I would make it the color of your fireplace surround. Can it be stripped and stained? You could make the top black and the cabinet brown. Make sure you get the back of the cabinet either painted or stained since you can see it from front of sofa. Put brushed nickel knobs on doors.

What would you think of a pear color something like the attached link?

Here is a link that might be useful: Maine Cottage Furniture

I'm thinking a dark red -- picked up from the red in the flowers in the chairs. A pear color, to me, isn't going to look good in conjunction with the tan color of the painted cabinet across the room (looks tan in the picture, am I right?).

Hmm... however, then I would probably be bothered by the pillows on the sofa that have pink in them. Can we get new pillows for the sofa that also bring in the red?

Black ..!! then toss a colored fun runner on top for a punch of color.

Love the pear colour, but, as sue says, I can't see it in the room.

Black is a possibility, but was kinda hoping for something more fun, but maybe with a bright runner....

I had tried to stain the new top to match the fireplace and other oak in the room, but I'm just not happy with the way it came out - but I could paint it a similar colour and then distress it maybe.

Sueb, I like the idea of red, but I'm worried it's going to look too country. What do you think? Oh, and the pillows were just sent to me from a friend in the UK and aren't staying (except when she comes to visit :-)

Threegrad, I can't do the brushed nickel as all the other hardware in the room is either brass or bronze. If it were for another room (and it may eventually get moved) I think that would look great.

Oh, in one of the pictures that floor lamp looked like brushed nickel. In later photo I now see it is brass. Then use brass knobs.

How about a deep, almost black, red in the red color family that is in the deeper-colored flowers on your chairs for the top?

Then can the rest of the cabinet remain as is, or is too distressed for you?

I like the suggestion of almost black red but I think I would paint the whole thing solid. I like the idea of black too.

How about the fresh green color that's in your chairs? Green/turquoise

I think a rich green from the greens in the chair fabric. I don't see red against the white couch - too cottage feeling, not the look you are after. Also, you want to consider what side of the room it faces - the DR, and the fact that in there you have almost all brown tones. I think the green would be refreshing. The antique brass hardware will also be pretty against the green.

Down the road you might look for a piece of granite or something like that to put on as a top. For now, you could decoupage the top with interesting postcards or photos, etc. and then place a piece of glass over it. You could also check out the veneers that can be added with adhesive. The other thing that could be very cool would be to get the textured paintable wallpaper in some modern design and put that on the doors and top before you paint it. Then protect the top with glass. Finally, consider doing the top in one of the hammered spray paint finishes, perhaps a bronze.

I am giving you a link to a bunch of painted furniture that I think will blow your mind. Remember, you can paint, you can stencil, you can freehand, you can decoupage... there are lots of very creative ways to paint furniture besides just one color and you don't have to be an artist to do it.

Scroll all the way to the bottom to see them all. Hope you get some great ideas!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fabulous painted furniture

Wow, oceanna. Those images are so inspiring. I especially love the fish bowl vanity with the stripes.

I think your right les (and sameboat). I've picked a green from farrow and ball I might go with (greensmoke). Your idea of decoupage also reminded me of some beautiful handmade papers at the art shop I go to - they might be lovely and add texture.

I think I've decided the black might be too dark, but if I'm not happy with a colour, I can always do black over top.

Thanks for all the input guys -now I just need the time to get it done.

I love the green pieces in the link from oceanna. If you aren't a paint artist you could also decoupage it!

I think Greensmoke has real possibilities. Here's a great link with a bunch of furniture painted in F&B colors. Thought they might give you some ideas. I love Les' idea about doing something fun to the top, either decoupage or under glass say.

Here is a link that might be useful: F&B colors for furniture

What a great site bestyears! I always have trouble finding pics of f&b colours. Weird tho how the two pieces done in green smoke look nothing alike and neither looks like my chit. However, greensmoke is the colour the decorator at the store I bought the chairs picked out from the fabric so I know it is a pretty good match. It also goes well with the wood pieces in the room.

I thought the same thing! Be sure you post a pic after you have painted. Are you able to buy F&B paint locally? Not me...

maybe you could do it in a couple shades of brown and use a faux wood graining tool to give it a wood grain look, or maybe do some comb finish on it..it would look good dark...i would change out the hardware too.

I'm thinking from across the room your fabric on your chairs appears to be the same fabric that i have on my curtains in my kitchen and family room, check out the ribbon board on the "garden party" part of this forum under rainy day (freezing rain) where i used a scrap of my fabric for a ribbon board. if it is the same fabric that has a dark purple background that would also work well on the cabinet (i happen to have a gallon of that paint that i would give you if you were nearby)