apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

....lime green?

I recently had purchased a 1940's secretary and scouted around for quotes on getting it painted - It was running about $1000 a year ago, but prices may be lower now...

If this piece were mine, I'd consider doing it myself - priming it first and painting it a glossy black.

I think it would be doable yourself. Just sand the shine off of it well with fine sand paper. Then two coats of primer before you paint. I just did my kitchen cabinets myself and they turned out great. This has more nooks , but the primer is a great help. For the lesser expense, I'd try it myself!

Auto body shop. Have them spray it. It'll look better than doing it yourself, and it's not nice enough to really refinish. Call around--Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Eastside, and you'll find someone who'll do it comparably cheaply.

you can TOTALLY do it yourself. I have an old sideboard that was really detailed and intricate, and I just went for it. just sand it down, prime it, and paint it. dont be scared! and as for color, I would veer away from the lime green. try white, black, or possibly teal. or yellow! here is what I did with mine...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladylushphoto/3470713033/

Yes, I agree with Adrienne Claire--this is a four or five can job but I'd spray lacquer it myself outdoors. Here's a pic of a nearly identical moorish-style credenza in white: http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2008/12/cheap-thrills-moorish-credenza-60/

under $200 at a local auto body shop. everybody is desperate for work these days, and this is an easy job.

(also, consider a 1/4" glass top with the 1/8 beveled edge. it will protect the surface and gives it a much more custom/high end look for not that much $$$)

I keep forgetting: I have used a shop on Sunset in the Angeleno Heights area many times, great prices, great work...I just can't remember the name. If you are coming down sunset from Hollywood to Downtown...halfway between Echo Park and Downtown, just past Elysian Park Ave they are on your right..big yellow sign, big yard, impossible to miss.

I think it would look great in white. White would also be easier to work around than a bolder color if you decide to change up your color scheme.

ChrisToronto...

that is the same one!

guess the question-asker didn't include a pic!

Is it missing a drawer? Or is that space supposed to be open? I don't know, I'd probably just keeping looking for the the right piece instead spending time and money trying to make something not-quite-right fit the bill. Just my two cents.

I'm with Tequila Red. Everytime I try some stop gap method I'm disappointed and end up throwing good money after bad because I can't stand my "quick fix." I usually find that if I hold out for the "perfect" item I find it. Or it finds me!

Glossy white would look amazing. You could try it yourself or try an autobody shop. I don't know about prices though.

I would just wait until you find the right item. It's not really worth the effort. Sometimes it it... but I don't think this is the right piece.

If it's the nooks and crannies that you're worried about sanding down, look into using a liquid refinisher like Formby's instead. I recently redid my dining room table and it worked like a charm - just took a lot of scrubbing to remove all the old finish. It certainly would be faster and easier (plus more effective) than trying to sand into all those crevices. From there, applying a glossy finish would be pretty simple.

cravethemind . . . absolutely right! The un-painted credenza came straight off Craigslist Toronto so it's weird to see this post coming out of AT LA, unless that cabinet's been doin' some travelin'.

Table cloth! For less $$ than painting materials, you could buy a gorgeous fabric remnant, then get a Home Depot-type place to make a glass top to hold the fabric in place.

You should paint it yourself. If now white, I would suggest yellow, red, or blue. And remove the one more drawer or all of them. Looks like you have one missing already so you may as well make it symmetrical. You can use the open spaces to hold CDs or magazines.

I wonder how it would look painted high-gloss white with just the decorative insets and handles painted high-gloss black? I think that might be pretty striking.

The missing drawer might be a blessing, not a curse, if the space it leaves behind is big enough for your cable box / DVD player / surround amp or other electronic goodie that connects to your tee vee. Heck, maybe remove more drawers to make room for more kit.

I agree with everyone - you can do it yourself for sure! It could be even easier if you have an area you can spray paint it in. I would have "special" brownies and tackle that bad boy.

ha!! rouncewell, I like you. and your blog is hilarious.

thanks AdrienneClaire!

Might look good in dark red.