Turn this thing from sad…
to spectacular. My SWEET and GENEROUS neighbor gave this to me…for free! I was so tempted to sell it, but it was her grandmother’s and honestly, I love knowing the exact history behind it.
And we can use all the storage we can get.
There’s a lot to repair, but that’s alright with yours truly. Everything’s worth a little work.
Or maybe a lot of work.
There’s a mixture of these in her (because this piece is definitely a girl) future, and I’m still trying to decide what to line the drawers with and if I’m replacing the mirror or adding something different….magnetic chalkboard, fabric/inspiration board, cork….the possibilities are endless.
So, creatives, whatcha got? What do you think she needs?
Other than a little TLC….tender lovin’ care, that is.
Oh wow. I can see the potential! I can’t wait to see how it turns out!! 🙂 XO
I’m sure that will look amazing when you’re finished! I’m looking forward to the reveal!
Black chicken wire if u were gonna use it in a kitchen or decoupage’ vintage photos, or advertisements. If it were for a boys room or man cave old sports photos would look neat on a yellow parchment paper possibly? Can’t wait to see what u do!
Ooooh! LOVE these pieces. Can’t wait to see the reveal. Personally, I love using vintage wallpaper to line drawers 🙂
my grandpa had one very similar – i remember standing in front of it when i was little thinking how huge it was. a few years after my grandma died an antique dealer knocked on his door & became his best friend for a few hours…in short he clean out my grandpa’s house & taking the armoire for just pennies. it’s been over 20 yrs since he practically stole that piece and it still bothers me. gggrrrrrrrr.
can’t wait to see the finished product.
I got nuthin’ except a similar cabinet that I had thought about getting pictures to you so I could get your ideas. 🙂 I bought my cabinet at a garage sale for $30-not because I needed it or really even had a spot for it, but I just couldn’t stand to leave it there. My cabinet is probably really more of an armoire because it has two wooden doors, but in size and shape reminds me of yours. You open the doors and there is divided spaces-a hanging space (like behind the broken mirror in yours), and the other side is drawers on the bottom two thirds with an open space at the top. Luckily mine has already been painted so I have no guilty feelings about another coat. I just know if I remove the old hideous padlock hardware and paint her up, she will be a beautiful again. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
What I would do:
1) the little mirror (above the drawers)? Remove it and use it somewhere else. I’d put beadboard there. I assume behind it is a cubby for storage? So I’d leave that.
2) I don’t know that I’d put drawers back in. *Maybe* in the first two – then the last two I’d put in shelving. Paint the shelves with a “pop” of color (maybe turquoise? You seem to like that color 🙂 )
3) the long door – which I also assume has shelving behind it – I’d remove that piece of sheet metal and paint it with magnetic paint (more coats = stronger magnet), then go over it with chalkboard paint. Then it can be a chalkboard *and* a magnetic message board area.
4) I’d paint it all white, save the legs (if I’m seeing correctly, they look sort of like short Queen Anne style? I can only see a peek of them though.) and the top – I’d leave those dark wood.
That’s what I’d do! Hope it helps 🙂
I have one exactly like her! I’m thinking of putting either a chalkboard in the big mirror section OR antique maps for a beachy feel! And a little piece on the top to add some architectural interest would be nice. Glass knobs!
oo – and the painted shelving – maybe ombre style? And really nice, pretty hardware, of course.
Another possible idea – instead of magnetic and chalkboard paint – maybe a piece of slate? My mom used to do ALL KINDS of things with slate roof tiles. That would actually be pretty there.
I will shut up now.
I once saw a dining room hutch with a door similar in size to yours that they’d removed the solid section from entirely. They replaced it with chicken wire backed with fabric on tension rods, I think. It looked really pretty and surprisingly sophisticated. Alternatively, a cork board covered in a pretty fabric would look really pretty there :). Have fun!
I have an almost identical piece to store toys in our LR, as we lack anywhere to put a playroom – same mirrored door, same grooves on the bottom panel, originally the same color (and condition), now white… The sole difference is full-length doors on both sides, instead of drawers on the other. You’ll love it when it’s done!
I should add – leave the mirrors. It looks a little dressier, adds some shine, and takes up less visual space in a room. I absolutely ADORE the mirrors on mine – it’s my favorite part
.
What a fabulous find…I would upcycle that in a light grey tone keep the top mirror and the broken mirror door I would make into a cork board and finish it with some french script fabric to display some old photos. It would be FABULOUS! Good luck and can’t wait to see it.
i’d put beadboard where the glass is now, paintin in AS old white and maybe put baskets in the shelves where missing… just my 2 cents…. can’t wait to see how it comes and your d.r. reveal… i’m on pins and needles so pls pls pls tell us when to expect the reveal.. can’t wait… love you!! Patty
Are you going to put it in Ava’s new room? I don’t know if you remember the wardrobe that I did a while ago with a similar makeup to this one, but on the long closet door, I did a textured stencil, then added some glaze to bring it out after I painted it. It’s my favorite part of the whole piece and everyone who sees it always oohs and aahs and asks how the heck I did that. 🙂 http://twicelovely.blogspot.com/2011/04/wardrobe-for-baby.html
oooh! Can’t wait! I have one just like it…but in better shape, I must admit. 😉
@Ann Marie – That piece was right on and a great inspiration for Shauna’s piece. You’ve got your work cut out on this one Shauna, but somehow I know it’s gonna look brand new after you do. Those chalk paint colors are gonna look great on this! Can’t WAIT to see the finished results!
You have all the luck Shaunna! Why can’t I get great old furniture like this from MY neighbors?! They just offer up ugly computer desks or a workbench for the garage (much to my husbands delight!).
That said…I really like that round, recessed pull up towards the top. I would keep that, if it were me. But I’d spray paint it with primer and then white paint. I see a chalkboard cutout – instead of a replaced mirror.
Oh, boy! This is going to be fun to watch!
I can imagine that all the things you mentioned would look good on the door. I find myself drawn to the idea of a mirror. Can you make a new mirror look aged? Surely there’s a tutorial somewhere!
You’re definitely the one to take this girl from old-and-tired to bursting-with-new-life!
A nice dove grey with glass knobs? Can’t wait to see what you do.
Shaunna how about a piece of wicker, I’ve seen it lately in the PB kids catalog on a nursery furniture piece. Painted wicker has a bit of a nostalgic feel and it would definitely add some texture and character to what could be a long plain door panel. Good luck.
oh I can’t wait to see what you come up with! My grandmother has one of these too! 🙂
Mercury glass. That’s what I got.
Oh what a beauty!! I have no doubt that whatever you decide will be amazing and will turn this tired wardrobe into something incredible. I love fabric for inside the doors. That’s what I did with our playroom wardrobe: http://www.bandbsnestinteriors.com/2011/07/transformation-tuesday-playroom.html. Although my wardrobe is a little bright for your home, I hope it can provide some inspiration for you! Good luck and I look forward to your reveal!! XOXO Laura
I think you should try some punched tin in the mirror spot! I have had that on my to-do list for a while. Have fun !
Chicken wire for the cupboard and new knobs! What color???
Si,necesita mucho cariño….y mucho trabajo también! Pero vale la pena! Es tan lindo…!Espero ver los resultados pronto!
Saludos desde Buenos Aires,Argentina!
That could be a really beautiful piece… especially with the distressed chalk paint finish.
I’m actually kind of tired of the whole chalkboard paint craze.
I love mirrored chests and cabinets…. so I think it would be beautiful if you replaced the mirrors with mercury glass. I’ve seen several tutorials on creating faux mercury glass and I think that would be beautiful on that cabinet and compliment the age of it.
Can’t wait to see what you end up doing with it.
Can’t wait to see what you decide! It would depend on where you’re gonna’ use it, of course. I’d use chalkboard paint on the long door if in a kid’s room or playroom, lots of storage for games and toys. Replace the small mirror at top with a graphic of some sort. Or, it would be great for storage in a bathroom (can’t tell the dimensions, so this may be too big for that)- I love the look of mirror-like paint on glass, would replace the mirror with glass and use that. It leaves a shadowy look to the glass (or maybe I did it wrong….). Anyway, I know it will look fabulous, dahling, no matter what you decide! 🙂
Just love that you are upcycling that beauty. Being a novice, I am not one to provide advice, but I’d have to go with fabric. Love, love, love Amy Butler prints. Thank you for sharing your talent, experience and advice. I recently purchased your ebook and I must say it was the best $12.00 spent in a LONG time. Exactly what I was looking for.
Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Love your cabinet – my niece has one that looks almost identical to yours. I have always called it a chifferobe — a piece of furniture that has a combination of a chest of drawers on one side and hanging space on the other. Anyway, she recently painted hers a pretty french grey and added funky handpainted knobs she found at Anthropologie (she’s a Junior in College) — and it looked just precious! I hate that your long mirror is broken… but I like the magnetic chalkboard idea in its place. No matter how you decide to finish it, I’m glad you decided to keep it. Not only for all of the wonderful storage it will provide, but for its story too…. 🙂
she gave it to you and you wanted to SELL it!! bad karma!
Hey Lee Ann, she gave it to me so I could sell it. 🙂 I just decided to keep it.
🙂
shaunna
Hi,
I just recieved my very first ASCP order. Provence for a blond Solid Oak, totally boring, bookcase for all my homeschool stuff. I was so excited to get the colors out, right at my kitchen counter I did some experimenting with the paint sticks….HA HA….it was so much fun. I think that I am going to go over my provence with some dark wax, and maybe on the the perimeter a first coat of Antibes…Who knows.
I mixed it with old white and it was too pale for my liking. I am going to go for the gusto and just do it.
SUGGESTION: I would get some corkboard and glue into the mirrored area, and then cover it with some great linen, maybe a chocolate brown, and then pipe around it, and use it as a bulletin board.
How fun! I’d LOVE to have someone dump, ahem, bless me with such a piece!!
Depending on where I’d put it, I might take out the long mirror, find some neutral printed fabric, cover it in glass and use it as a white board. Perhaps do the same with the other mirror, but sandwich a photo in it. I know you will uniquify it (is that a word? think probably not..) masterfully.
Thanks for being such an inspiration!!
Gwen
I have this it was my Nanny’s and she gave it to me. She passed when he was 4 months old-totally not expected. I used it in my son’s nursery we have since built 3 houses and are living in the third. We have moved it to every house-it drives my husband NUTS. I cant part with it. We cant have more children but when I miss her I can literally open one of the drawers and still smell her house. It is more than wood and glue-it is part of me.