The piece is traditional but is that your style now? At first glance I was going to say black but since you said you already have black and white furniture, I'd go with another color entirely. What other colors are in the room? If you don't have any, you could paint it a toned barn or brick red, an olive or limey green or even a soft pale aqua or yellow. I wouldn't go with white only because you already have a lot of white in the room. If it were me, I'd use that piece as a good opportunity to bring in some other color.

I'd do it a creamy color too. It will look sooo good.

Another vote for a different color (soft pale aqua would be my personal choice).

I gel stained a pickled bedroom set and it turned out really great, so that's an option too if you want wood.

Original sorry pic is dark, it was whitewashed pine)

gel stained (partially painted mirror)

another option would be a soft silvery gray. Not very common but with the black and white it could be stunning.

Great piece.

I think I agree that it should be either a different color than the black/white pieces you have, OR do a darker antique technique on it. Then change out the hardware to black iron.

I would love to see it in the room with the other pieces, because part of me would be tempted to leave it as it is and just change out the hardware. I would think it might be quite nice with the neutral walls and black dining set.

Of course, if the furniture you have now is a much more modern style, then painting it might be the best way to modernize the more traditional style of the piece. But for sure the hardware needs to be changed, no matter what you do.

A vote for painting it another color and switching the hardware to black iron.

Choosing the "other color" would depend on your whole room -- perhaps white, or even dark red. You could even paint the interior in a different accent color that could be highlighted by adding colored china pieces like plates or platters.

Could you post a recent photo of the dining room? And your china?

Cannot tell without seeing the room for which it is intended. . . all else is beyond the usual guesswork :)

You're so right Les, changing the hardware is a great suggestion.

GMP3 your project turned out really lovely.

"Cannot tell without seeing the room for which it is intended. . . all else is beyond the usual guesswork :)"

I agree. What other colors are going to be in the room.

Nice work GMP3!

How about a dark espresso stain rather than paint?

I, too, think grey would be so pretty with your black and white. I saw something online the other day that was painted in grey and it was so nice! I only wish I could remember where I saw it....

Hi all

Thanks to each of you for your input...

I don't have a camera at the moment so no pics available:(

However, I can tell you the room has accents of rust... and mustard....These colors come from framed artwork/pictures, throw pillows..and a mosiac glass tiled piece.

Dining room is opened to the living room..

Sofa and living room chairs are white...coffee table is black..

Dining room table and chairs are black...

Walls are neutral....

The dishes I have are plain old creamy white...

My style is ...I guess somewhere between Pottery Barn and Ikea...Not REAL modern but contemporary.

I agree the hardware needs to be changed...already asked my DH if he was up to that task!

I'm a pretty neutral kind of girl...so I tend to only use splashes of color here and there. I have to admit your suggestions of red, aqua, limey green and yellow are scaring the %&@# out of me...haha..I don't think I could commit to it! I guess I'm pretty spineless...

gmp3...you did a great job on your dresser...I would have never guessed that was once pickled anything! Is gel staining a difficult process?

Does that help any of you with your suggestions?

I really appreciate your taking the time to respond..

KA:)

Oh that's a nice dlm2000!

My vote would be for a grey or distressed aqua. If you do an antique or gel stain over the aqua it would tone it down, but still give some color and interest. ORB or black hardware would also work well. This is the perfect type of piece to go out of your comfort zone and try something a little different--since you already have owned it for many years and would not represent a large financial investment. And, ifyou decide you don't like it, you can always repaint in the safer white/black you are more comfortable with.

Pretty cabinet!
Here is a picture of my 1990 cabinet that I just painted. It is painted with Benjamin Moore Aura paint in Sparrow with a glaze I made out of some antique walnut stain. It was sooooo easy! And it made such a difference!

I was thinking of a gray too. Perhaps a gray gel stain? Or would that make it too Restoration Hardware for you? If so, then I would think a gray paint like posted a couple of posting above would look great, fits right in with the black, white, contemporary but not too modern feel. Gray is very neutral, after all.

hi all..

dlm...I love the photo you posted...that's my taste...in fact that is similar to my kitchen I believe..at least on my monitor that's what my cabs look like..dark chocolate brown...

I'm going to post a picture of my kitchen...(if you are ever on the kitchen forum you've seen it 100,000,000 times...sorry!) which has the same flooring and wall color as my dining room..so you can see my palette..

Do you still think gray would work? Or maybe a "griege"?

I don't have any aqua going on in the dining/living room so I'm having a hard time with that one...does aqua go with rust and mustard accents??

I'm loving all the suggestions because it helps me to open my mind to ideas I would never have considered...

KA:)

my kitchen which is just off the dining room..same floor and wall color

I think aqua would be great too. Like someone else said, try it, if you hate it you can always go back to something safe. Love your kitchen btw! I'm a neutral lover too but look how great those green plants look in your neutral kitchen. Something bright and different in the dining/living room would work like that and would be wonderful on your china cabinet. I bet you would love it.

Of course gray would work! Look at the Bianco Antico! (It is BA, right?, I'm not confused, am I?). That counter is calling out for GRAY!!!!!

Google gray kitchens, and you will find lots of gray cabinets to look at!

hi bee..

No..it's BA's cousin...Delicatus White..some parts really have the BA look for sure!..Thanks for the idea of googling gray kitchens...why didn't I think of that??

hi hgtv..I see what you mean about the green in the plants..hmmm..

KA:)

My vote is for dark, colonial red!

Hey everyone...

Just wanted to update you..

Today I began gel staining the big monster...a dark Java stain...a la Celtic Moon's kitchen for those of you familiar with that forum.

I appreciate the input from all of you, and I know the majority of you suggested other colors, but my neutral personality wouldn't let me go through with it.

I'll post pictures of the masterpiece when I'm finished..

unless it's a total mess.

KA:)

a pic of celtic's moon kitchen...

Here is a link that might be useful: celtic moon's gel stained kitchen photos

I would paint it either black or white not both. I'm not a fan of painting it a color unless you have a very specific color scheme it could fit into.

Can't wait to see! I'm a very neutral person also and I'm in love with your kitchen with all the cream accents.