So I have alluded and alluded, and I'm finally ready to do the big reveal. First, let's see a couple images of what I started with. This baby, an old, nasty china cabinet, has been sitting in our garage since we moved into our house over a year ago, and I finally saw its potential. Let's see what you think.
See, this is what's funny. It's all very typical of our home's former owner, whose mantra must have been, "If It Can Be Done Half-Assed, Then You Better Believe I'll Do It That Way." Most of the cabinet had been painted white, but there were portions of the bottom shelves that were simply lined with white shelf liner, right next to portions that had been painted. Yep. I peeled up the liner to reveal perfectly nice pine underneath, unpainted. I have no idea.
Anyway, I saw its potential, cleaned it up with some Murphy's oil soap, then went to work painting it.
Ta da!
Like it? I'm really happy with how it turned out. It took about 3 coats of red to get it deep enough, but it was worth the work. I simply spray painted the old hardware a hammered bronze color, instead of putting out money for new hardware, and I really like how it turned out. Oh, and the "wallpaper" look in the back portion was achieved with scrapbooking paper. I used spray adhesive to stick it to the wood, decoupaged it with some Mod-Podge, then used an acrylic spray to hold it all in place. The effect is nice and textured and patterny, even if the fumes are still lingering in our home.
It's the price we pay for beauty.
And the joy of all of this is getting to finally unpack my TWELVE PLACE SETTINGS (I'll repeat that: I have TWELVE PLACE SETTINGS) of good china (DO I EVEN KNOW TWELVE PEOPLE??) and finally displaying it. I even hope to use it someday, when I'm feeling particularly adult.
I hope my hard work inspires you to find some old furniture of your own and get to work! Here's a hint: Always look around on trash day. Just this week I've rescued both my new favorite chair and a perfectly sound chest of drawers from other people's trash, and I once again wonder at the soundness of people's minds when they throw out workable furniture like this.
People. Just bring it to me. I will do wonders.
11 comments:
Good work! It's gorgeous!
Christine, this is truly LOVELY! Wow.
Seriously, great work. You are an inspiration to us all!
Rae
Wow. I'm impressed! Reminds me of a book I read in high school, The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. You've definitely got the knack for it. =)
Nice!! Love the Red.
Beautiful!
And we also have 12 settings of china. :) When we went to buy it, my MIL said it wasn't worth having china if you didn't have at least 12 settings. So we bought 12 settings. One day, maybe, we'll use them. :)
P.S. Your china looks scarily similar to ours. We have the Lenox Federal Cobalt pattern. Like yours, but with a blue rim instead of silver. Hmm...how many other things will we find in common, oh mother of boy twins and a 3rd child 18 month(ish)s apart? :)
Hi there! I have a Mod Podge blog and a search led me to you - love this so much!!! AMAZING re-do. I especially like the Mod Podge part!!!
Love it! You´re amazing...
12 place settings...that means you can have 10 kids :)
If only I had as much creativity and patience as you!!!! We're probably those people that would throw out something we thought was trash and you'd turn it into treasure!!!! (Except that I'm emotionally tied to everything I own and feel bad throwing it away ahahaha...therefore, it sits in my stinky old basement rotting away when it could be turned into something beautiful and useful by people such as yourself! I will keep that in mind the next time I attempt cleaning out the basement!)
seussgirl: Actually, mine is Noritake Crestwood Platinum. So not EXACTLY alike, but still, eerily similar, like you said!
Everyone: Come on over so we can use that china!
I LOVE what you did with it. I'm all about finding treasures in the garbage. I have many, many trash to treasure pieces in my home. :) You did an amazing job! I love your china too.
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