[jack_patricia]

Elliot:

I''ve not had experience painting formica surfaces, ''tho I''m sure that would be possible given instructions from a knowledgeable source. But for improved appearance, you might consider doorskins (those mohogany veneers applied to hollow-cored doors in low-to-med cost new home construction). These are typically available at home improvement centers, so you can look over the selection available in your area. (An alternative is to purchase more expensive wood veneers from a well-known supplier of boat wood & ply). In either case, the labor of carefully making patterns, cutting the veneers sharply & carefully, and then applying them permanently is where the challenge lies...but the results should be great.

You might think of a blend of choices: recovering any horizontal surfaces with fresh formica (to minimize wear), painting some formica surfaces to lighten the interior, and applying veneer where it would provide the most cosmetic improvement.

Jack