Q: I picked up this Library Card Catalog the other day FOR FREE off Craigslist! (Yes, I'm gloating a little, tee-hee.) The left side is missing, and to my dismay it has laminate over the real wood, so I have a little repair to do. Because it's laminate I can't stain it, so I've decided to paint it. We've also decided to cut it in half (it's very tall) and make two pieces of furniture. My husband is going to weld square tubing into a base for the top half and that is going in our hall. The second half will be going in our kitchen. We are thinking of putting either a butcher block or some granite on the top, but we are having some major issues with picking a paint color for the actual card catalog!

Since we rent and can't do anything with our actual kitchen (and it is VERY neutral) I'll tell you about the furnishings and accessories I have. I have the coffee mugs (picture) that I absolutely LOVE and have based most of my accessories off of. My table and chairs are black on the bottom and rosewood stained on the tops (picture). My everyday dinnerware is white. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Asked by Lindsay
Editor: Suggestions for Lindsay?

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If your dinnerware is white and your kitchen is neutral I would't go with white or black. You seems to like color very much, so how about a nice jewel-y red. That would liven up the kitchen and look nice with a rosewood stained butcher block.
I am SO jealous! If it were me I would paint it yellow...
I just can't get over how you got that free...
How about matching that orange stripe in your mug? I think it would be unexpected and bright.
Turquoise? Seafoam? Some kind of bluish-green, I love how that looks with woods and metals.
Ooooh, I'd love to see this go POW in canary yellow or a turquoise... AWESOME find by the way, and may both halves of it find wonderful use in your home!
Depends on how long you plan to stay in your current space. If a move is on the horizon in the next year or so, especially to a non-rental, I'd stick with a neutral color, off white or black--you'll be able to put it in your new space without another tedious paint job. Plus I would make that kitchen top screw on so I could repurpose, if needed, in the next space.
My first reaction was also not to paint it until I read about the laminate so I get it.
I think a bright color is a great idea like a turquoise, orange or apple green (all colors in your mug).
I wouldn't go with granite, I think a butcher block would look better with the industrial feel.
Btw, I'm so jealous I can't see straight :-).
I'm with the others that said high gloss red. I would do the inside of the drawers a different color- apple green (mentioned by mauishopgirl) would be a good fit.
To make it fit in the room, you can add accents like red cloth napkins and a set of thick-red-framed mirrors.
Wow, how awesome! I think aqua or lime green would look great! Whatever color you decide to paint it please send photos to AT so we can see the results!
Thank you Everyone for the comments so far! James Cobalt... I do believe you are brilliant for the idea of painting the insides of the drawers a different color! I'm definitely doing that. I do accent with red a lot. stand mixer is red, so is the print on the napkins/kitchen towels I made, along with the roman shade, so I definitely think I should go with a different color on the outside so I don't get too much red all over the place. Red, however, is definitely going to go on the inside of the drawers now! I did buy some of the turquoise color for the outside. I'm hoping the red on the inside will look good with the turquoise on the outside. I will definitely be posting pictures of the after!
love your idea cant wait to see the results sounds like its going to be beautiful! I too am so jealous but very happy for you what an awesome find you lucky duck!