Jenny Jenny Jenny... ebony = black! 6 coats of ebony = BLACK Sorry... had to say it.... ok, did you take that sample and hold it up to your cabinets? Just wondering if what he painted was what you approved. If there is a huge difference between that sample and what you received you might have a leg to stand on in getting the painter to refinish it. If you didn't keep the sample you really don't have much leverage. *I don't know anything about the following link. It's about wood bleaches that are specifically designed to lighten stained woods. It sounds quite detailed and I sure wouldn't attempt it myself. *You might also check with your local paint store (NOT a big box store). *And, I would also check with Gardenwebs "Paint" forum and see if anyone over there might know of a trick or two for you. ***Good Luck!*** Here is a link that might be useful: Wood bleaches

If I use this hutch, I plan on adding a middle section to give it more balance with the room. It would be sort of like this. To answer a few questions - the upstairs sideboard is too wide for this spot. It's much wider than the one that I'm going to use in the alcove. I'm not worried about having a place to put food with this hutch, the sideboard could be used for that when needed. Though I've never entertained since we moved here 9 years ago, and not sure if I ever will. Don't have any family close enough to stop in for a visit (nearest is over 400 miles away). I use the dining room table way more for large projects than for eating on, so I really like having the space. Our main dishes are multi colored fiestaware that lives in the glass front cabinets in the kitchen, and I love how they look there. Does not bother me to own china I'm only going to look at, I own lots of stuff that serves no purpose other than it makes me smile when I look at it. I won't use it for everyday because my husband is a klutz when it comes to hand washing, or insists on putting everything in the dishwasher. He's gotten near death threats for taking the scrub pad to my china. It's been a long standing joke about faucets with dents in them, every place he has lived, that has been the result, until we got the high arch faucet and enamel sink. He's too afraid to "shake" the water out of a pan in case he let go and broke the sink. His Dad use to say that he was coming to our house to dent the faucet as DH had dented everyone they had while he was growing up. I would respond that he didn't need to, as mine ended up with dents shortly after installing them anyway. But back to the hutch - I've given up on any plants in the house - since I have a 6,000 sq foot garden, that's enough growing stuff, and the cats mess with the plants any. This is Oliver( the mask faced Siamese) and his sister when they were little - in our previous house. I had my last indoor plant die about three years after moving here, and I've not had one since. Could not do any windows there - here is the door from the other side - there is a stairway behind the hutch. We have moved and replace every window and door in the house, so I'd have to really sweet talk DH if I wanted to change one now. Or wait until he's gone for a week and do it without him! We moved the door to the side and ran the roof across the two story section so we could create a small front porch. I think all farmhouses should have a porch. Actually the whole dining room use to be the front porch at one time, then it got enclosed, but that was long before we bought it. I won't be rushing into anything with this, I would love to be able to use it instead of sending it to the goodwill or dump. Thanks to all you for the ideas, lots to think about, but that is why I bring my sticky problem areas here.

I'm back again and I've been putting up samples of some of the colors mentioned above as well as some green. I want a warm feeling in this room. Will using a sage green paint take away from the warmth? SW Sea Salt, SW Tidewater, and BM Thorton Sage all look too blue in my room. Now I am looking at SW6190 Filmy Green and BM 471 Tea Light. What do you think of these colors? WIll they overwhelm the space? Or are they light enough to give a little color without over powering? I hesitate because they are "cool neutrals."

I am looking for a corner piece because the space I have is pretty small and I think the room will look better if I remove the hutch I currently am using, besides the fact that the current hutch is not the right color to match my grandmother's set. I don't think I want to paint the current hutch and I like the built in look of the painted corner hutch. I thought about the pediment piece maybe making it a little too tall also; the seller told me it measured 85" tall and it should just make it. I wonder if the pediment can be removed? I really like the arched door, but I also found yet another corner hutch locally that is a little simpler. Not sure it goes with my stuff either though. Thoughts?