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 say don’t paint. Love the contemporary feel to this piece with such clean lines. It speaks for itself.. A stand alone with great staging will carry it through in the perfect space.
I would leave it alone. It is beautiful just as it is. There are too many needy abandoned pieces out there just crying out for a little TLC that would benefit more from your time and efforts ( I tend to personalize my makeovers).
i love painted furniture…BUT…not this piece,please! fine sand top then rub whole piece down with teak oil…..then you decide. i feel its gorgeous as it stands!
Beautiful find! I think it’s lovely, but just stenciling the doors would be amazing!
As you know, normally I vote for painting just about everything. But I would definitely opt to flip this piece as is. It looks to be in good shape, and mid-mod aficionados will love it. And ultimately, if it doesn’t sell you can decide to paint it down the road.
I agree! I think someone is going to LOVE this piece as well. 🙂
I would be inclined to leave the cupboard as it is. Anyone with a retro-furnished home would love this as is! The piece looks Scandinavian,, 1960s style – perhaps the wood is teak or maybe some kind of Norwegian wood…oohh , I feel a song coming on!!!! Beatles forever!!! Sorry, it had to be said!!!
LOL….
I don’t paint pieces that are in amazing condition. I would clean this and use Howard’s Feed and Wax.
You can always change it up later after you’ve lived with it for a while!
Leave as is!
Hi Denise
Your instincts are right …. don’t touch it, its fabulous as it is, and painting will not enhance it at all
best
Noni
This is gorgeous!! I think it should be left alone, no paint this time. 🙂
NO PAINT ! Its a beautiful piece.of furniture
Can you share what you used to clean it up so well? any advice on sxratches, dings, etc.? thank you!
Hi Karen! For this particular piece, I’m not going to touch the minor scratches and there are no real dings, but here are a few past projects that may help you out or give you some ideas. 🙂 Bondo vs Wood Fill – Filling in Scratches
I love it just the way it is. I’m seeing and hearing more and more clients want furniture left untouched. That said, you could offer the option to customize..
PSS love your blog.
Thank you Roseann… and brilliant! XO
MCMs are one of the few collections I would leave unpainted. This one is a beauty. I say do not paint! What a lucky find.
Without a doubt, LEAVE IT ALONE!……..and I don’t often say that either!!!! It’s beautiful.
Thanks Mary! And I know your first instinct is to restyle too… so I appreciate you chiming in. 🙂
Leave! It’s gorgeous.
i would enjoy as is for a while. wood color is beautiful. dont rush! you maybe inspired down the road to change it, but not while youre on the fence. good find!
Wow, what a find! Consider it a gift from your ex-advisor! Stunning just as she is. I vote for “Leave Me Alone” and it looks like teak to me. Good luck!
…a gift from ex-advisor indeed…lol 🙂
Don’t paint. Mid century modern pieces selll better not painted.
The piece of MCM is boring to me; In today’s world things are more vibrant, fun, mixed up, and cheerful. Use your imagination to enhance this piece!
I agree with you Denise. This mcm piece is just stunning left as is. What a wonderful (although uncomfortable) find.
YES! wonderful and a little uncomfortable…lol
Good Morning! I try to go with my first instinct when deciding on the paint/no paint quandary and this loudly says “do NOT paint”! I had a similar piece, painted it some cool mcm colors and just wasn’t happy with it, it did sell eventually but it lacked the “groovy mcm” vibe.
Thanks for sharing your great site, tutorials and journey! My name is Paula and I am partners with Shawna at Saturday on State in South Dakota!!
Have a great week!!
Hi Paula! Thanks for sharing and so appreciate you chiming in. 🙂
That’s Beautiful! I wouldn’t paint it! Could it be Alder wood?
Alder wood…hmmmm…. I will google it! Thanks Tamara. 🙂
What a find! Its gorgeous! I would not paint it, it looks like teak to me. Mid Century design.
Hi Teresa!!! 😀 Ya, I initially thought walnut but it makes more sense that it’s MCM teak. And yes, GREAT find! Hope all is well with you and Pat. XOXO
Before I saw the piece, I immediately thought “paint” but now having seen what beautiful condition it is in, I am jumping to the opposite side. I agree that you rarely find any “free” furniture in this good a condition and I think we should preserve what we can. Having said that, I vote to leave as is. Definitely beautiful!
I agree – don’t paint! It is so gorgeous in its original state. My first thought was paint it, but the more I looked at it and read how you described it, I would leave it as-is and enjoy the original wood!
Greetings Denise. Please please please don’t paint this lovely piece of teak. (Walnut has a tighter grain and what I see as a faint greenish tinge). I think the cabinet is perfect and just needs a good application of oil..
Lots of people use clear Danish or teak oil. but I prefer working with the oil used to condition wood countertops and cutting boards. I use Skydd oil from IKEA. Thin and easier to work with
However if you can’t resist stenciling the doors why don’t you flip them over and do the “inside? Then if you want the original look just flip them back. The back of these sliding cabinet doors are often unfinished and woudl take paint better than the well oiled finish currently on the front of the doors.
All the best with what ever you decide
Thanks for all this Karen! And I NEVER would have thought to paint the inside and have them ‘reversible’ so to speak. Brilliant! 🙂
Don’t paint! I think it’s worth more if you leave it. Or if you really want to paint it, just do the outside edges in something like navy blue, almost black. OR better yet, leave the outside but paint the inside with something like bright red or magenta. I love those unexpected features in furniture. I think stenciling will take away from the simplicity of the original design.
Hi, Is this teak wood?? I have a MM coffee table and end table that looks very similar to the wood. I looked up the value and they are valued very high. I am thinking that I will try to sell as is after I add some Teak Oil……..
Walnut or Teak… and I’m leaning more towards teak after I did some research. And yes, teak is a more costly wood. I believe it’s not as available as it once was + its super durable even outdoors.
Don’t paint it. You’re asking for reinforcement of something you already know is the correct advice. It is gorgeous just the way it is and I would just feed the wood, buff it and enjoy its beauty.
No. MCM pieces are more valuable unpainted as you likely know. Sell on Chairish.
I think I’d leave that one alone too. It’s beautiful! Lots of buyers of mid-century. Can’t help on the wood.
It’s beautiful! I wouldn’t paint it.
I would leave her just as she is. It’s in such good condition & a beautiful piece, that really, I wouldn’t want to see covered up just yet. She has plenty of life left, & then after some more years when she gets a bit more tired & “loved” , she can be restored and renewed. Let’s not rush her 😍💖
Leave it alone! It is a classic. I cringe just picturing it painted.
Beautiful mid-century modern piece! I would recommend not painting it..
Enjoy the beauty of it for now and revisit later down the road. Very classic piece, I would love for now you can always paint it later, but much harder to restore to its natural beauty!
Lo dejaría como está. Es muy bonito y la madera se encuentra en perfecto estado.
Estoy de acuerdo Gemma! Muchas gracias por entrar. 🙂
I have a wardrobe the same style with the same holes for handles. I’ve been thinking about whether or not to paint for 5 years 😂
5 years ehhh,…lol xo
To everything there is a season.! A time to paint, and a time to leave it be. This time, it’s definitely the latter!
Do NOT paint! It’s beautiful as is. And some classic pieces need to remain in their original condition.
I think it is beautiful as is.
I think it’s beautiful the way it is. I see how you might be tempted to stencil but it’s in beautiful condition very retro Enjoy it how it is.
I’m usually pro-paint but I think you should listen to this piece and leave it as is. It really is gorgeous.
Leave it alone – it’s gorgeous as is!
Don’t paint – beautiful as is.
I vote no. It’s perfect as is, the wood grain is lovely. Funny story about your hesitation to pluck it off the curb, glad you did!
So glad I did too! 🙂
The wood is beautiful and complements the lines of the piece. I say to leave it as is.
This piece is so lovely just as it is. You’ll enjoy it for years and years.
Pls don’t paint