"It's a house, not a museum. If you're only displaying stuff because it's pricey, antique, etc, then what's the point?" Ideefixe, I assume you are talking to me b/c I am the only one who didn't like the boxes. (Well, I like the boxes, just not in the china cabinet.) I don't think an object has to be pricey or antique to be displayed, but everytime I see those boxes, I picture a husband yelling "Honey, where did you put the stamps?" I think it is because the largest box has that silver rivet or snap on the side. They remind me of the canvas boxes that I just purchased at Target for my stationery supplies. They are pretty and functional, but their function doesn't seem suited to a formal dining room. Everything else in the OP's dining room is so polished and refined, the boxes feel like the odd man out. Just wanted to clarify so you wouldn't think that I'm a dollar-sign snob.

Howdy Do Ms Calamity! I;m Susan Jean/susiesunshine Remember: Seeeeeeept 26th 18 years!!! (: : ) WELL GIRl...... THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF S T U F F !!!! TO HANDLE !!!!! I I feeeeeeeeeel your pain!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I read your post from back a ways/... I read your post today... and listen if A N Y O N E can do this Y O U * * ** can... together with your friends!!! and with GOD and with the Program !!! remember... H A L T...... STOP>........ Halt ... don't get to Hungry, Angry, Lonley, or Tired !!!!. I toooooo am a friend of Bill Wilson's... and I tooooo have to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME>>> and Nobody said.. it was going to be easy.. I read the post... It was just like you were reading my mail... it happened to me several time.... my hubby is a truck driver. (35 years .. we lived on 120 acres... we have had to move several times... Then his job ended after being there 17 YEARS... and at 51 had to start over...and Move again and I have had to leave my treasures.. and I mean I AM A JUNKIE but by that I mean I do curbside shopping and I remake = remodel - re-purpose everything !!!! It truly hurts.... H U R T S ... deep to leave your home and your personal treasures... BUT YOUR GREATEST TREASURE IS * * Y O U *** and being clean !!! and I know.... God will give you the Grace to get thru this !!! again and probably even another time.... tooo!! (sorry I said that!)eek!!! Keep your chin up.... Halt !!!!! Take it one day at a time!!! Talk to Friends.... and Remember.... this is a Journey!!! YOU CAN DO IT !!!! Thanks for sharing Ms Calamity ! You have helped me on my journey.... I am now stuck in drug city... crime city.... on a little city lot... away from the country and my friends and family.... But I've been getting new stuff.. and getting New Friends.... and GOD never left me... and Now I have this Garden Web and now I just got a new Grand baby !!! GEEEE WHIZZZZ I am from Texas and I am stuck in the frozen cold, icy tundra .. Illinois helppppppppp !!! but I am just stubborn enough and determined enough to say.. I AM GOING TO SCREAM>>> YELL >>>> KICK MY FEET AND C R Y !!! But ....... I AM GOING TO DO IT !!!!! I AM GOING TO MAKE IT !!!! Take care, God Bless You and Your Family Your new Friend.. I'm sure... susiesunshine

First, stop with the toxic, stinky stuff! Try something nontoxic like the Citristrip or Soygel. It is SO worth the money!! I'm using it and it's absolutely fun! Particularly for lovely detail work. Your tool is a toothpick! You put it on (for stain) and leave it until the clear finish and/or stain starts to look like BBQ sauce. Then you gently rub it off with a kitchen scrubbie and water. (Mineral spirits liquifies the stain and old finish back into the grain of the wood. Give up that idea! :) They say NOT to use steel wool because Citristrip is water soluable and will cause the steel wool to rust. The plus side is the water soluable part! No chemicals, no toxicity, just beautiful wood. I'm on my 4th antique door today doing just this. I am WAY into watching old finish bubble up and scraping it off into a drywall bucket to bare wood. I swear it's almost too good to be true. As far as rehabbing a finish, Holly-kay, have you seen the incredible work online people are doing with olive oil and vinegar? Yup. Salad dressing. They're using the 0000 steel wool with that and scrubbies. I'm coming to find that horrible, burning chemicals aren't necessary and love it. As far as not liking your first coat finish? Before you put another on, take the 000 steel wool and water and smooth out the coat. You can also use a dry lunch sack. It doesn't leave any scratches to fill. Wipe all the dust off and put your 2nd coat on. I'd actually use the darker wax before your final finish coat. I think that's a good idea, though. You can feather it in where needed. I am so into this it's nuts. I can't wait to build my 2nd credenza!

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback :) I like using pieces where they work rather than having rules. Yesterday was moving day and sadly when we unwrapped the top piece after several years I realized the shelves weren't set up in a way that would easily work for my intended use. Since it's an antique and I know his mom wouldn't approve of me reworking it, I left it there. Thanks again :) We did get a few really great pieces and two sets of China (one german that was his grandmothers). So, it was a great move all in all.