I'd be tempted to paint it black and replace the hardware.

https://www.justthewoods.com/painted-china-cabinet-decoupage/

I would change the hardware to black and rub the whole thing down with gold rub and buff.

What is going in there once you wallpaper/paint? Right now all the stuff would hide your work.

I would send it off to the yucky cabinet heaven . Why is this such a big deal , I see nothing in there worth displaying.

If your goal for the cabinet is the same kind of storage spot it provides now, then move it out of the living room and don't worry about it. It is sorely out of place with the majority of your LR furniture, although there are a few tables that also don't fit the profile of your more contemporary chairs and sofa.

Sorry to say but the cabinet just looks out of place in your room. Most of your furniture is nice and on the modern side and the cabinet is just too big and unattractive. Do you have another room for it? Or do you need it at all?

To answer some of the posted questions.... I need this cabinet for the storage it supplies. (I agree that it's ugly and hideously out of place with my decor. However, I've searched high and low for a replacement and it's shockingly hard to find a something that is both functional and attractive.) The shelves behind the glass doors hold a variety of crystal, china, and serving pieces. I personally enjoy having these items visible. The bottom section stores silverware, vases, and table linens. I live in a very small apartment, so this is the only available space I have. I would like to lighten up the interior so that the items can be more easily seen. The wallpaper idea is twofold: because I love the look of it as seen in other projects, and because the back of this cabinet is fiberboard, which will be easier to tack wallpaper to than to paint.

Hopefully an Houzzer Pro by the name of Beth will see your post and respond. Check out her blog...

http://makemeprettyagain.blogspot.com/2012/04/horrendous-waterfall-desk.html

Good luck!

I brought your dilemma to Beth H's attention. She's amazing at painting furniture.

I like your cabinet & like Friday's idea, it will look french, yes to new hardware. It's ok to have collectibles.

I really like your cabinet a lot. Rub and buff is really easy to use if you decide you like that look. I tried to google a photo of one that was done but couldnt find one. I cant imagine that no one has ever put rub and buff all over an entire cabinet.

Not sure about rub and buff...Let's update it...

What I would do is remove the upper doors entirely. I wouldn't do damask. I agree it's very pretty, but it would add busyness to an already busy space.

I think I would paint the interior blue and the exterior black (or white if you're not bold enough for black)...If you have more room in the bottom, then move some of the other pieces down there. Neatly folded linens will give you a cleaner look on one shelf, and free up some space in the lower part for those items that are stacked...

Interested to see other ideas.

An idea for consideration: flip the chairs and couch so the cabinet can be between the pair of chairs, instead of tucked in the corner there. The chairs could be a bit in front of the cabinet, perhaps, so there isn't such a height disparity.

Maybe a limed finishing? Not country / cottage-y, but just to blend it in a bit and provide contrast with the color inside. Amy Howard at Home has a great finish.

Sandra, do not wallpaper the inside of the cabinet as you are using this for storage and it will look to busy. If the back panels are in bad condition have some Luan cut to fit, sand, prime and paint them the same as the side color; that pretty turquoise! It will be a lovely backdrop for all your things. Clean the outside well with tsp, lightly sand and prime. I would paint this white. All white. Hi gloss white if your brave but semi gloss will do. Take your time. Look for funky vintage hardware. You have nothing to loose here! Make a bold statement!

Why not paint the cabinet the same color as your feature wall (or pick up the darker blue in the wallpaper pattern. Your wall paint is likely flat; however, I would use a semi-gloss on the cabinet, and don't let the paint mask the dark detail. New hardware would be pretty in polished nickel. I would also try moving the cabinet to the adjacent wall if you don't have a sliding door handle to contend with, or maybe diagonally in the corner rather than having everything lined up straight on the same wall. Consider less pattern in pillows on your sofa. The patterned pillow on the far left would look great with a second one to match if you can get it. Then use two identical solids (burgundy or dark blue or navy, and eliminate the polka dot. You have enough pattern elsewhere. Pottery Barn has inexpensive pillow covers. I like your paint and wallpaper and your rug is lovely. Best of luck. I think you're on the right track.

Wow I love your work Beth! I've just inherited a stack of oldish furniture that is in good knick but needs a facelift - I'm sure I'll be asking for advice soon.

thanks Miranda,,,I can only take credit for the link and the first buffet. I have plenty of others on my before/after.

http://makemeprettyagain.blogspot.com/p/gallery.html

everything from antiques up to 1970's. milk paint, chalk paint, wood stain, regular paint, lacquer,,,I've used them all! take a browse and see if you like anything. there are also some how-to attached to the link with the actual post.

Hello. I would paint cabinet white color.

Hey Houzzers! Thanks for all of the input. I finally tackled this massive project and thought I'd update this thread with the results. So... I used the wallpaper that I had previously picked, but went 50% lighter on the color for the interior. I chose a "greige" for the exterior, as well as "metallic pearl" for the trim pieces. I kept the hinges and lion pulls, lightening them with silver Rub 'n Buff, and got new silver mercury glass knobs for the upper doors. LOVE how it turned out!

I love it & the beautiful knobs!

Pick one of the deeper tones in your really gorgeous rug.

Beautiful! What a great job you did. And your instincts about the wallpaper were right.

Sandra, you did a beautiful job! So glad you didn’t listen to the naysayers!!!

What about an led puck light or two inside the cabinet to really make everything sparkle?

Fantastic! Great Job!

Looks great! and your things inside look even better.

(That leaf chair is beautiful)

excellent job!! LOVE how it turned out. Also love that you repurposed something.

UPDATE: After finishing my cabinet, I really disliked how the bamboo stand looked next to it. So that had to go. (The redecorating snowball effect, haha!) I found this perfect acrylic table to replace it. Love!!!

BH&G Before &After 2018

Great job Sandra....I esp like the subtle differences in color...it blends with the wall so its not “in your face” but it also has personality of its own now. Brava!

And now with the mid-century modern end table and pagoda lamp refinished, too. YAY! [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/mid-century-modern-end-table-makeover-dsvw-vd~5207091[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/mid-century-modern-end-table-makeover-dsvw-vd~5207091) & [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/pagoda-lamp-revamp-dsvw-vd~5220442[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/pagoda-lamp-revamp-dsvw-vd~5220442)

Sandra,,love how it came together. but can I just mention that colonial style end table?? don't really care for it or that lamp with everything else. it's too, 1950 colonial and not mid century modern. You did a very nice job with it, but based on your other furnishings, I don't think it goes as well as something else could.

I would actually move the other from next to the hutch (nice job btw) and put it on the other side.

If you did the rest like they have here,,,,perfection!

love the slat coffee table, the plants, and the pouf. remove the x-bench so you can do a table like this, or the other one.

or grab a table like this one.

next to the green chair (or instead of the colonial end table) try this

Great job Sandra!

Thanks for the suggestions, @Beth H.! Unfortunately, the room is too small for an actual coffee table (tried it), though I love that slatted one. I will definitely replace the end table that you mentioned. It's on the list! Just need to find something on the proper scale. Appreciate all of your input!

Sandra T - Wow!!! Fantastic job...I'm so glad you did not send cabinet to "yucky cabinet heaven". It just goes to show determination, elbow grease & lots of love can go along way. You must be so excited how your project turned out. Well done!

very nicely done. I have a whole oak wall unit from 1990 of 5 pieces I am thinking to take 4 of them, 2 on either side of my fireplace and paint them the shade of white as my mantle and paint the back of the cabinets the same as the wall of the room. So your beautiful job gave me inspiration :)