If painted in a high gloss, the basic campaign style and the graphic quality of the planking will read out very contemporary. They aren't vintage, so why not. I really like the hardware - with the charcoal and warm oak / camel flooring, I don't think I would go to a lighter mid-tone gray. (it often reads out blue see above) Maybe charcoal but pick a warm one so it doesn't turn into blue or green in your space.

Another option / unless you want to distress it to look like reclaimed wood. It definitely could be great that way too - then the planking would take on a deliberately rustic feel. Someone here recently pointed to a vinegar and steel wool treatment that will produce that .. . .since you might be painting over it anyway, you could always play around with that on a side panel.

If you are doing a monochromatic room, picking a darkish gray / not quite charcoal that will read the tone you want is the real challenge here . . .test bm amherst gray - and bm street chic - paint a couple of foam core boards and put them in your room / next to the hardware and other elements . . I think you want the darker one so the brassy hardware (polish it with barkeepers friend) will read out against it in contrast - that is why I would stay away from a lighter shade . . but if you want to do the inside in a lighter shade so you can see inside - test early morning mist ..

You want to keep the brass element of the hardware . . and then do something brassy in your lighting fixtures . .the carpet has that wonderful camel undertone . maybe start to layer in creams to deep camel (a camel hair coat as the kind of throw / mohair blanket you want on the bed, creamy white velvet drapery, if you go to some layering of neutrals like this - creams to golds with blacks to soft grays then you need a lot of texture, some great looking neutral art.

Get yourself a quart of Annie Sloane type of chalk paint. Lowes sells a Valspar equivalent. A quart will cover it easily. No sanding, no priming...easy peasy! Google for a Utube video;)

HI -- You could have it sprayed a satin gloss grey and put a marble top on it and that will give it a new look. So sure it's a good candidate . If you don't like how it turns out then I am sure you could easily sell it .

HI -- Actually an automotive paint shop can put a real nice paint finish on it . Or a shop that refinishes piano's . Cost will be the factor .

Very Wrong! Automotive paint is the last thing you want to put on your furniture. It's formulated for metal, not wood. Wood paints and finishes need to be able to withstand the constant movement of wood with the environmental conditions. You will have problems down the road.

HI .... I saw kitchen cabinets that had been painted with car paint a few years ago and as yet have not heard of any problems .... but what ever !!!

There is a large perception amongst DIYers, and some decorators that auto paint is OK to use on wood. Body shops will spray whatever you want. They only know auto paint. There are finishes made for wood that will give as good as or better finish than auto paints. A good example are mirror finished pianos. These are not done with auto paint. I've had many projects come into my shop that had been done with car paint, and had to be completely redone correctly. So it is not just "but what ever".

Hmmm, what to say, what to say....

I think they would look quite nice painted- go for it!

I have used automotive paint for wood in my design business for 20 yrs and never had a problem other than the items need to cure before use. The reason I use auto paint is sometimes regular paint just is not available with that sheen, metal fleck or just color. Auto paint has a much different look than any other paint. Once the item cures it is almost bullet proof.

Sorry got carried away and forgot to answer question. I don't think ppainting will have this look any less dated than it does now I would try to sell or give to a thrift shop and get something that suits your style

I think what makes this look dated is the molding that surrounds the front of the cabinets. I don't think you can easily change that, without taking them apart. If you insist on painting them, I'd use a glossy navy color, and polish up/replace the hardware with bright brass pulls. But my first option is to sell/donate them, and find something more modern.

That hardware will sing when it's painted. I just painted a dresser with Benjamin Moore Florentine Plaster CC 520. Very happy with the results.

Do you know what year your furniture was purchased?

Like Margo was suggesting Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the way to go. You can go to http://www.unfolded.com it talks about her paint and the process. It is sold in specialty boutiques around the country and world wide. There are many competitors out there but this is a superior product with a support system behind it, that will assist first time painters. Be careful though, you may just find yourself addicted and creatively inspired to paint EVERYTHING. Another great resoarce is http://knottooshabby.net she is a friend of mine that has just opened her second store here in Los Angeles selling her paint. She gives many tips and shows several examples of ways to refresh furniture in new and creative ways.

@Patricia Colwell; I have been building, refinishing, restoring cabinets, furniture, and antiques for over 35 years and thoroughly understand the intricacies of finishing wood from shellac to modern catalyzed finishes. They are a completely different animal from auto paints. The modern finishes can have any sheen you want and can have flake and pearlascents added. You just aren't asking knowledgeable finishers. They are also just as hard as auto finishes with added flexibility. So, using auto finishes is wrong and just asking for trouble.

We got the furniture in 1981 when we got married. Please note that all the tan in the photos will be gone. Our current bedroom is bronze, tan and black. The walks will be light grey and floors will be wood.

There are so many wonderful ideas that were put forth. I think I might try chalk paint and a rustic approach. If it doesn't look right in the room we can take it to the cottage.

I understand the comments about grey with the wrong undertones. I will stay away from grey.

The comforter came from Winners. The reverse is an aqua and white different geometric pattern. I've been looking for that grey and white pattern for a long time. I lucked in with a King set with euro shams and throw pillows for $85 Cdn!

Your furniture is very beautiful, unique and in great shape. If you don't want it or can't use it, sell it to someone who will love it as is. It breaks my heart to think of chalking it up. The wood is awesome. Shabby chic is great if the furniture is already distressed, but yours isn't. It may not be vintage now, but it will be. Maybe if you break up the set into different parts of your house, they would become interesting accents, instead of dating an entire room.

I say if storage wise and space wise if the pieces still works, freshen up the look with paint and new hardware. But if it doesn't work any more and you're looking for a new style all together, sell it on Craigslist and start fresh. However check out some furniture makeovers on Pinterest before making your decision to get some ideas as what you could do. I'm not a huge fun of chalk paint and I don't always think everything should be painted. It really depends on the look and the feel you are going for. But you can always do more than just paint. If your willing to use some power tools there is always the option of totally reinventing your current furniture. Recently I redid a piece of furniture I own. While I didn't take it a part this time I did paint it and create new "hardware" using wooden dowels. You can be as creative as you like. There are no rules to doing what you like. Just have the courage to step out there and go for it. After all you're the one that has to live with it in your home. So Do you!

I think the campaign style and the planking in chevrons will come out very cool - here's the rustic option of weathering the wood. http://keepingitcozy.blogspot.com/2014/09/weathering-wood-with-steel-wool-vinegar.html

If you don't like it, you can always paint over it then.

off topic but if you can arrange the furniture to work I think putting the tv in the wardrobe would be great so you could close the wardrobe doors and have the tv and cable box hidden when you aren't watching the tv.

Where do you live? Maybe I'll buy them and use the tall one as a media cab in the study. Or I could even hide a roll out desk top in there and create a little office in the guest room.

Keep in mind you may tire of the comforter and want a different color in the future. It may be hard to find the right grey in a new comforter. What about painting the furniture the same color as the walls so they almost disappear. It will make the room seem larger and brighter.
I had mismatched thrift store finds in my guest room and painted them all the same color as my walls ( in a glossy finish). The result was great, I can't recommend it enough.

I don't understand the worship of anything made of wood, unless it's a fine antique. Selling in on Craigslist would bring a fraction of what a new set would cost. Paint it if you think you will like it.

What a diverse group of suggestions to your dilemma.

My only suggestion is that when you do buy or get your side tables I recommend going different on each one. They can be the same height but it adds more interest to the room if furniture is not all matching. The person with the most 'stuff' to store should get the larger of the two, though. Good luck & Ilove your flooring choice particularly well.

You've had that furniture almost 35 years. While it was surely well made, do you really want to keep it? Is it worth it to you to spend the time painting it? Or have it done professionally? I think it would look great in an office. Get yourself some new furniture.

momdds, I think the best way to update your bedroom furniture would be stain in walnut and add tapered legs. I have added legs to pieces similar to this before by adding a mitered piece of wood into the corner of the base and screwing the foot/leg into that piece.

Sorry mom - It would cost too much to ship them. I'm in San Diego. But I really like the classic lines, the fine details, the finish and the hardware. Most affordable furniture now is veneer and MDF and made in China. All dressed up and no where to go. Yours will look beautiful for years to come.

I get painting up flea market and yard sale finds, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Replacing the diagonal panels with plain wood panels would update the pieces, and then paint them. They are classic campaign style except for the diagonal. It should not be expensive and classic campaign painted is lovely.

In reply to "Justgotabme",,,,Unless you know how to refinish wood, advising someone to re-stain is quite an undertaking, unless they don't mind it looking like crap! You have to completely strip all of the old finish off of it before applying the darker stain. It's not like you can just wipe on a new coat over the existing and call it a day!!

The piece has to be completely stripped of the clear coat finish and the wood stain, sanded with varying grits, stained with the new color and then numerous top coats. Plus, this particular piece is quite intricate which makes the above process a PITA!! Painting is the obvious answer here.

BTW MOMDDS, Did you ever do it??

Refinishing old or antique wooden furniture is a popular hobby and has been growing in interest, but there’s a lot to know when it comes to taking on DIY furniture refinishing in hand. There are a few steps that you need to follow, which include:

1. Assess the finish with mineral spirits before you start any repairs or touch-ups

2. Clean it Up, as it helps remove decades of dirt or grime

3. Next, you need to fix white rings, by slathering the ring with petroleum jelly and let it sit overnight.

4. Scrape paint without damaging the finish

5. Replace any missing wood by applying some epoxy putty

6. Once you complete that, restore the colour with gel stain

7. Fill small cracks

8. Get rid of dents by wetting them

9. Finally, renew the lustre with wide-on finish

Refinishing wood requires the proper tools, time, and patience to get the job done right. But when completed, you have before you a beautiful piece of furniture that looks brand new!

This is beautiful furniture and the fact that it’s solid, well made is a rare thing. Consider all options already mentioned but what your budget dictates, your overall look/style/color scheme is very important to consider.
Look up inspirational photos of similar wood and style, and see if any have been refinished and in what shade.

Dwell Style interiors since the post is 9 years old,............I'll bet this has been decided.

🤦🏻‍♀️ Ha!!! Beverly, I didn’t even notice the date! Ha! Obviously, I haven’t been active on here in a while as far as responding and commenting!!! 😂