You should ask ttodd she is an expert when it comes to refinishing things. Perhaps she will pop in today.

Whilst you could easily paint the whole piece, I think that in this case leaving the plastic laminate top could work also.

It looks like the coating on the real wood oak part has "yellowed" or actually "oranged", and the plastic top has the original attractive color to it. I would try the look and see if you like it painted and left with the top. Pick the right white! You need the right white to "go with" the tone of the top.

If it ends up that you do not care for the piece with the laminate top left intact then you can always just paint it later. You need to sand the plastic down so there are no shiny parts. This way the paint will stick.

I think that with the lines to that dresser it will look fabulous painted white. Consider buying some metallic paint for the drawer pulls and knobs or maybe get glass ones. The metallic spray paints they make nowdays is very, very good looking.

I hate to admit it, but if you have to paint it, this style looks great in white. Personally I'd use Cabot waterbased polystain over it in walnut. Since your floors will be in medium walnut it may be too much. As for the top it could be formica. Many wooden dressers of a certain era had them for damage prevention.
But if you do paint it and leaving top unpainted I'd use the Cabot polystain I mentioned above in walnut. That could look very nice with your floors. Lowes carries Cabot products. Ask them how to prep the top for the polystain combo.

I don't think it would look bad at all. We have an old cupboard in our kitchen that we painted a soft white but left the top and refinished that wood. Looks great.

It's unclear to me whether you have a plastic laminate top, or a hard plastic clear coat on the wood?
I think the dresser would look wonderful painted a soft off-white. White with a refinished wooden top and new hardware would give you a nice French country look, which would look terrific with the scheme you describe.

Here's an example of the look, from the "Luberon" collection of the French furniture maker Grange. Click on "Sideboards-lower units with doors" below the descriptive paragraph to see something very like your dresser.

Here is a link that might be useful: Luberon collection

If you decide to paint the base, leaving the top a different color would look great. You could also add a new, beautiful veneered overlay or search for a scrap piece of marble to place on top.

Mary Lu, your piece looks very nice.

From your photo, it's hard to know what's going on with the top. The rest of the dresser is oak, and it's unusual to put a veneer on the top of an oak dresser. The top might just be oak with a heavy coating of polyurethane, which was a popular treatment at the time this dresser was made.

Any chance of getting a direct, closer photo of the top?

Thanks Newdawn but refinishing isn't my game! I have no patience for it at all so I just make an announcement and sent it off to work w/ DH for him to do it :O)! Painting furniture though? Yep - I'm all about that if it's the right piece to paint ( won't slap paint on just everything willie nillie - I have to respect the wood of certain things).

This piece though I would def. reconsider painting out though. If you like the idea of leaving the top as is I think that's also a really good look too. If you leave the top as is obviously you'll get a more country look than if you paint the whole thing out on which case you'd get a more cottage or schabby chic like look w/o the shabby.

Also consider your white. Do you want bright crisp clean white or do you want it more mellowed? Are you going to age it w/ a glaze?

I think that the suggestions that you got for how to start are right on. Go for it!

Well, I went ahead and painted it...the second coat has been applied and in a little while I'll go and touch up. I used a paint color by Glidden called Marshmallow something...a crisp white. And I am trying out painting the top, even though it is a thick polyurethane. I sanded everything down and coverage seems to be going OK.

I already have glass pulls and knobs, so I'll add those when it's dry enough and post pictures. Hope it all works out OK, and thanks for everyone's input!

Oh good! It's working out for you. Looking forward to seeing the photos.

Here's the matching nightstand, all finished! The dresser itself is still in the garage because I can't carry it myself. MUCH better--will definitely tide me over until I can buy new bedroom furniture someday. Thanks to all for your help and thoughts!

Oh Purrus that's cute!
Love the glass knobs. It's like new furniture all for the price of paint, knobs and some of your time.

Looks really nice! Good choice. I love the knobs too.

Wow, you work quickly! I'd still be in the planning stage a year from now.

It really looks very lovely.

*much* improved -- good for you!

Looks great. The glass knobs were a good choice for the piece.

How did you do it? Did you give it a light sanding, or use a deglosser first. Did you use a primer first? Or did you just go straight to painting.
Also what kind of paint did you use.. spray paint or regular paint.
What finish.. flat, satin?
Thanks..
it came out good.
I just painted a chair (last night) I found in a thriftstore.
I went straight to spraypainting and it came out nice.
Just wondering how you went about it if you don't mind sharing?