I love painted furniture and struggled with this same issue a few years ago when I wanted to paint an oak bureau. (guilt!)

Bottom line is you have to make it work for you. You're not ruining a priceless antique. The white will freshen up it's look, it'll work in your DD's room, and someone can always strip it and restain it in the future if they want that dark wood look back.

Gibbard is the actual name, not Gerber, as I just came across the proof of purchase company spiel about how care is taken to show the grain of the wood, the woodworking, the workmanship of the wood. And yes, wood being emphasized throughout. I just needed some backup as I know I won't get it anywhere else! Thanks. We can easily bring it back to it's natural state when the time is appropriate. I might even antique it. We'll see. I think once you do it, it turns fine.

Don't!!...In my late 20's and early 30's I painted my share of stuff....mostly so-so stuff.....and in EVERY case I or the kid I gave it to has been sorry.....the word was..."Mom!! What's with the paint?"...Why didn't you just buy some unfinished junk and leave the nice furniture the way it was.
If you paint, it will never be the same! You will not "freshen it up" but you WILL make it look "clobbered". That is mucked with...messed up.
The only case I know of where someone can paint a moderatly nice piece of furniture and not make it look like loving hands have tried to freshen it up, is a friend who is an artist. She buys decent pieces ( not valuable oak or walnut...but good strong and well styled furniture) and paints it. Decorates it.....and sells her pieces for hundreds of dollars and in some cases a couple of thousand.
Unless you can do the type of stuff in the link below....don't paint it!
If she wants it white....go to the Salvation Army and buy sometbhing for $20 and paint it white....and when she decides she wants somethbing else.....donate it back to the Salvation Army.
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: painted stuff

Paint It! Don't worry about not being able to restore it back. You can always sand it back down and stain or repaint if you like.

Don't paint it! I've seen some solid mahogany furniture that had been painted and I spent a lot of time to refinish the pieces. If the wood is rare, expensive or from an endangered species I would go to a thrift store and buy an MDF piece and paint it instead.

I am not going to tell you to paint or not paint. But if you decide to paint I have suggestions:

1. Clean the piece well and then apply Seal-Coat, a dewaxed shellac. This will both form a good bonding & barrier coat from what's underneath AND seal the paint out so future stripping won't have a nightmare with paint in the pores.

2. Use an oil-based paint. Latex is just too soft and prone to "blocking." Oil based also flows out a bit better, leveling brush marks.

The old piece of furniture of course can be repainted. However, you must a knowledge on it. There are many sources on internet on how to paint a furniture. As you know, you can make your furniture in shabby chic model as it is now becoming a trend.

Here is a link that might be useful: Painted Mahogany Furniture