I have an old, ugly, hand me down 60s oak bedroom set from my MIL that I probably would have not liked 40 yrs ago. I'm thinking of painting it espresso brown. What kind of paint should I use and what prep work needs to be done? Thanks, Joan

This should not be too difficult and produce great results with a little prep work. First clean the piece to remove anything that might keep the paint from adhering. Then lightly sand the entire piece (you might have to work a little harder on this step if the finish has a heavy varnish). Be sure to remove all the debris from the sanding. I start with my vacuum cleaner and then use a damp cloth to wipe it down. Now, I generally recommend using primer before painting. And although others might think it is a cheat, I use a spray primer in either brown or white, depending on the final color I plan to paint the piece. Then finally, I would get a good quality latex and roll on the finish with those little sponge rollers to avoid brush marks. Don't try or expect to cover it in one coat. I recommend several light coats with adequate drying time in between. Depending on your preference, you will probably want to put a clear coat finish on at least the top of the dresser to prevent wet glasses or similar spills from ruining your work. Swap out outdated hardware and you're good to go. And by the way, a lot of that 60's stuff is the height of fashion now. Add a shag area rug and a couple of pendant lights and you're groovin' baby!