How about giving it back? The piece will lose significant monetary value if painted. If your father bought it for its style, he will probably not be delighted if you ruin its value by painting over it. If he doesn't care, sell it and buy something you like.

I would steer away from modernising this piece. The beauty of furniture like this is in its style and hardware. If you want to create an eclectic style, then a piece like this combined with modern furniture and a few more vintage pieces will give you the look you want. I would take the walls back to a neutral tone, paint the skirting a lighter step again and play up the flooring. Let the uniqueness of the sideboard/whatever it is be a feature. If you don't want to do that, I would sell the piece and get a modern alternative. I have always, always regretted the modernising of older pieces and have learned from my mistakes.

What about placing a short modern geometric runner over the top of it, down the middle, to spruce it up?

I'm all about painting furniture, but this piece has such lovely details and looks to be in good shape. I'd recommend leaving it it as is. If you want to paint something, find a piece on Craigslist.

please do not paint this piece,the inlaid wood tells it is a real antique,buy a piece of furniture that is from the 80's or 90's,they are cheap enough now and there are so many that painting them is oke,if you really dont like the cupboard take it to a valuer and then decide what you want to do with it

I would paint it a terra cotta or coppery red. My office has light blue walls, drk brown furniture, a beige rug accented with a terra cotta HM Mirra chair, and I just love it! The touches of warm really finished the space. I think the best thing to do for a piece that you aren't crazy about, it to make it an eclectic, stand out point of interest. Bring attention to it and make it pop!

I have a suggestion: Give it back, sell it or keep it in storage until you find somewhere it will fit as is. This is a well made piece of furniture. It really shouldn't be changed in any way.

Ugh. Sorry, I should have been a bit more clear. I am aware some of you won't agree with my choices, and I didn't really want opinions on that.
My father, like most baby boomers, is downsizing, and he doesn't want it. I don't want to sell it, nor will I regret changing it to suit my taste.
I'll post my question elsewhere. Thank you for your time!

How about wide horizontal lines of silver then black then repeat.Then pick up some nice glass handles or silver.Make it modern and interesting. ,,

How about black and hot pink! That would be awsome and go well with your eclectic look! Who cares what it really looks like, what it is worth or who gave it to you. The important thing now is to make it yours! Do polkadots do it for you? Maybe a leopard print? Lime green is a hot color today as well. Make that useless old cabinet POP! Go girl...

you could take out the drawers and change the handles --keeping all original things somewhere in case your style changes again...remove the doors and drawers-with only a shell and a fabulous runner as calilkym said above -you may find you don't have to paint it, it will be changed enough good luck

This is not really an antique. It is a factory made piece from about 1910. I doubt that many people would find it pretty. The case and the feet were probably from separate pieces and were later joined together. If he paid a lot for it he was robbed.

If you are going to paint it and it is between the options you gave I would say the black/brown.

i would remove the feet. I do not think they are original to the piece. You could give this a cool Asian feel. Remove all the hardware and paint it a lacquer red or black. Now see how the original hardware will look if you replace it. I bet it will be fine. Mid century modern and Asian has a lot in common. Consider it.

I think it is time to resume your meds.

Is this thing some valuable Byzantine relic or something? IDK, just don't think it's that great looking to avoid painting, but I am also all for making a buck..but it's not my piece.

nevadan and judyg may be on to something. Although I'm all for maintaining good wood furniture from the last century, the legs throw the piece off. What about removing them, lacquering it black and mounting directly to a wall for a modern look. It's difficult to tell the hardware quality from the one pic, but if it works after lacquering it, great. If not get new. Just figure that out before laquering so you can patch wholes as needed. It's an odd piece but it might make a super entry hall piece of a console below a flat screen t.v.. Doing a really good metallic finish is another option. The only thing I'd do first if it were mine is try to find out if there is any real value to it as if there was, it might fund several pieces you'd really like.

Don't let the feet fool you.

Did you fail to notice the burled wood?

The more I examine it, the more I do like it, however!

oke,sorry!!was just a comment,ofcourse it is totally up to want you want to do with the piece,if i was to paint it then i would use 3 bright colors and keep some of the wood as is!!and change the feet or as sjkingston suggests,mount it directly on the wall,whatever you decide have fun "making this your own"also a tip,if you paint the top also use a finishing coat over the color,just paint it scratches easily.

I think the original poster is long gone.

The piece appears to me to be true mid century modern, probably made in the middle of the last century. I think the piece is machine made in quantity, the reason it appears to be well made is because it was. The "mass production" machine made of the 1950's and the machine made of today, well there is no comparison. The finish appears to be worn and dirty. I would be the first to ask you to clean it up however, as you said. it's yours. The only sugestion I would have is to keep the center figured section. Because of it's figure it can, if treated right, lose all appearance of wood and become a purly decorative element. The large upper section appears to be slanted back, thats very interesting as well. I think with the right paint choice and pattern you can come up with a peice that is wonderful.

HI - This is a piece of "Depression Furniture " NOT an ANTIQUE - just VINTAGE ! It was probably part of a dining set . Depression furniture was sold in room sets , factory made from the 1920's to about the or late 30's early 40's . They were a cheaper furniture made more affordable for war vets and lower income familys using thin wood vaneers and sometimes parts from other furniture . It is probably worth only a few hundred dollars . SO - do what you want with it . If you paint it , then remember paint is a good wood perservitive ,so all will not be lost. BUT -- there are collectors of this kind of furniture and maybe it would be just what someone is looking for . Remembering what was called cheap in those days ,is not cheap today. If you paint it then go with an off- white . I do think it would be a bit of a shame to cover the details . So paint it , or sell it or keep it as is , it's up to you , - no big deal !!

Be careful painting it, as sometimes dissolves the glue that attaches the veneer. I have struggled with this situation, using both acrylics and oil type paint. I have painted when the veneer was so bad, it could only be filled and painted. I'm wondering what glazes would do with this, unless you want and even color look. Best of wishes.