this is what i have been working on in my spare time for my niece.

this piece was a mass production piece but the legs and main stretchers are solid walnut.  the side panels are walnut veneer

 

picture of the side note how nice it is cleaning up

 

my sister origonally wanted me to make a new top and drawer fronts.  i decided to see what was under the veneer on the top and this is what i found.  the drawers also are dovetailed and in good shape with solid joints.  my thought for this piece is to paint the field of the top and the drawer fronts white and leave the edge profile around the top stained walnut. i dont know if we will paint the side panels white or leave them walnut they are in good shape.

 

there are three of these rosettes on the piece which when cleaned up will add interest

there is also a mirror for it that i havent seen but i believe that it is most likely solid walnut also.

 

does this sound like a worthwhile project or am i just off my rocker!!!  any comments, advise or critisms are welcomed. thanks

 

Paul

Paul, I can't say one way or the other. What is your time worth? I have done things for clients that , to me , were not worth the money in my eyes, but to them it was worth more then it cost them for me to fix. If the base of the top is sound, why not put nice walnut veneer back on?You can buy the sheets of veneer very reasonable. Its not rocket science to lay a flat top on. Its a great way to learn some new skills and make it all walnut again. Just my thoughts. Good luck on whatever you do. bob

as far as the worth of my time bob, ya most likely not worth it until you consider its a piece for my 11 year old niece.  origonally my sister was stripping it and was going to repaint the whole thing again.  i came up with the idea of the combination look to accent the walnut and because i dont know if my niece would realise the look of all walnut.  in the future when she gets older it could be re veneered. thanks for you input and anymore is welcome

 

Paul

I gotta say Paul, I'm in the veneer the top camp. Also, the veneer would stand up better to abuse then the painted top. It's a neat piece Paul, I would love to see it completely cleaned up, stained and finished. I think it would look smashing all gussied up in a fresh stain and finish. And the top veneered!

I have a fetish for old restored furniture so I'm with John.  It would be beautiful with a new veneered top on it.  You'll never get out of it what you have in time in it but you'll have the satisfaction of a furniture "save."

 

I think I have to go with the others and say veneer the top and save the piece.

I guess If this is going to be used by someone that doesn't understand how much effort has gone into it's refinishing it and is not likely to care for it as well as an adult. I would cover the top with a woodgrain laminate and spray paint the rest of it a dark color. If you think it will be treasured as a wonderful gift from her uncle and she will want it for the rest of her life ,then I would go the refinishing and reveneering route . The last idea is if you want the experiencing doing a piece like this and you enjoy what your doing then take that approach and re do it the way you can gain the experience you would like to gain .