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Thursday, March 11, 2010

How To Create A Vintage Jewelery Cabinet - Part 1



Lee Ann and I found this wreck at an antique mall last month.  It is the remains of an old cedar lined wardrobe that dates back to the 1920s.  We were not sure what to do with this piece at first.  We discussed making a bar out of it. We also thought it might be ok to house a flat screen tv.  Those ideas are fine but we wanted to do something a little more fun and flashy.  So here is what we decided to do.  We are going to turn this 5 ft tall wardrobe into a giant vintage
jewelery box!  It will feature doors that are padded and upholstered on the inside, because we want to be able to pinn a collection of vintage broaches to the inside of the doors.  I will be installing shelves so that Lee Ann can store a few of her mink throw pillows inside. We also will be upholstering the bottom drawer with white satin and adding french lavender to the padding so that she has a place for maybe some antique lace.  The idea is to upcycle this old wardrobe into a showcase for vintage jewelery and frills, that will turn some heads.  And I am going to do a series of posts showing you exactly how we accomplish it. 

Now for the bad news.  It's a total wipeout.  Let me see if I can descibe just how bad it is.  First of all, the veneer has become separated from just about everywhere.  It kinda reminds me of a cartoon when I was a kid.  I keep hearing in my head the cartoon sound effects as the veneer is flying off this thing.  Boing! There goes another piece!



Here is a pic of the drawer with a screwdriver stuck under the lifting veneer.  About 75% of this cabinet is that way.  In the background you can see part of the trim and molding that once crowned this wardrobe.  Apparantly,  this old guy has seen some weather.  It was probably left out in the rain for a while, in order for it to have had so much damage.  Even the back of it is peeling.
But there is good news.  It's fixable.  It has all the original hardware.  The cedar lining is intact.  And, it is a really cute cabinet. 

 Over the next few weeks I will occasionally post an update of how this project is going with some tips and advice on how you can create your own vintage jewelery cabinet. This is going to be a really fun project.  Looks like I better go check on my supply of glue.

-Rory-

10 comments:

Cindy Caraway said...

Sounds fantastic! Can't wait to see the finished product :)

Unknown said...

Looking forward to see the after - you sure have to have a lot of vision to see a diamond in that rough, lol!

Tracey

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

Hey Rory, I can't wait to see this as it transforms...it is a beautiful piece..I look forward to seeing more of what you do..:) have a great weekend.:)

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

I think you must have a lot more patience than I do. I love old pieces, but I need instant gratification! :)
I'm anxious to see how you fix it up!
good luck!
thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment about my table top turned sign.
have a great weekend!
gail

Rory said...

Tracey, My vision has become kind of a curse. I seem to see potential in things that most people don't give a second look. Because of this I sometimes feel sorry for some of this old stuff as if it was a living breathing being, and I am the only surgeon who can fix it. So I end up taking on bigger and more complicated projects all the time. Pretty funny, huh?
-Rory-

Rory said...

Thank you Cat Nap Inn,

I usually have several projects going at once. In fact, tomorrow I will be posting about an unforunate collison a formal dining room table had with a bottle of nail polish, courtesy of someones grandaughter! So stick around. Lots more to come, and thank you for your comments.
-Rory-

Rory said...

Gail,
You are very welcome. Thank you for stopping by. I love the quick 1 day projects too, but I love the wow factor of doing the large ones as well. Every time I take something like this cabinet and turn it into a family heirloom, it ecourages me to do it all over again.
-Rory-

Rory said...

Tracey, Cat Nap, Gail,

I have entered all 3 of you in the March Oven Key Giveaway. Your comments are appreciated.

-Rory-

Faye Henry said...

HI RORY..SUCH AN AMBITIOUS CHORE BUT I KNOW YOU WILL DO A BEAUTIFUL JOB...CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT. WE ARE LIKE YOU IN SAVING PIECES NO ONE ELSE WANTS BUT OUR BASEMENT IS RUNNING OUT OF SPACE. LOL..THANKS FOR INCLUDING ME IN YOUR BLOGLIST.
FAYE/PRIMITIVE LACE

Rory said...

Faye,
My garage and your basement are apparently alot alike.
-Rory-