Scrap built bookcase...

[cabinetman]

I like the addition, it makes the piece look more to scale. Where one area is a bit overdone or outstanding, that will draw attention there. As for color, stark differences never were appealing to me. A blend of white or ivory and medium shades of stain gives a softer appearance IMO.

I would have run the grain on the back vertically.
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[tfischer]

Fortunately LOML agrees with me that any stain color is better than any painted wood color! The previous owner of our house painted all the nice oak ALMOND (bleah). We tried to make a bad thing better by repainting it all white, but we've been slowly working on converting it back to woodgrain again (in fact, just put the stain coat on our new patio door and trim that replaced the painted old one right before typing this).

Natural wood is beautiful, blotchy or not. Painted wood is just "blah". Just my opinion, of course!

[drillman88]

It looks much better with the top piece on. The piece looks much more balanced. I really like the design and I would be proud to say I made it .
I am not sure that the stain and paint work for me. I think there is too much contrast, a more natural color stain or a little darker paint (maybe a khaki color) would work better together, but these are my own personal preferences . If your wife is happy with it that is all that really matters, keep her that way and all is well

[RodKirby]

I figure if I sat still for any length of time LOML would PAINT me

What is it with women and paint?

[toolsrrr@aol.com]

Make her happy.

It looked kind of blotchy. It was a scrap project. If the "boss wants it painted... I guess you have to paint it.

[crokett]

Another vote for make her happy. If she wants it painted it gets painted. I know I care a lot less about the color of something than my wife does. That said, my opinion is I like it better painted. It matches the trim better than a stained piece would.