if someone has an idea of a pattern that straddles mcm and traditional.

Thank you all .. I have put away the paint brush (for now).

We have a modern (circa 1976) sideboard/credenza with thin legs similar to the ones on that console. You might check for sturdiness if you decide to use it as a TV console. Ours is fine sitting there, but a bit on the fragile side so I wouldn't ask it to carry a lot of extra weight. You could wall mount the TV over it if using a flat screen (which is better for safety anyway as they can be pretty heavy and there are occasional accidents where people tip them over).

Our house is MCM. We like clean simple lines, but pure modern is a little too extreme for us. We have decorated more for transitional/contemporary and mix in some more traditional pieces such as some Kurdish rugs including this and I think it works: