Is it two separate pieces? Is the top removable? If it’s not a high quality antique piece I guess you could paint depending upon your room. I’d leave it alone. . Can’t give suggestions without seeing where it would go. It’s definitely not “modern “ in any sense.

I have this exact same cabinet. I thought about painting it for a while, but, now have decided to leave it just like it is, however, here is a link I saved, that might give you some ideas..https://www.pinterest.com/keishalynn73/painted-furniture/

Don't try. Get something that is. It is none of the above : ) Chalk paint it gray, distress and proceed at your peril .

Can we see the rest of the room?

I agree with Jan this will never be a rustic piece why not sell it before you ruin it and get something you like

There's no way it can be modern but it could be more interesting. If it's a good piece of furniture, don't paint it. Maybe change the hardware and make that interesting. I'm thinking Asian Chippendale.

There is nothing you can do to make that piece look rustic. I would suggest you sell that piece and buy something else.

I have almost the exact same piece in my home. I purchased it on sale, already refinished from a second hand antique shop. It's chalk painted a creamy white with some natural distressing . I have some very rustic/farmhouse style décor inside as well as some remote controlled LED candles to illuminate it from within at night. I also have a natural boxwood wreath that hangs in front of the glass doors. I love it! It definitely takes on more of a rustic/farmhouse look versus modern. If mine looked like yours, in beautiful condition with natural wood, I probably would not have painted over it.

However, I still think you can change the look of the piece by removing everything you currently have inside of it, and starting with an empty palette, and then adding fewer pieces back in, that reflect the updated style that you are looking to convey.

FWIW, I found a picture of mine. It's chalk painted dove white and distressed. Please excuse the bad angle, lighting and toys...

Aren’t rustic and modern opposites?

I was wondering that also, Littlebug! What IS modern rustic?

I found some examples in this article but it's mostly home design rather than decor - https://www.decoist.com/2014-01-28/modern-rustic-style-interiors/

Here's an article with a 'modern rustic interior' - http://www.styleathome.com/interiors/article/interiors-modern-rustic-home

True “Modern Rustc” isn’t faux paint. Or cutesy. Not at all. Its not even popular. It’s sparse, and basic and angular. Function IS Form. Function stripped of any attempt at Form. Just the essential functional material. East German government buildings.

Look up Brutalism. From Beton brut. Raw concrete.

I have this one in my home office. It's by Maddox, and I bought the top and bottom pieces separately, many years apart. I bought the base from an antique shop close to 30 years ago, and stumbled on the top years ago on Craigslist. A realtor had it in a house he was selling, and I forget what he called it, but I got it for $25. Just saw this on 'my' CL today - Maddox mahogany secretary on Craigslist $600

My $25 top from 2009 just after I got it home. You'll love yours someday!

here ismore

You could always paint the inside of the glass cabinet ..it make the things in side more noticeable that's all I did with a similar piece

I am an aged rustic (mid-50s living on a farm), and from what I understand "modern rustic" is more modernized, "updated" rustic. But how exactly one updates and modernizes rusticity (beyond the electricity and running water everyone was so excited about in the sixties lol) is an interesting thought.

Though I do think a lot of "modern rustic" is what can be seen on Remodelista, and fixtures such as Barn Light Electric's. I think the modern approach means a much more spare, and less cottage-y and shabby chic, rusticity, with more straight lines and edges and fewer curves. Fewer frou-frou finishes as well. So as others have pointed out, there's very, very little if anything you can do when your starting point is a pseudo-Chippendale/Queen Anne piece like msliu's, with all the curves, cabriole legs, and broken-scroll pediments.

I'd list the piece on Craigslist and see if anyone near you is selling something with more of the look you have in mind.

Does this one on the Dallas, TX Craigslist for $125.00 look more 'rustic' to you? Too bad it has the dentil molding below the crown.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/fuo/d/dresser-storage-cabinet-and/6401577311.html

Modern fabric or wall paper in a light tone and puck lights for brightness would give it a different look but not a rustic modern look. I bought a hutch from EA a few years back right before the hutch look became passe' but I am leaving it as is.....it was just too much ca-ching for me to get rid of. I am embracing the look but lining it with modern fabric or wallpaper for a 'new' look. I am also painting my dining room Salamander from Benjamin Moore for a trendy look.

Love that secretary desk. I have one just like it in my bedroom. It provides a nice contrast to the MCM furniture. Use it as an accent piece.

Wow, some of you “pros” are pretty brutal and so off target with your commentary. Use a little imagination, give a little guidance, but why trash what she has to work with, if she wanted a different piece, she would have bought it originally....geeze....

That piece is beautiful and if it were me, I’d probably give it a good waxing and leave it the way it is.

IMO, the most interesting rooms have a mix of styles so even if you decided to paint it, it could still work, see:

This room doesn’t have a cabinet, but look how ornate the wood is that’s in it. There’s a little bit of traditional and a little bit of modern and the room is beautifully done.

Lovely secretary. If the back legs match the front ones, it is more valuable than you might think. The number of openings in the grid work behind the glass affect value too. I'd want to know the numbers, before painting it. You might be happier selling it and getting something more "paintable."

LOL. This belongs to my MIL. Since she is living in assisted living now, she has given this piece to me. Here it is in her house.

It's a beautiful piece of furniture and since it was your MIL's, even more special!

I'll admit that I have always liked this makeover that Eddie Ross did years ago -

http://eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2008/08/secretary.html

The OP asked how to make it RUSTIC. MODERN. Nobody is suggesting it can't be used. Just don't try to re invent the actual piece unless the reinvention works.. Juxtaposed in a setting that is contrary? Fine. The reason the photo below works? ALL in the room is in intentional modern contrast with more "ancient" surroundings. It is not in any way a mish mash of try and fail. Want to lacquer the secretary white with a magenta interior? Use it in a "she she" room with a zebra hide rug? ? Great. !!! Depends the what, and the where: )

I don't ask too many questions here simply because I don't want to be humiliated. I do quite a bit of lurking. And as supportive as I can be. I love painted pieces, I would likely paint in a nice shade of...grey lol. Light grey.

Louise, there is no reason to ever feel humiliated, everyone is welcome to ask questions and share their ideas. Besides, participating is a lot more fun than lurking!

My first thought was paint it and change out the hardware/pulls for a nice update. It is beautiful as is though :-)

It's such a beautiful piece, I'd have a hard time painting it, but if I wanted to keep it and it wouldn't work for me as is, I think I'd try to find a more "modern" color to fit in with your modern rustic vision.

Don't quote me, but I seem to remember people talking about these types of pieces with the embellishment on top (I'm sure it has a name) and that the decorative piece on the very top might be removable. Check yours and if it is, that would make it easier to transition to a different look.

I loved both of these make overs:

"Modern Rustic"

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/decorating-style/country/modern-rustic-decor-281474979509400/

Examples IMO

Or distressed antiques and modern context:

If your secretary is older, I'd clean gently with restore-a-Finish and combine it with a modern chair and accessories.

msliu, I just showed DH your post. His initial reaction was to ask if you snuck into his mother's place to take the photo.

I like the examples that nosoccermom posted.

I agonized over whether or not to paint the antique oak china cabinet that belonged to my mother. I didn't and I'm glad I didn't. I have a mix of modern, antique, even outdoor dining chairs, in my dining room.