It sounds like the finish to far gone to restore to a natural wood condition. I think I would strip, sand fill and paint. If the desks are solid wood you could strip down to bare wood and refinish the wood by staining or applying an antique finish. You might even stain the tops and paint the sides and legs with an antique paint and distressed wood finish.

Hi Lexus, I am back and here are a few pictures - realize this is actually our sun room area - but for some it could be part of the whole kitchen. I could have put an island in here but wanted the window view - so went with a banquette. I also wanted DH to have a place for his "stuff", so built a pair of caves to flank the windows. Picture of inside of upper cabinet - using "entertainment style doors. Each cabinet has a pull out "cutting board" to use as a desk. I am moving one of Mom's lightweight bar type stools out here to use as needed. The height is too low for standing and too high for a regular chair. - Now just have to find a place for the stool to live when not in use... All closed up Another view - with the desk and doors open. Also - I made the bench so I could fold it down to open the window more easily - or if I just wanted to enjoy my full window. DH gave me music for the kitchen - put it in pull out drawer for now - someday, I will fix it up better - but you could use the drawers for your small appliances to make them easier to access. I do have power in the "cave" Picture showing relationship to kitchen - with the table "popped up" And everything open Hope these are helpful

the order actually goes to the company on monday. i hear 4-5 weeks. but the kitchen will be ripped out end of july - the contractor has 2-3 weeks of plumbing and wiring and windows, etc. to do before the cabinets come. allie22031: we picked a kitchen company in nj that my contractor adores...certified kitchens. so far they've been great. but what we're really loving is that they take delivery of the cabinets, inspect them and then they do their own installs of the cabinets. if it doesn't fit or it's not right, it's theirs to make right. let's just hope that works out.

Thank you dyhgarden - I think you're right about the tray. It will help everything to not float as much. If I do the open shelves, do you think about finding shelves that match the wine rack, or should I do another kind of shelving. Also your question about will I use the chalkboard is a good one! I don't think I would use it for list making, but I would use it as a changing "thought of the day" kind of thing. I can't decide if that is something I like or not. Angel 18432, my original intent was to paint the wall with chalkboard paint, but I was afraid it would be too dark. The wall I saw the wine rack on is a very dark gray, so maybe I need to think about painting it all with chalkboard paint.