06 February 2007
I bet people who only flick through furniture catalogues have easy lives. They see a set up they like and then run to the store (or click the mouse) and have it straight away. When you draw inspiration from Japanese books and interior style magazines which feature antiques, it can get tricky. It might be cheaper, though. Take this little cabinet:
I saw something similar in a magazine recently and spent a while wishing I had something like it for my bedroom. You should imagine that I pace around my house muttering, 'Bedroom. . . could be prettier. . . must make prettier!' Because that's what I do.* I hit the thrift shop in search for something else, and I came across this little cabinet. Of course, it didn't look like that originally; it looked like this (it actually had the lattice in both doors, but I didn't think to take a 'before' until after I started swinging the hammer around). That's why it was only three dollars. Three dollars! A few coats of paint later, and it's looking good:
The little eagle at the top looked gaudy when it was brass against the wood, but I think it's quite sweet now it's all white. Clearly, this cabinet is stuck by the seaside, with the little horses and seashells and whatnot. Do Moda still have their Seaside Rose collection of fabric? Not that I need to make another quilt. . . and it's quite a let down to open the shades to see even more snow, if you're hoping for the sea.
I have so many little knick knacks; it took about three seconds to find the bits and pieces to fill this. I wonder if the cabinet originally had little drawers in the bottom -- it looks like it, doesn't it? Now I just need to find a prettier switch plate for the wall. Must make prettier!
*In my mind.
oh yes, much prettier! you're a thrifting genius. but i agree that the regulation issued switch plate has got to go.
posted by rachel at February 6, 2007 08:52 PM
I love it!
re: lightswitch plate: maybe you could cover one with pretty paper and then coat it with decopauge medium?
posted by rachel at February 6, 2007 10:45 PM
I love this look, probably because it looks like my own style, tee hee. I too have so many knick-knacks. I've been contemplating using a storage box and putting all of my beloved knick knacks in it and only taking out a few for here and there and rotating through the box so that none of my tchochkes get tired or too crowded.
posted by robyn at February 6, 2007 10:46 PM
It was simply beautiful :) And for only three dollars...incredible...
posted by Christelle at February 7, 2007 06:43 AM
Your handicraft skills amaze me! The first photo is one of the most inspiring pictures I’ve seen for some time now.
posted by Kristin B at February 7, 2007 06:46 AM
Oh wow, I love seeing before and after pictures of thrifted things! I love the magic of things being given new life and more "pretty" as you say. This is sooo pretty, now I want a cabinet like that too! :-)
I like your white horse on the top, looks like something froma carusel. :-)
posted by Hanna at February 7, 2007 09:12 AM
This cabinet turned out so beautiful!! Really... so great that you were able to visualize it with new life.
posted by Amy at February 7, 2007 04:26 PM
Gorgeous! I must say that I am loving watching you put together your house. Vicarious living at it's best.
posted by Gemma at February 7, 2007 08:15 PM
What a transformation! I wouldn't have seen the potential in it to make something so lovely
posted by Jo at February 8, 2007 08:55 AM
At least you only mutter in your mind! People that can browse thrift stores and find things with such great potential amaze me. I just do not have the patience to see what something could be.
posted by Elizabeth K at February 10, 2007 04:38 AM
Realy like the cabinet and what a bargain! Thought I'd let you know I tried baking the carrot cookies on Monday evening and was really pleased with them. I was too lazy to make the icing though - it was getting late by the time they were cooked and then the next day we started to eat them anyway. Icing for the next batch though.......
posted by sheila at February 14, 2007 01:59 PM