I think one feature piece like this can work beautifully with modern clean furniture. Why don't you try to find some bottles and glasses with a really contemporary design ( preferably with alcohol lol!) and use as display/ drinks cabinet. You may regret selling later, you should keep and make up your mind later.

I love the mixture of an old beautiful pieces in a modern home. I think it gives warmth. It's a beautiful piece.

Barnhart…had to laugh. New England expressions…let’s narrow it down…Somerville, the Winter Hill Gang? : > )

delrayj, your piece is worth only what it means to you. Kind of a mix of art deco and Victorian. Unless you are doing the mid century look, I would sell it. But, put it on ebay. Different parts of the country love that era of furniture.

You could paint it white, but again, IMO, it becomes a very contemporary piece.

I feel your pain. I think you should either sell it, or figure out how to use it in a kitchen, perhaps to store cookbooks and baking supplies.
I have a similarly unpleasant thing in my dining room (see below). The pic is not my house, but where it came from (and should have stayed).

sstarr -- I love that! So sorry you don't!

Yummy, sstarr. What a great piece, Marble top?
Would you consider painting it semi gloss black? Could be funky cool.

It's a gorgeous piece! I think you should find a place for it if you can- and IMO even if your room is one particular "style" it always looks much more interesting and personal if there at least one item that is different. Without altering the piece you might even be able to put a print or painting behind the glass. If it was a modern print or of colours you have in your room it would be a showcase!

Barnhart, if you say so, maybe I will try to start liking it. Iamjudy, I can't paint it, it's from my husband's family. Yes, marble top. The top part is connected with brackets on the back, could be taken off (and made into toothpicks or something ;-))

sstarr, don’t want to interfer with the OP’s dilemma, but maybe this will make you feel better about your piece. This piece (not as special or intricate as yours) on ebay is offered for $1300.00

I think it's an expensive antique, if it is a family piece of furniture passed down, I would do everything in my power to keep it. Or be sure to hand it down to a family member that will KEEP it in the family. If it was never a family member's furniture, you don't want it, then sell it as an antique. I wouldn't deface it at all by taking off the doors. Once you do that, doors stored away tend to get lost, or scratched and forgotten about and just from hiding in a closet, the stain fades differently than the one in the light. So the 2 pieces will never look the same.

fyi, everything in your house does NOT have to be new :) what makes a house a "home" is a mix of wonderful pieces of furniture. New furniture today doesn't last past 5 years without falling apart even when you spend over $1,000 or more. Would be a shame to even hand this over to someone that does not value it because they had gotten it for free and would never care about preserving it

This is a pretty piece. If you love it or if it has sentimental value what about using it as an armoire in your bedroom or a guest room? It would be handsome in a living room with or without a collection inside. Could house table cloths, napkins, placemats and the like in your dining room. If you have room, it could hold towels and TP, etc. in a large bathroom. I always thing something old in a contemporary space makes both more interesting. However, if you are no longer in love with the piece, sell it and get it out of your new environment. Forcing things because you have them doesn't make for a new home you'll love. Keep it only until you can afford to replace it if it functions in any room. Very hard to decide sometimes. I'm with you on that. Ask yourself if you would buy it for the space if you saw it in a store today.

What would you like to say?now that we are on the topic of paint it / keep it. The clock below was a gift to my late husband from me. I really don't like it but it now has some sentimental value.
My home is eclectic Victorian so I'm open to suggestions.

I think the piece is stunning, I'd make it work! Where did you get it?

Just don't paint it or adapt it in any way. It would destroy its beauty. Either take it with you and work around it or sell it.

It won't sell!! I paid $2000.00 cdn for it and I'm not so sure I want to part with it yet so I tough I would change it around and enjoy it a bit more. It has really lovely Winchester Chimes.

Delrayj, the piece is unbeilvable beautiful! It is impossible to find the burl wood, the different sides of the piece are mirror images, there is term in working with wood, I don't know it. If it not a family piece and you can live without it sell it to the right person. But if it has special meaning, you will find a place for it in your new home.
But please please please do not ever paint that wood. In another 17 or so years, it will be an antique.
Something of beauty is never out of style.

Berinlist is right. Please don't paint or cut into this, not even the back. If you like the piece, why not try it out in your new place? If the overall look is modern, something like this could still look good -- it depends on the mix.

I wouldn't paint or change this piece of furniture. If it doesn't work in your new home, sell it. Someone will love it just as it is. . I'm not one for keeping something " because." Let your new home reflect you.

You've sold everything inside the cabinet. It may be time to sell what held it all.

I think it is a stunning piece of furniture and if you can find a place in your home that will show off this treasure then that would be ideal. If it doesn't fit your current style then I would sell it. I would not paint it or do anything to it, it is gorgeous and someone will be very happy to have it. . Enjoy your new home !

I would paint it. I am not afraid to paint anything, especially if you want to keep it. I don't think you would get that much for it anyway, since it isn't a popular look. It will look more updated painted and you can customize it to your home/space. I can imagine it black, white or a color. You could make it a shabby finish (see pic) or a more modern glossy color. Good luck!

barnandbungalow.com

PLEASE do not paint this gorgeous cabinet. However, what you could do is paint or tack material Inside in a color or pattern more into style of its new home. I would love to get my hands on this project ;-))

In my experience, pieces like this gather dust at antique shops, but painted they sell in a week! Painted is a more desirable look whether you sell it or keep it.

DIY destroys beauty of the piece as craftsman intended. I still remember some silly guy who drilled a hole through an antique chinese vase to convert it into bedside lamp. Well he wasn't too happy when he found out the vase in its original condition was worth half million british pounds but only a small fraction of the value after his "wonderful" DIY job. If you don't like it, sell it and let someone else to enjoy its beauty.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm still with
Barn and Bungalow:). I believe it is about enjoying
The piece. I have eclectic taste in decor so I will make
It work. Being offered $200 for it was quite a shock
As someone probably wants it for parts. My logic
Is paint it, start it up again and enjoy. I will wait
Till I move though. Thank you everybody again.

As soon as I saw the picture, I pictured it painted black (even with a bit of shine) and replacing the glass portion with mirror. Wow!

Yes. What a great idea. Tks.

Have you thought of donating it? If it does not make sense in the new house then let someone enjoy it as much as you did. But painting or changing it will lose it's beauty.

Painting the piece will not necessarily mean it can never go back again, to wood stain....furniture can be stripped by loving people, in love with a beautiful antique.

Hi dunzer and welcome to Houzz. I think you're misinterpreting some of the responses that are addressed to the OP (original poster) as responses to your clock post. To get our opinions about your piece, start a new thread and then all of the responses would be addressed to you. Sorry about the loss of your DH (dear husband) and I look forward to "chiming in" on your design dilemma. :)

Every time someone paints one of these pieces the value of the ones that aren't painted goes up. There are only so many of them left that were made at the time. It may not be exactly the style right now you want but many of us feel that something like this looks good with many styles. I think if mixing styles bothers you and you don't have room for it, sell it
as is.

If you love it, try and work it into yr new space. It could be that little bit of contrast your new contemporary furnishings need.

I have a feeling you don't really want to keep it. You just need encouragement to sell it.
I say sell it, but don't give it away.

I say keep it in the entrance way with collectibles inside it or in a corner of a bedroom besides a nice office table and use to store office items. It looks a keeper to me!

If you really don't want it, sell it to someone who can appreciate it.

I want it!

It's beautiful!

That said I'd try to find somewhere to put it, not alter it, and use it. If you can't find a way to use it 'as is' that won't destroy it; find it a new home.

Sell

Sell it someone who can enjoy it the way it is..

I LOVE IT! It would be beautiful in our bedroom❤️. What state do you live in?

Use as is. There are so many of those painted and rubbed pieces.

Hi there. Just as you wouldn't wear a ball gown to a beach wedding...similarly you wouldn't place an antique traditional piece in a modern room. It'll look out of place and won't be harmonious. It really depends on how modern your new home is. If it is indeed modern, then perhaps a more lucrative decision would be to sell and use the funds to purchase modern items to match the new home.

Normally i would say paint it, but in this case since it look some folks like the piece so I would put it up for sale and let someone else enjoy it.

Since you are conflicted, perhaps the best thing to do is just move it to the new house, try it in several locations. Even designers have to try things sometimes to see if they'll work. Once it is actually in the new home the answer will become apparent and the decision will make itself.....and be easier to handle.

There have been great suggestions about alternate locations/uses for it in the new home. It may be the piece that says "this was a previous phase of my life, I'm the sum of my parts"

Sorry for being mawkish.....

I don't agree with Ax21. I love the combination of a very modern house with just one beautiful antique piece. We very modern furniture and one two hundred year old cupboard. Everybody loves the contrast.

If you're conflicted, keep it - it must resonate with you. One caveat - it needs to have a place to be. The scale has to be right for the place you put it and the other items in the room. If find it's very easy to mix styles - as long as the scale is correct. Good luck in your new home! :)

I live at the beach. We have a huge antique center a town away and pieces like yours from the 30’s sell for only a couple of hundred dollars. No one wants them UNLESS they are painted white, or the plan is to paint it white and work it into a shabby chic room. And shabby chic is losing ground around here, too.

If you are conflicted because of the family connection, keep it and paint it.

If you are conflicted because you think it is a valuable piece, IMO, it is not.

It is your decision but do consider no matter how modern or contemporary you ago, many homes can certainly bennifit from a piece from the past. It could turn in to a beautiful conversation piece that is also serviceable.

I agree with fos.

We live in a world of mass produced laminated MDF furniture and I think it's almost our duty to preserve beautifully made pieces for future generations.

I am only grateful that throughout the years some DIY "expert" did not decide to "repair" Mona Lisa's "weird" smile on Da Vinci's famous painting

It is so beautiful for sure I would use it!

Thank you for all the feedback. I think I will take it with me and if it doesn't work, I will find someone who loves it. I won't paint it.