On ebay recently I bought one of these

It is simply gorgeous, solid wood, high quality stag mahogany dresser.
I planned to stip out the bottom half, insert runners and sliding doors and turn it into a viv for Moriarty my bearded dragon but to be honest, I can barely bring myself to mutilate such a beautiful piece of furniture. So, should I or shouldn't I?

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its lovely....and i would be a little wary that its not been treated with anything if you decide to convert it, some older furnature lets off one hell of a smell once warmed up.
If it were mine it would be in the kitchen with the best china on. (and perhaps a couple of exoterras )

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Not treated, solid mahogany and weighs a ruddy ton. Trouble is, I already have several dressers here as I don't have a fitted kitchen. I'm really in 2 minds as I feel bad for destroying such a beautiful bit of furniture. Nerys saw it and she thinks it's too nice aswell.
I really wanted an old 1940's sideboard to convert but can't find one anywhere. I'll go and look in a used furniture place in town tomorrow and if I find an old sideboard, I won't destroy it. I don't think I can find anywhere for it though so if not, Nerys will get first dibs on it.

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now if it was mine i would strip it down[i don't like dark wood but thats me]
and i would use it half viv and half book case.

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Stripping won't help. It is real geniune mahogany. Not actually dark at all but a soft warm honey/reddish colour. I don't like dark wood either but I also cannot abide that nasty yellowy orange pine stuff so I paint most of the stuff I get. But in the flesh this is beautiful. Oh what to do, what to do.

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If it was mine i'd keep it and use it as is if i had the room, if not i'd convert it as it's not a family heirloom

It would make a nice viv....I would cover the inside of the viv with some kind of barrier though...that way you eliminate any aromatic compounds that may evaporate out of the wood when it heats up and it will be easy to clean

What I'm planning to do is first put a coat of PVA all over the inside, then build a rock face out of polystyrene. I can always use the shelves above to keep my reptile supplies, kricket keeper etc. If I kept snakes, the top shelves could have been converted into long vivs for them but I don't like snakes much so that won't be happening.
If I do it, I'll post pics for inspiration.

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If it were mine, I would do it up and display some nice T.G. Green or Willow patern crockery on it.

Southgate Auctions in.....funnily enough...Southgate, London, sometimes have wardrobes that go quite cheaply. Some of them are in great condition and would make fantastic conversions. Next time you're in North London.....pop in and have a look.

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