That is a wonderful essay. Thanks for posting, You don't have to be old to find this useful. These are all excellent ideas, many of which I've used - though I'm not quite at the point of hiring people to clean my beds. But then I have some teenagers.

Only you know if the cabinets bug you enough to spend the kind of money on them that it would take to make them the color that you want. But expecting any manufacturer to do anything after 6 years is unreasonable and ridiculous. There's not a chance that after 6 years of wear and tear that any cabinet maker will ever change those doors and drawers out. And no, they won't take them back and spray them either without charging you almost the same that they would for new doors and drawers---which is pretty much industry standard cost. That's actually MORE work than finishing the doors was in the first place. And it wouldn't take care of the face frames. If you want to have them professionally sprayed by a painter that knows what he's doing, then expect to spend 3-7K on the project. And it won't be a factory finish. But it will be easier for you to touch up with "regular" paint than a factory finish will be.

Thanks, Linda. The top panel does not open. It is simply decorative with the space behind it open inside. My grandfather bought them, but I am not sure from where. Could have been at auction. He enjoyed buying things at Freeman's in Philadelphia. The back has slightly raised panels top and bottom with raised panels on sides and down the center, too. Inside, there seem to be bolts at the bottom. I just took a couple of pictures of the inside. Even the interior shelves have the inlaid ribbons of contrasting wood. It really is a nice piece and quite useful for storage, but not quite my style. Still, it is right by the front door because I have no other spot for it at the moment (ha-at the moment? won't ever to be honest). I will add the pics in a second from the iPad.

Yeah....probably.....If that top drawer is as I am picturing it....it's probably a dresser....with space for hats shoes etc. and the slider thingey is for cufflinks, collar stays, tie pins and loose change.