An Antique Hutch in Black and Cream

I've refinished a lot of these little antique mahogany and walnut hutches over the last few years. They were made in the first and second quarter of the 20th century, often as part of large dining room suites that newly weds would purchase to furniture their first home. The furniture is nicely built and very appealing with loads of jacobean detail work like bun feet, applied crests and moldings, and shaped and turned stretchers. But of all the antique hutches I've refinished, this is hands down the best. It has all the bells and whistles. Every single detail the furniture designer could conceive was thrown at this model, and it was certainly the top of the line option of all the hutches. It's got turned feet, a shaped stretcher a center and wholly decorative and unnecessary center fifth turned leg, it has applied molding at the apron, waist, and crown, as well as carved molding above the over the top curved and inset drawers. It has a large window with oval opening and exceptional fretwork, and has applied panels highlighted by incised carving on top and lower panels of the case. To a furniture nerd, it's like a unicorn...made of platinum.
                And since the piece has every every every already, I went with a very simple finish, to play up the architecture of the piece, not compete with it. I painted the case in a simple satin black, liberally distressed and sealed, the inside is a custom mixed cream. The only extra bit I did was recolor the original hardware to brighten it up a bit against the black, and add white pin striping to the incised work on the case. I love this one.