I love antiques. I love the style of new furniture that looks antique, but I love the real thing even more. I think my fondness for these old things comes from knowing they have a rich history.
I’ve been on the hunt for some sort of cabinet for the breakfast area so I’d have a good place to store a few odds and ends, including our art supplies since the kitchen table is always where we paint. The plastic box in the corner just wasn’t cutting it for me.
On a recent antique store expedition, I found a small Hoosier-style cabinet. I had Ken look at it to make sure it was sturdy, but immediately made plans to refinish it. The price had been marked down, and marked down again, so I ended up paying $125 for it. Another thing I love about antiques: they generally cost much less than a comparable new piece of furniture.
I came home and researched my happy little find. {Because I’m goofy and giddy like that.} It had the company name, model number, and original color listed on the back, so that made my research easier.
I even found the patent number on a little metal plate inside a drawer, so I looked that up and found the original patent information. How cool is that!?!
I did more studying, and found delightfully cheesy old ads for Sellers Cabinets, “The Best Servant In Your House.” I seriously adore vintage ads.
This project took three days of sanding, priming, and painting. Things like this always take longer than I anticipate, and in the midst of it I always wonder WHY on earth I decided to do this again. But by that time, I’m usually too far to turn back. I believe I am a victim of DIY amnesia, a condition which causes me to forget how much work something like this is, and focus on what I know the results can be.
There was a tiny bit of remaining paint left from when it had been refinished previously, so I saw that the original “sea crest green” was a light, almost milk-glass sort of green. I considered restoring it back to that color, but because it was so similar to my kitchen wall color, I opted to paint it white. As a nod to the original color, however, I ordered jadeite milk-glass knobs from Look In The Attic to replace the ugly not-original knobs.
Cutest knobs ever:
The original Fast Fluff Flour Sifter is still with the cabinet; I didn’t want to change the antique look of it, but I did want to protect it, so I sanded the rusty places and lightly painted it with Rustoleum satin metallic paint to prevent more rusting. I did the same things with the hinges, and was tickled with the results. [FYI: I don't think metallic paint looks exactly like the real thing, but I used it when I re-did all our kitchen cabinets year ago, and it was a far more economical option than replacing all the hinges!]
One of the drawers is warped, the cabinet has some water damage, and there are numerous nicks and cracks in the doors — but I am so pleased with how it came out. And I just love thinking of the 1930-something homemaker who got it new for her kitchen, and I wonder how many homes it has lived in since then.
Adorable, yes?
Do you ever take on these kinds of projects? If so, do you suffer from DIY amnesia, too?
OH, I have been wanting one of those FOREVER…I found one in the mountains last year and almost had to bring it home…but, I have nowhere to put it! You did a BEAUTIFUL JOB!
Rebecca recently posted..Poison Ivy Identified Character Growth
Twitter: candy2536
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I too, LOVE antiques! The cabinet is so very cute.
Wow…I have one almost identical and was planning on starting the revitalization of it today! Great timing. Looks like you did a great job. You may want to check out my series on Things My Grandmother Knew…and see how I do with my Hoosier over the next few days/weeks.
Twitter: embarski
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Jamie! That looks fantastic! No, I don’t suffer from DIY amnesia — I actually prevent myself from tackling things just because I know it’ll be a Big Deal. That’s another problem entirely. I’ve been dreaming of redoing my kitchen chairs and hutch at the cabin for years. But every summer, I think, Nah. Maybe this year will be the year!
Ellen, the Bluestocking Belle recently posted..Snafus: Life Gets in the Way of My Plans. Again.
It looks beautiful! I love those knobs:) You did a great job.
We apparently have DIY amnesia here or we are just glutton for punishment…not sure which one. Right now, we are finishing the attic into an office/craft room. After several hundred trips up and down a ladder, I’m beginning to wonder what we were thinking!
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Pretty cool stuff there. I never tried such project. Though I’m not suffered from amnesia, I’m quite lazy. But your work, it deserves applause.
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Twitter: MommaKnows
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Oh that turned out super cute!! Love it! I have only tackled one major refinishing project lately (3 large cabinets and two chests) and I can recall MANY times during that project asking myself WHY I was doing it. Not sure I’m ready for another one yet.
Dawn @ The Momma Knows recently posted..Homeschool Mother’s Journal: June 1, 2012
What a beautiful redo! Love those knobs. I have an old Hoosier cabinet in my kitchen that I just love. I recently started transforming it into my coffee bar. Just think- when you buy vintage instead of new you’re not only saving some money but you’re up-cycling too!
Just simply wonderful!
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Twitter: Kris_WUHSMom
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Very cool! I don’t think I would ever have the patience or the know-how for a project like that, so I’m in awe of you. It looks great.
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers recently posted..Homeschool Showcase #96
That is so cool! I love it!! I love the ad and the patent information–that is so cool!
I also enjoy refinishing furniture–it’s so therapeutic and then so rewarding!
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Wow… it’s very pretty. Great job! Enjoy it.
I love it! I think you did a fantastic job.
I’ve never done a large scale refurbishment of something, but I know any sort of DIY project results in my not remember how much work it is.
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Twitter: marymakesmusic
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Jamie, I really like what you did with the cabinet.
We’ve been very interested in old bottles recently – my mom gave my daughter he collection and we have been researching and hitting other antique stores to see what we can now find. We actually have some bottles pre 1860, which is very cool! I love OLD stuff!!!
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Wow! It’s really awesome! I’m falling in love with the cabinet!
Amazing cabinet! I’m speechless of its outcome. It’s really cool and beautiful.
Jamie, that is absolutely beautiful! You did a fantastic job. I love antiques, and I never thought of looking mine up by patent number!
I’m going to order some of those knobs in anticipation of our build-our–own-house project when we move next year.
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She looks lovely!! (For some reason, I feel that she needs a name.) I am like you in always digging for the story of interesting things. Sometimes if I find nothing, I get lost in imagining the possibilities.
Here’s a big “You go, Girl!!!” for tackling such a big project!
Jonnia recently posted..I am not nearly so wise
Adorable – WAY!!! I’m always picking things up – but this one is a real treasure!!! can’t wait to see the next – I still have some more work to do on my china cabinet – and my antique round kitchen table needs some touch ups! Love me a good find!!! Yours is a beauty- (and yes- the stories that go with them are so special)
kelli- AdventurezInChildRearing recently posted..5 days of (everyday) Exploring God’s Creation – Day 2 – Why bother?
I love this! I actually had to go back and forth a few times because I couldn’t believe that was the SAME cabinet as in the “before” shot! Gorgeous work, and what a practical piece of furniture too!
Love it.
monica recently posted..Raising Healthy Kids: What We Feed our Groms
The cabinet looks so good! I guess that you really did a great job on the makeover.
You did a great job! And I so understand the DIY amnesia as I suffer from it too, but the end results are always worth the effort.
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Goodness, Jamie, that’s just wonderful- kudos! I would love to have room in our kitchen for something that cool.
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Twitter: jamieworley
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Thanks! I’m loving it! Even if I didn’t have room in my kitchen, I’d have probably figured out somewhere to squeeze it in!
I enjoyed your blog and I am finally refinishing my grandmother’s seller’s cabinet I have had for decades. Did you have to redo the metal table portion of the cabinet? This part worries me the most. Any pointers?
Twitter: jamieworley
says:
No, the metal was in pretty good shape. A little place where it was worn to the black metal under the porcelain, but not worth redoing. Just enough to add a little extra “character.”
I just bought the exact same cabinet at my local Habitat Restore for $125! I am planning on restoring mine as well. It still has the flour sifter (no rust!) and the original knobs. After seeing yours, I am excited to start working on it!