Hi friends, I hope you had a relaxing weekend!
Today’s post is all about a curb-shopped piece I have NOT painted… and I’m reaching out to ask YOUR opinion on whether I should or not.
When you’ve painted as much furniture as I have, it’s instinctual to pick up a paintbrush and start to restyle. And I’m not going to lie, I was itching to stencil the front of this piece. But then I got to thinking, the line on whether to paint or not can easily get blurred… especially when 99% of the time you’re working on salvaged pieces that are in need of some TLC.
But then every once in a while I come across one like this. A piece in beautiful shape and NO repairs needed.
There’s a bit of funny story on how I came across the piece – and it’s one of the few times I was uncomfortable loading a curb-shopped find into my car.
I pulled in front of this large gorgeous home with this MCM cabinet abandoned curbside.
Then Andrea says,”hey, isn’t this the neighborhood Bill Smith our financial advisor lives in?” (fake name btw – and just a little background, before Bill moved into his swanky commercial suite, he worked from his home office that we used to go to.)
And just as my sister was asking me, guess who I see watching us out his front window.
Small world I swear.
Usually, I feel proud and happy stopping for curbside treasures. And if I hadn’t recently switched financial advisors, I might have felt happy and waved… but instead, my face turned red and I just wanted out of there.
Anyway, after cleaning this MCM piece all up, I stood back and looked at how BEAUTIFUL this solid wood cabinet really is. I’m not sure if this is walnut or teak but it’s gorgeous. If anyone knows, feel free to chime in. You’d be helping me brush up on identifying some of my wood grains.
There are a few minor scratches on the top but nothing to ruin the overall look.
The wood is in near perfect condition except for a few minor scratches. I don’t often come across (or work with) pieces that are in this good of shape and I’m sure it will sell as-is.
I think this one is saying “LEAVE ME ALONE”… what do you think?
I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO…
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration!
Denise x
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I’m glad, Denise, that you left this one alone. It was a perfectly beautiful example of MCM teak (I own several pieces of teak MCM bedroom furniture and I haven’t put a paint brush to a single one!) Teak is one of those woods I tend to honor in its naked loveliness. It ages so beautifully (which is one reason it’s used frequently for outdoor furniture). You made the right choice ^.^
I’ve just bought a fire surround in this colour of oak finish, but it doesn’t quite Match the other oak pieces I have in the living room, I just want to tone down the orange colour or lighten it up a bit, I just don’t like it, can you give me any idea in how to do that? A friend told me to use black wax on it, but not to sure what to do for the best… thank you, your work is so beautiful..
Hi, I agree as weĺl that one was best left alone. I have just found your pins and am new to doing furniture up but for a long time now I have been very sad to see some lovely old furniture just branded BROWN FURNITURE here and therefore just worthless. I live near Chester in England there are lots of second hand places around and antique centres with lovely items just sitting there looking sad so I am now on it and will be going to see what I can save and up date, Thank you so much for sharing your projects and you have a good eye for colour and design. I too am artistic and I do landscape paintings so I am good at colours. and I am excited to go and get the chalk paint and metallic powder and have a go, I will update you on what I find and how I manage with your input and shared projects. Many thanks again. Sheila C Cochrane
Hi Sheila and WELCOME! So glad you found the #siblog through Pinterest. 🙂 I would LOVE to hear back and see what you create so I hope you drop by again soon. Have fun finding your brown furniture and giving it new life. Warning – it’s a little addictive. 😉
Now I wish I knew what you decided to do with this gorgeous hunk of MCM. Its in beautiful shape and IMO belongs with someone who collects and appreciates MCM. Not my style, maybe because I lived through the fashion first time round, but I’m sure it will find a forever home with a collector if given a chance..
Hi MJ! It actually sold to a young furniture artist (and his girlfriend) from Toronto. They REALLY appreciated everything about it. He was even telling me all about Jens Risom Designs while he was here picking it up so I know it went to the perfect home. 🙂
Perhaps a very VERY subtle gold ombré kind of effect on the legs? So much of MCM is the appearance of the pieces floating on very little support, such a subtle update would only add to the elegant floaty appearance as it would be hard to tell where the legs actually ended. Of course, with the tone of the wood, maybe a nice rosy copper would be better? I definitely wouldn’t paint the whole thing, however, I do like previous comments suggesting painting the inside and leaving the exterior as-is.
Yes, I would agree NOT to paint it, but I would suggest that since it is elegant, (even a bit boring because you usually do something exciting with your pieces) how about either painting or using printed paper on the inside? So when you open it, there is a surprise!