I think it looks perfect for a baby's room. I don't see the style as being 'feminine' and a baby is not going to notice style anyway. Why won't it fit in the room? A different furniture arrangement may make all the pieces work.

I can't see a clothing amoire being used in a kitchen. It would look out of place. It looks a bit formal for a laundry room but if you need it for function it should work.

Can it be used in baby #1's room? If #1 is a girl, I can see it painted white and looking very shabby chic!

It's a pretty piece, but looks like it is meant for a child's room due to the height of the mirror. It seems a bit awkward, though, as a child cannot reach the upper drawers. I agree with dilly that I don't see it in either a kitchen or laundry. If you don't want to use in the baby's room, I'd think about reselling it on Craigslist and then using the proceeds to shop for the hutch you want in the kitchen. Since I've started using Craislist these past few years, I feel a lot more at ease with disposing of furniture that no longer works in my house because I know I can sell off there and purchase what I do want as well--with very little added cash flow.

Although I realize you have a baby, if you are thinking ahead to furniture that the child can actually use, I agree with Val that this piece is not it. So personally I would rule it out of the child's room, if not the baby's.

When my husband has strong opinions I try to respect them because it alienates him from house decision-making processes when I just override him (we have issues because he hates shopping... long story). So putting in the kitchen would be a bit "in his face". I would think the laundry room is your best option, succumbing to the age-old assumption that you do most of the work in there (I do in mine, so I treat it like "my" room). You might find you can let it go more easily once it's there, or you may find that your attachment to it is genuine and long-term and firm up your wish to keep it. My favourite antique dresser in the whole house is actually in my laundry room.

Or, any chance you could put in the basement if you have one? I figure furniture in utility areas is allowed to be nice too.

KarinL

keh, not sure of the quality of the wood so I won't comment on painting it. I will say, being that I'm in the business of re-purposing furniture, that I think it could possibly work in the kitchen, or better yet, dining room if the mirror can be removed and replaced with glass so that side can be used to display some of your pretty dishes. The drawers would work well for dining linen storage. Do you have a dining room or can you share a photo of your kitchen and where you are thinking of placing it? That would really be helpful.
My guess is that your hubby isn't so against the piece itself, but that he feels it's too feminine for a boys room. Is that correct? Could changing the hardware and adding glass, re-purposing it, change his mind? I'd tell him what you are thinking and see what he says. If he still insists he hates it then by all means sell it on Craigslist and start searching for a buffet with hutch.

Can't see it in a kitchen or even laundry room. Shouts bedroom to me. May to time to sell & move on.

Thank you for all of the responses. To answer some of the questions DD is set on furniture in her room. She just moved up to her big girl room and inherited our old set (which was my DH's from high school) and we got new furniture :) DH isn't just biased against the armoire b/c baby #2 is a boy..he has always hated it lol. We are going to have a daybed and dresser/changing table in the baby's room as well as the crib so the armoire just won't fit. It really is kind of awkward as the drawers are too small to be really useful. I think that I may put it in the laundry room for now just to get it out of the way and then list it on Craigslist. I have a matching nightstand somewhere in the attic too. I've never listed anything on Craigslist before so this will be a new experience. Thanks again for all the responses!

keh, if you need any help when you are ready to list the armoire and nightstand just let us know. Many of us had done this often. If you can get better pictures of it now before you move it into the laundry I'd advise doing it. Using HTML for larger pictures and lots of details and measurements are a must for a quick sale.

I don't think it looks too feminine and it would be great painted a shabby distressed black, white, red, blue - any color, really. If it were being used for a boy's room, I would replace the glass with a chalkboard surface (or maybe cover it somehow and paint it with chalkboard paint?) and replace the drawer hardware with polished nickel or pewter bin pulls - very Pottery Barnish!

I transformed a girly dresser - shabby chic white with pink crystal knobs, no less - into a handsome dresser for my teenage son, with just some paint and different hardware purchased on ebay.

I also like the idea of using it in the kitchen with glass replacing the mirror, or in the laundry room with chalkboard replacing the mirror. But if you DH truly hates it and you're not sentimental over the piece, then CL is a great idea.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I would love that in a laundry room. It would be a shame to paint it especially if you have a matching piece. If it is not a good fit for your home, then sell as a pair. I think it is beautiful, but I agree if DH doesn't like it, paint won't fix that.

I would take out the mirror and put in chicken wire or the stainless mesh, change out the pulls to oval pulls that would be a compliment to the oval opening, in the brushed nickel or stainless. Unless the wood is fabulous and the piece expensive, I would paint it out in a satin black.

Do the same thing for the nightstand. Put them side by side so that they feel like one piece, add a cushion on the top of the nightstand to make it become a seating space. Use it in a hallway for storage of gloves, hats etc. and a place to put on boots. Add a mirror above it, or use the top for a lamp and a plant and hang art behind it.

Or use it in the laundry for storage and seating.

If you first want to try it on Craigslist, list both pieces (but let them be sold separately) and give some ideas as to how the piece could be used and changed. Then if it doesn't sell, make the changes for yourself.

I could also see that piece in a DR to hold flatware and serving pieces, linens and candles in the drawers, and serving pieces in the oval side once the mirror is gone, with a shelf or two added in.

OT - are those roman shades on the windows or just a valance? If shades, did you purchase them locally or on-line. Thanks!

Please don't paint it--unless the wood is really beyond hope. I think it's lovely, and don't understand worries about femininity in furniture. If you really can't find a place for it, you might want to sell it, rather than invest a lot of time in something that causes family distress.

malhgold - they are roman shades that the previous owner of the house left behind. I'm sorry I don't have any information on where they were purchased.

juddgirl - thanks for the pictures. That dresser transformation is amazing! We have another older dresser that I'm itching to paint red or blue for the baby's room so I will show that to DH as an example of how paint can make a difference.

I love all of the ideas - chalkboard paint and wire mesh both sound fun. We inherited a nice dining room set from DH's grandparents with a china cabinet and hutch so I can't fit it in there.

Thanks for the Craigslist tips. That's a great suggestion to take better pictures now before I move it out of that room.

Thanks again for all of the tips. I have some thinking to do.

You're welcome. I forgot to say measurements are important too. And close ups of any details or damage if there is any.