Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New Uses for Old Things


When I decided to sell my grandparent's dining room furniture, it was a tough decision.  I knew that it wasn't incredibly expensive antique furniture dating from the 1700s, but it was still beautiful furniture that had been in my family for over 70 years.

Before I listed the table, chairs, buffet, and tea cart on Craigslist, I decided I would keep the china cabinet.  That way I could pass it along to one of my children if they ever wanted to use it in their own homes.  I am happy to report that our old dining room table and chairs have found a very happy home.  The couple who bought them on Craisglist was kind enough to send me photos of the table and chairs in their dining room, and it looks amazing, so I know they will enjoy it for many years to come!




Because I had a new china cabinet on the way, which you can read about here, I knew the old one couldn't remain in the dining room.  So I started looking around our house to see where I could put our old china cabinet.

One day, while lying in bed, I realized that the wall between our closet and our bathroom was the perfect spot for it.  The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about moving it in to our bedroom.  I could use it to store linens, almost like a linen press, and some of the special things that had been shoved in our closet for too long, like a collection of scarves and gloves from my grandmother and mother.  Now, with easy access I would maybe wear some of these pretty pieces.


 

And I would simply relocate some of my Beatrix Potter collection so that I could enjoy them everyday when I get up each morning.




They seem pretty happy in their new location too.  Mrs. Rabbit is fixing something yummy for dinner, and I spy butter and a pitcher of milk being carried by a certain kitty cat in the background.




Having the china cabinet in our bedroom also allows me to display some vintage linens, like the crocheted popcorn bedspread that my grandmother or great grandmother made.  And while cleaning out my parent's house, I lucked in to an old Ivory Soap laundry sack that no one else wanted, so I've folded it and placed it on top of the bedspread.  I may eventually turn it into a table runner or a pillow, but for now it will live here in the cabinet.

I've also put some pretty soaps, lotions, and bath salts inside the cabinet and I really love how it gives me easy access to things while still looking pretty enough for display.




I'm really glad that I decided to keep this cabinet since it was something my grandparents purchased together and enjoyed for all of those years.  And I love that it provides me with some extra storage space in our bedroom, for free!

Have you repurposed a piece of furniture and turned it into something useful in your own home?

18 comments:

  1. That is so sweet that they sent you photos! I once had to part with a desk that I was particularly attached to. There's more desks on Craigslist than there is demand for them, so I had to give it away for free. The lady who came to get it sent me a sweet note saying that she was a writer and was going to put it in her shabby chic writing room - that made me feel so much better about letting it go!

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  2. How nice to have a special piece to house and display your special goodies...Looks lovely! And its wonderful that the young couple is enjoying the furniture!

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  3. It looks perfect there Kat, I love all your treasures in it too. I am so glad that you kept that as well, it is nice to have something to pass down that is filled with memories.
    xoxo

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  4. It's a great looking piece, Kat. It will serve your purposes well on that wall. I have a small one in the basement that was my grandmother's, but it is very scratched up and needs some attention. I really have no place to use it in our home so not sure what to do with it.

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  5. It's a great idea to keep the cabinet and put it to good use. It is a dilemma as to what one does with hand me down furniture. It was made for different types of houses and needs back then. It looks lovely against the blue walls with all your pretty bits.

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  6. That is the perfect spot. So nice to be able to keep a family piece and have a place to display your goodies. I have repurposed a hutch that belonged to my husband's mother who I never got to meet. It is in our master bath and provides much needed storage since we have no linen closet.

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  7. It's so perfect there Kat. Love your Laugh Out Loud sign...so sweet hanging on the doors. And did I spy an abbreviation for Maine on your Ivory laundry sack?! I love to repurpose and my mind is always focused on how I can change things up...drives Henri crazy. xo ~Lili

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  8. How sweet of the family purchasing you table and chairs to send you a picture. You now know they are in good hands. What a wonderful use for the china cabinet. Everything looks perfect!

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  9. How wonderful that your dining furniture is continuing its history with a new family now! That style china hutch can go ANYWHERE, as you have proven by putting it in your bedroom.

    I was doing something just like this earlier today. The closets in this old house of ours leave a lot to be desired, and I have absolutely no place to store my shoes. They're everywhere! As I was tidying up our bedroom this morning, I noticed a spot that I hadn't considered before, and there's a cabinet in the grandson's room that will fit perfectly there. For now, it seems to be a good solution to the problem ... at least till I get my REAL closets built later.

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  10. I'm so glad you found a good home for the dining set. We have a plant stand on one end of our love seat and an antique sewing machine/cabinet one one end of the sofa. I love the new use you found for the hutch!
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  11. so glad you kept also...today i was cleaning some of my antique furniture...NEEDED IT....and my mind went back to how hard my grandparents and parents had to work to aquired these pieces and i thought gee i got them for nothing and here i am worried what will happen to them when i pass i SO want them to stay in the family but neither of my sons or there other 1/2's have the love of OLD things lol oh well guess i shouldn't worry when i pass on i won't know will i?!?! LOL

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  12. Brilliant Kat. I love that it is a family piece show casing family linens.

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  13. What a nice idea you had ... I would have never thought about doing something like that ...

    Happy creating and happy memories,
    Katie
    www.westiejulep.blogspot.com

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  14. Kat, the china cabinet looks so awesome in your room!!! I love that you have filled a cabinet that was your grandparents with some family treasures. Lovely memories!! Enjoy your day!

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  15. Kat it is just perfect!! I am so glad you are using it and probably enjoying it more than ever!!

    Adore your bedding set atop the piece!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  16. What a special piece Kat! And it looks fabulous!

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  17. It looks like a perfect fit there, Kat! Great idea!

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