Hello readers! I have a small problem and I need some help! If you follow me on Facebook you may have seen me talk about a new dresser that we purchased and later found out some interesting facts about said dresser. You see we did some rearranging and needed to find a new dresser for our 2nd bedroom. We begin looking on Craigslist, in thrift stores, on curbs (our usual spots, lol) and found this great piece for an even better price.
While it is not the color or finish that I like, it is a solid, well made piece of furniture (meaning heavy) and even though it has some scratches and dings it is in pretty good shape.
Once we got it home I started planning ways to refinish it and give this piece new life. After tossing around a few ideas I decided to paint it a nice coat of white and bring in some silver to showcase the details.
Each drawer has a carved rectangle detail and in my vision it is painted silver to contrast against the white. I saw this beautiful credenza makeover using gray and gold on Centsational Girl and after seeing hers I knew I was on the right track with my dresser.
I even bought these pretty handles from the Home Depot to replace the wooden ones that let’s be honest… are not my favorite.
And while I was busy planning the makeover Sam was doing some research of his own. You see inside the top drawer we also found this little plaque.
Before we refinish any piece we always look into the history of it as much as we can. I highly recommend always doing your homework! And we found out some interesting things about Cushman Colonial Creations.
Henry Theodore Cushman started inventing and manufacturing pieces after the Civil War and in 1870 he opened up a small factory in Vermont. He made lots of things including some of the earliest roller skates and he is also the guy we can thank for inventing pencils with erasers on the end. He eventually started manufacturing furniture and his mission style pieces were very popular during the early 1900s.
Pretty cool right? But do you see my dilemma? I don’t know if we should refinish this piece or not! I’m not really sure that this piece is worth a ton of money, we found some selling for around $300 on Ebay so I don’t think I have something worth thousands here, but it has really cool history attached to it. Do we keep it as close to the original as possible? Not touch it? Re-stain it? Paint it? I don’t know what to do!
So now you come in. I want to know your thoughts and your opinions! If you were in my shoes what would you do? Do you cringe at changing a potentially historic antique? Or do you say paint away and make it a piece we like and just enjoy the fun story behind it? Let me know in the comments what you would do!
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Don’t Paint it!!
Better to have piece you love than a historical piece you don’t love. I say paint it.
While I love the looks of it “as is”, if you don’t….it’s your dresser and you should do what you like with it.
I say paint it :)
I’m in the cringe department! While the color may not be the best I can’t stand the thought of painting something with history and I have a really hard time painting wood anyway! But that being said, you have to like it so my answer will be of no help to you whatsoever :)
Paint!!
While it is your dresser and you have amazing taste (great new handles!), I also love the classic piece and it looks to be in great shape. Can it be re-purposed as is and another piece, may be one that’s been around the block a little longer, be upcycled using your new ideas and hardware?
Love the blog!
DON’T PAINT IT! It is really beautiful and becomes so much more so when you know the history. If you don’t love it and won’t without big changes, sell it for $300 and find a new piece (since you’re so amazing at doing that) with less history and similar potential. (I have a huge credenza in our basement similar to the one you linked to…you can have it! :) ) You may be able to tell I’ve been watching a lot of Antiques Roadshow and other such shows. :)
And hey, is finding a new piece worth $300? Totally! There are so many antique places and antique lovers around this area, which is so close to the maker anyway, that you shouldn’t have a problem selling it.
I being the person interested and growing up in an antique type situation (Mom) would leave the piece as it is and find another dresser that does not have the History and provenience as this does. You can never go back to the original but if you have something that does not have that History you can change it to your hearts desire and always be happy with your end product! Someone else may want just the piece as you have it for what it is!
I say make $300 by selling it to someone who loves it “as is” and then find another to refinish!
I say go for it! You bought it to bring joy to you in your home and you should decorate it the way it will make you happy….Yes it has some history to it but let’s be honest you really like and want to enjoy it your way so GO FOR IT!
O that’s a hard one! If you don’t really like it the way it is/isn’t what you have in mind, then maybe try to sell it and make some money? If that doesn’t work – just paint it and do what will make you love it! If you do sell, you can buy a cheaper one that you won’t mind painting! Hope that helps…
Brie @ Breezy Pink Daisies
I say sell it for $300 to someone who really wants it and then you have the money to fix up the piece you really want, or buy that piece.
Good luck.
I wouldn’t do a thing to it. It is a piece of history. Keep it as is or sell it to someone who will keep it as is.
DON’T PAINT IT!! I like the suggestions of finding it another home if you aren’t going to use ($300 anyone? yes, please). We bought a crate and barrel bean bag for $5 and sold it for $60. I know it wasn’t an antique, but it was way cool to make such an awesome return on investment. I say sell it, keep it, but don’t paint it!!
first let me say….I love your blog and all the things you have done on her since I have been following you. My one concern is that we are loosing so much history in this country and to have a piece that does have history with it, I would hate for it to be “changed” in any way. One day, it may be the only piece left. I agree with the others that say sell it to someone who would love it and have the extra money to find your new treasure to create and because you are so good at finding so many good finds, you will have the extra money to support the other projects!
Please don’t paint or change the dresser. What an awesome piece of history! Furniture like this is becoming harder and harder to find. Put in in your second bedroom and treasure it for what it is, a beautiful dresser.
Don’t paint it! Find another piece without any historical value.
For once I seem to be with the masses, Leave it Alone!
I think it’s beautiful and it’s old and good quality, you just don’t find that these days.
Good luck!
I so love updo’s but this particular piece…I would leave it alone!
It is gorgeous how it is and to have the plaque still there….nice.
Good luck with your decision.
I found your website looking for information on replacement cushions for a Cushman love seat I inherited from my grandmother. I have a number of pieces of Cushman Colonial Creations that once belonged to my grandmother. It was a popular brand to buy in Troy, NY (not far from Bennington, VT) in the 1940s-50s. I would not paint or “improve” a single piece, but that’s because it’s extremely sentimental to me. I love every water mark and nick on every piece I own. My mom had the love seat professionally refinished and it lost its original distinctive golden-reddish tone. It’s still a good solid piece of furniture. I laughed when I saw your dresser because I found one exactly like it a few months ago curbside in my neighborhood and I felt like I won the lottery. It’s in great condition and I love it just as it is. If it’s not your style, I think you might be able to find someone out there who would treasure it. Sorry for such a long comment — I guess I have strong feelings for sweet little Cushman Colonial Creations!
Thanks for the comment Mary, I really appreciate it! I love history and hearing about the different histories behind the pieces. And your furniture must really mean a lot since it came from your grandmother. I think I’m going to keep mine as it is, it is just too special to change! Thanks for sharing your story and for your advice. Hope you have a great day!