What were they thinking?  That's what goes through my head whenever I work on an antique furniture piece that has been coated with five layers of paint.  Of course, it could have been worst.  They could have thrown the piece out... The best part about restoring antique furniture is to see the finished product.  It wasn't something you found at the store and then shelled out a whole lot of money to get.  You actually put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to arrive at something that is really quite beautiful.