pic hopefully

Here is a link that might be useful: dresser

You aren't close to Toronto, by any chance? I'd take that off your hands in a heartbeat!

It might cost you more to refinish them than they are worth. Have you thought of paint and new hardware?

Nightstand

Here is a link that might be useful: nightstand

homemaker - don't like to paint good wood. I think I'd rather sell than paint. Just me. Ohio probably isn't close enough to Toronto:(

GO WINGS!

There's no way what you have is going to look like what you want just by refinishing. What you want has totally different lines, proportions and details than what you've got. IMO it would be a waste to refinish what you've got.

Could it look at least different? Updated? Less formal?

Paint! If your dresser and nightstand were "the ultimate antiques" I would say leave it alone. Pick a color. There is nothing like making something pretty look prettier! I did an open book case for my grand daughter in deep purple on the outside and painted all inside spaces bright pink. It's the talk of her friends! So go for it.

Buy new. No question.

You can try and shabby-chic them by using milk paint, but shabby-chic works better with curved lines. They're formal and linear, no two ways about it. Painting them black would emphasize that formality, but with the right accessories and fabrics, could be great. Black and white toile, new brasses, sort of a Napoleonic feel--does that appeal?

Shaker, mission, arts and crafts ain't gonna happen, IMO.

I'm with you Mary - no paint. Mahogany is too valuable to slap paint on.

I don't think it would be possible to create a Mission look out of those pieces. I see 2 big things and 1 lesser that would have to be different. The legs would need to be changed to squared legs but chopping off those legs and adding square legs would alter the structure and ability of the piece to stand up solidly. Mission pieces are typically straight up and down, with no adornment. So, the decorative trim around the middle would have to be removed but then you'd still be left with a highboy that's narrower on top than the bottom. And those pulls would obviously have to be changed.

If you REALLY want mission, could you sell those pieces and then use the proceeds to contribute to a different set?

Could it look at least different? Updated? Less formal?

Mary, do you have some vision that the rest of us are missing? Refinishing will make the wood look nicer, and you could change out the hardware. But beyond that, what are you looking to do specifically?

I would settle for just a different, less formal look.
It almost looks painted to me now. Is that the nature of mahogony?
It just looks dated and if I'm going to update I wanted the end product less formal if that could be done.
Thinking it was cherry I thought that stripping, going for a lighter brown and different pulls would do that. I guess it sound like mahogony can't go there.
Frustrating, I really like their sizes, everything else out there today is just too dang big.

I'm not sure what the point of "updating" antiques is. IMO if you want something antique, you want it for what it is, not to look like something trendy you can buy in a store. If you want something trendy from a store then get something trendy from a store. If the scale of much new furniture is bothering you, check out some of the "youth" lines. My bedrooms are all very small and I found these pieces to often be better scaled to my smaller rooms but similarly styled to their "adult" counterparts. Apparently Stanley Young America does not have the quality control issues of the adult line as it is still made in the USA. I just bought some in their "gen america" line for my nursery and it's nice stuff (at least in the store it was) and perfectly scaled for the room. The only piece that is "baby" is the crib, the rest could just as easily go in an adult's room but smaller scaled - not as deep or wide or just massive feeling. If I hadn't fallen in love with a thomasville piece and some antique nightstands for my bedroom I'd be looking there for new.

If you want a different style antique then look for a different style antique, which is also a good option for smaller scaled furniture. Haunt ebay or craigslist for the pieces you really want but it may take some time.

I think they will look nicer re-finished and you can do different handles and if that is all that is bothering you go for it. They won't look like mission, shaker, or any of that though. More like traditional style without the fuss if you use simple handles. Mahogany is a reddish wood so if you wanted a brown look it might be harder as I think it will have some red tones no matter what.

If you want mission and smaller scale look for antiques as they often will be smaller scaled too.

Yes I think that they could absolutely be updated but they would still definitely retain a timeless/ antique look. Quite frankly that's the look I like. I'd go for a darker finish if you were trying to update. Change out the hardware to something less fussy but still fitting if you can find it. Try a catalog such as Van Dykes. I think that the rest of the key to updating the look is how you decorate the room.

I don't see you getting a mission and/or sleeker simpler style out of the furniture but I can definitely see an updated version.

Let me just ask you - what was the quote for refinishing as compared to buying new? Which are you more willing to invest your money in?

I've been trying to figure this out. I think I associate the color/finish with a certain style of furniture that I consider too old and formal for my tastes.
Just to set the record straight I did not buy this stuff and then wonder why I don't like antiques. Nor have I ever been a huge antiques fan. I like some old stuff but because I like it, not because its old. I googled mahogony furniture and its all the same color - formal ornate stuff. I don't think this dresser is really all that ornate per se but it has that style association due to the color and I think I'm just tired of it.

In the past my "taste" has been all over the map - I think I'm too impressionable or easily led. And I know I've had trouble with what I call Imelda Marcos syndrome.
Ever heard the saying "selling the dream"? I think I have that more than I like one specific style - that dream - some Stickley seems to scream my dream:) but its not the whole picture.
My dream is casual, semi-rural, getting simpler and less fussy as I get older. Definately practical. I love wood, big chunks with mortise and tenon. Some primitive or simpler country is ok (I don't like country things that are turned round things too much, too fussy, to ornate ), some just ordinary "normal" traditional is ok.
I don't like shopping much and hate making decisions (see above) so I think I was hoping to avoid that with refinishing. That plus the reuse, recycle aspect.
I think just to sort of "make sure" I've covered the options with refinishing I'll get a second opinion from a different refinisher again seeing if I can get the color/finish to a different look although I suspect that moving mahogony will be next to impossible without bleaching and I'm not going there.
When ideefixe mentioned paining black and more formal - I thought totally wrong direction. But I wonder if a greenish black stain would be so bad? (Is there such a thing?) It would be different, it wouldn't be red (I really don't like the red) and wouldn't be a glossy black formal paint look.
ttodd - the estimate on the nightstand was around 200. The dresser was probably going to be more like 700-900.
After writing the above I went to the Van Dykes site - I can see where new hardware isn't going to be so easy either. Yea, talk with a second refinisher and if they don't inspire me then its grappling with the what to buy decision.

I say paint, especially since you're not an antique purist.
The lines are nice and simple, I think the fussy hardware is throwing you off.
Pick a color you like, black would be good, imo, but it should be not be shiny, more of an eggshell, matte finish.
I'd play up the ribbon and reed looking detail with pulls that mirror that.
More contemporary - satin nickel
More subdued - flat black

Here is a link that might be useful: Dynasty Hardware

Refinishing your furniture definitely won't make it look rustic or more contemporary. The pieces just have too much ornamentation that a color change/hardware change won't do. I just refinished an inherited dining table from the 1940's myself...ALOT of work, but worth it...but I liked what it looked like before it was redone. Refinishing just changes the color (if you strip it), or replaces the polyurethane/varnish/shellac finish. It doesn't change the style that much (Unless you paint it purple like someone mentionned). I would do like someone suggested and sell it and use the money to buy something you truly like when you see it. The furniture is quite lovely...you surely will get a buyer.

i'd change out the hardware and paint it a soft black.

these aren't pieces the keno brothers are google eyed over....they're dime a dozen 1940's pieces. i'm not being derogatory...i have several like this myself, but if you don't like them, you're not ruining anything.

they're most likely mahogany veneer by the way...i wouldn't let the wood strss you out :)

Well I decided I could accept something that was just a little different and less beat up and went for the experiment. I think it might have been better if I'd been able to find a more custom refinisher but oh well.
I thought I'd post the link just for grins.
I'm going to go ahead and have the dresser done too. What the heck.
Any leads on 2" centered hardware that is rustic, iron or pewter I'd appreciate it. So far all the 2" stuff looks very similar to what is has, the stuff I like is all 3". I hate drilling holes in wood.

Here is a link that might be useful: refinishes nightstand next to before dresser

I think the pieces are beautiful and I agree about not painting them. I think the nightstand looks great and new hardware will really make them look good.