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
RELATED POSTS::
How To Remove Musty Smells From Furniture
2 Best Ways To Paint Laminate
DIY Furniture Appliques
How To Paint Furniture Without Brush Marks
Best Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes
PIN AND SHARE!
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Absolutely love this MCM piece – I vote to leave it!! My husband swears I always have a paintbrush in my hand but there are times when there is so much class to a piece of furniture that it has to be left as is!! It’s hard to guess but it sure looks like a teak piece I had back in the MCM day!!! Enjoy – it’s gorgeous..
Leave as is – beautiful!
Please don’t paint her, she is beautiful as she is.
I agree. Leave it! I love the way you styled it for the picture as well!
Thanks Nina! 🙂
No paint, this one is a beauty just the way it is!
Hi, I love it just the way it is. Don’t paint it. My husband is a retired cabinet maker. He says most likely teal based on the style of furniture. I also think it would be darker if it was walnut. Pat
When I researched this piece a lot were coming up Teak! Thanks SO much for asking your hubby. It will be beneficial to know what type of wood when I list it. 🙂
I think you should go with your gut feeling. It looks in really good condition. Lot’s of people here in England are going for this style of furniture, plain and uncluttered and letting the gorgeous wood grain speak for itself. Not sure myself on what wood it is either!
It depends on the look you are going for. I myself paint everything white with pink for my shabby
chic home interior. My house’s exterior is pink with white trim.
As a rule, I am seldom for painting of old wooden furnishings. I have spent long hours removing later after layer of paint to find beautiful wood underneath and asked myself…”Why?” Why would anyone cover this lovely piece with ghastly paint?! I confess, I have seen beautifully done painted items, but after a half dozen people change the color to suit them it is just awful! So, I’d say leave it, it is beautiful as is!
Leave it as is, your instinct is good on this one, she’s a beauty!
I love this piece just as it is, I think you have the right instincts. Also, by its style I believe that it is teak.. Aquick phone call to your used to be financial planner could resolve the question. Ha ha.
Ahhhhaha… you’re probably right Marilees but not happening…LOL 😉 Thanks for chiming in. 🙂
Hi Denise!
This piece is definitely screaming, “Leave me alone!” The wood looks like a teak table I used to have and the style looks like it’s from the 60’s when teak was all the rage, like it is again. Have you tried teak oil on the cabinet?
I loved your story about your ex-advisor watching you load it into your car! 😜. That was a real find!
Enjoy your trendy cabinet!
Lee
I’m leaning towards Teak too (because of the MCM style) and no, all I did was give this piece a really good cleaning – no teak oil but great idea. Thanks for chiming in Lee. 🙂
That IS a beautiful piece! The wood grains are so pretty on it and it might be a shame to cover it with paint. If you paint it, I may suggest a “wash” instead of a cover of paint. You are the expert and I know whatever you do with it, it will be gorgeous. Your creative mind has never disappointed your vast audience!
Thanks Celeste! xo
I would DEF paint! It’s a great find!
It’s beautiful! Leave it wood.
I agree. It’s gorg without any makeup. A natural beauty.
I love your painted treasures, but this is gorgeous as it is…please do NOT paint this beautiful piece!
Hi Denise. It’s a beautiful piece !! I really enjoy your posts! I would vote to leave it as is😊
Susan
Leave it alone! It’s a gorgeous piece!
I think you’ve very wisely answered your own question. BRAVO to listening to that still small voice that tells you what direction to go. This needs nothing but enjoymnet.
Hi Denise! It looks like a teak piece to me, and I think its beauty speaks for itself! No paint needed!
As a first time commentator, I would like to say that I enjoy your blog and am envious of many of your curbside finds. 🙂
Sylvia
I’m thinking teak too and the grain is gorgeous, so I agree. Thanks for taking the time to comment Sylvia and hope to chat again. 🙂 …. and oh, I just curb-shopped a beautiful french provincial dresser yesterday so I’ll keep you posted. Thank goodness no one was glaring at me through their front window this time. 😉
This wood piece is beautiful. Let it stand on its own merits. Which makes it a great accent to painted pieces. What I want to know is where can I buy The crocheted wall hanging?
Thanks for chiming in Cheryl and I bought the crocheted wall hangings from Marshalls. 🙂
I would leave as is. Very nice piece. You should have given your former financial advisor a thumbs up!
I should have…lol!
Omg, NO! It’s beautiful as is!
No no no its beautiful as it is. Really nice looking piece.
I love to paint too but sometimes u just have to leave some pieces alone. 😊
Your painted furniture always looks amazing but I would leave this contemporary piece as natural wood. Thanks.
Do not paint. Natural wood is beautiful. This is a timeless piece. Sometimes we can have to much painted furniture which I love, but like you , this piece is screaming Leave me alone!
Denise, I believe this is walnut and I’m with your gut feeling “this one says leave me alone”.
Should you change your thinking I have no doubt it will be beautiful.
Thanks Mary-Louise… always love your opinion. 🙂 XO
I normally would paint but its beautiful as is
I say DON’T paint. It appears to be teak which fits with the style of the piece and is wood best left natural, oiled occasionally. Timeless.. Plus it just looks like it’s ‘wearing the perfect outfit’ so to speak. metaphorically.
…. “like it’s wearing the perfect outfit”… I love this! Thanks Clf. 🙂
Although I’m sure that you would do a wonderful job on painting this piece, please don’t! It’s rare to find one original in this condition, and even more rare to find it for free!!!
Maybe just the front sliding doors.
Such a stunning piece. I vote ‘leave alone’, ‘please don’t paint me’ .
Loving your blog xx
Thanks Amanda… and thanks for chiming in. 🙂
PLEASE leave this one as is!! PLEASE!!!
You could leave it as is and try to sell,and if it doesn’t bring it back and paint it. I might try to paint just the outside and leave to doors.
Yep I agree, leave as is
its so lovely. Don’t paint.
Oh no, how uncomfortable is that and talk about lousy timing! It is a beautiful piece and you should have no problem selling it left untouched. BUT like you, I’d have a hard time not taking a brush to it. It’s in too good of shape to paint a solid white everywhere but the doors (like you often see) but the doors are screaming for a little something-something in a soft, subtle white (dry brush, stencil, geometric?). Tough call!
Yes, lousy timing. LOL And those doors, right?… I immediately wanted to stencil…lol. But I’m guessing someone who is into MCM will love the doors as-is so I’m going to leave it. So glad you had an amazing weekend/Saturday my friend. What a beautiful surprise!!!
HEY GIRL- YOU GET THE BEST CURB FINDS!!! this looks more like walnut to me. I’m not a brown furniture fan so much, but with MCM I think leaving it as is makes more sense if you’re gonna resell. I’d use either Howard’s or Danish Oil on it and see how fast it sells. Good Luck!!!
Hi Mary!!! Ya, I’m like a moth to a flame when I see abandoned pieces roadside…lol. I’m getting a 50/50 feedback on whether this is walnut or teak but initial gut instinct was walnut until I did a little research. Anyway, thanks for chiming in. XO
Leave it alone! …. its so gorgeous in its original form
Hi Denise,
I say leave it be, it’s a beautiful clean piece.
Leave alone, It looks just perfect!
Hi there , personally me id leave it exactly as it is
Its beautiful wood and in very good condition …think it would be spoiled if painted,some things are meant ter be left as near ter nature as can be i feel this is …..one of those pieces x
If it where me; I would leave as is ,but I would have a sheet of glass or mirror cut to size and put on top. Personally, I would have a mirror cut to size and then put some pretty pieces of glassware / colored glass vases, a lamp at one end, etc. on top to have a beautiful reflection showing off your pretty items that you may put up there.
I would leave it as well. I have trouble with wood id too but I think it’s walnut. When I leave pieces “as is”, I use Howard’s two step products to bring back the luster on old pieces – have you used them? First is a restorative that hides scratches and brings back the color, second is a liquid wax. Didn’t know if that might help.
Hi Allison! Yes, I’ve heard Howard’s is amazing but I haven’t used it yet. I have another product which isn’t coming to mind right the sec but it restores the same. 🙂
I agree. This is a stunner. Just leave it and enjoy its beautiful (probably teak) beauty. You always have the option to paint but if you paint it’s really difficult to go back.
My two-cents and worth exactly that much! Good luck.
xJane
Love your two-cents Jane, thank you!
I think your instincts are correct; it’s a beautiful piece as is.
I think it is beautiful as is. I agree with you.
If you’re going to sell it I’m betting someone would love it as is. But I too immediately could see the front stencilled! Lol. Some of us are just born to paint. Ahhhhhh…the urge to create is strong!!!
Agreed, strong urge…lol 😉
Gorgeous find! I’m swooning over here. 🙂 Leave that alone and let it’s natural beauty shine on.