Need ideas to fix this

[Bruce King]

I made this buffet a long time ago, it’s mostly 1 inch mahogany plywood with solid mahogany legs, drawer fronts and edge bands. The top is also one inch mahogany plywood. I never liked the top and now it needs a new look. Need ideas on what to do. It’s mounted with dozens of biscuits so taking it off won’t happen. I’m thinking of making a thinner top to go over it and lap over the edges. We have other furniture with black onyx granite tops so planning on putting on a black finish.

Don’t know why this site turns my pictures sideways, they were not taken that way.

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[Jamie Buxton]

Gee, “fix” that?! Looks darn nice to me.

[Jamie Buxton]

If you really must change it ... How about just putting a black slab stone top on it? It would be 3/4” thick in the field, and be doubled over to be 1.5” thick at the edges, covering the mahogany top. It would just sit there by gravity.

And it could be removed if you ever want to go back to the mahogany top.

[Robert Hayward]

Gee, “fix” that?! Looks darn nice to me.

+1. What is the old adage? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think that is a nice looking piece.

Bob

[Jim Becker]

I'm perplexed as that piece looks really nice. (Which is subjective, I know)

What don't you like about it the way it is? What's driving you to make a change?

That said, capping is probably going to be the way to go unless you just want to employ paint to change the look. The issue with capping is, well...wood movement.

[Bill Dufour]

If you really must change it ... How about just putting a black slab stone top on it? It would be 3/4” thick in the field, and be doubled over to be 1.5” thick at the edges, covering the mahogany top. It would just sit there by gravity.

And it could be removed if you ever want to go back to the mahogany top.
Leave the back undoubled so it can float. leave a good 1/4' gap on the doublers on both sides to allow wood movement. If it was the seventies I would suggest a piece of mirror glass made the same way. If it was the fifties a plywood top with leather attached with brass nails on the edges. 1960's formica top or decoupage with old newspaper articles.. My wife would put a table runner on it. My grandmother would throw a big doily over it. You could use plywood and tile it. wrap it in copper sheet. 1890 marble top.
Bill D

[David Eisenhauer]

Perhaps more details on how the top is exactly attached using biscuits. Sure there is no way to remove it?

[glenn bradley]

Seems like you will have to go into what it is that you don't like about the top. I also think it looks fine.

[Bruce King]

Perhaps more details on how the top is exactly attached using biscuits. Sure there is no way to remove it?

Biscuits along every partition, sides and back. Also figure 8 top fasteners. Box truss, was worried about sagging so made sure. The back is even 3/4 mahogany plywood, shelves, bottom 3/4, dust shelves 3/4 mahogany plywood, drawer parts and bottoms 5/8, I forget how they ended up that size. It’s 17 years old, been moved once but not by me. I told them not to lift it by the top but they did anyway and it survived.
The mahogany plywood look on top just don’t do it justice. Wife is the one wanting me to change it.

[Bradley Gray]

Black glass on top?

[Mel Fulks]

I'm gonna take another path.... and offer a better idea ! It's a nicely made piece,the most I would do to top is add some
openings for condiments. If the piece has any fault it is the generic front. I would do something that proclaims it a fine
custom work ,far above furniture store TV ads. That would be an Art Deco front, look at some pics.