Using What You've Got

When a gift is given I look at it with a very open eye and mind. What could it be used for? What kind of life can I give it. Is it needed and usable. If not for me then as a gift for someone.

I was given two very 1960' TV/bookshelf cabinets which had seen better days. They were solid oak, so I knew they were worth saving. I wish I had a real picture of them as I started to dismantle each one, not knowing what use I would eventually have for them.

In retrospect these were one of the most loved and useful pieces of furniture I have ever gotten. They actually weren't a gift. I was ask if I would take them to the dump by a client. Sure. My house first...

There were two 23" deep cabinets. There were no shelves at the beginning. So we had to add those.

This picture is as close as I could come to what they resembled. One of the two cabinets did not have a back.

I never just throw something away. I will save it until some inspiration or need arises.

I needed bookshelves but these were just a little deep for a usual bookcase so I knew I would need to make something useful from them. We built pine open fronted doors and stapled chicken wire to the back.

 We also added a couple of cross boards for stability. These cabinets were six feet tall. I didn't want all my unorganized junk showing, so the doors were a must.

This is our first reincarnation of the TV cabinets. We split them up added feet for height and an angled platform between them for my computer area. I don't like my computer on my desk. But it needs to be close to where I am designing and drawing. We added another find. an abused oak bookcase. I painted them an antique green from Sherwin and Williams called Svelte Green. I sanded them back as if used for a hundred years and then antiqued with a chocolate wash. I sealed the whole mess with a satin poly. I also had found this old oak desk on the side of the road and I made it my own.

When we moved I took these bookcases and newly doored bookcases with me to my new cottage. This is how I made them work again in a very tiny space.

We were heating our little cottage with a little electric fireplace. It works great. Couldn't stand to look at it. We brought in the old bookcases.

This is the results and how we did it all.

My wonderful hubby built an enclosure and raised the electric fireplace. The old green bookcases were place on either side. He attached them to the wall studs for sturdiness. The upper blank area was wired for TV. So we built up the top of the fireplace area to make it all look more custom. I used two beloved rod iron rose pieces and overlapped them attaching them to the blank space above the fireplace.

I then tiled the surround with a pretty cream glass tile. This helps bounce light around in my tiny space. I used an italian chair rail along the top of the tile. I love the textual look.

I bought small feet from Lowes and then added six inches of 4x4 to make the feet taller.

Hubby Crown molded all the kitchen cabinets and these new additions. I painted the red cabinets several colors of red and then antiqued them. The kitchen cabinets are painted a cream and the upper cabinets have beaded glass.

I added the curtains to the back. I am using these cabinets to hide oven and microwave. Plus another pantry. All the stuff I don't want to be seen.

My crazy fun fridge sits next to the red cabinet.  You can see all the gritty details on this site:http://sksartell.blogspot.com/2014/04/sks-fridge-to-vintage-steamer-trunk.html

These are the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen area.

I added a antique looking beaded glass to my upper cabinets after I had painted the interiors dark chocolate. I also have electrical in each cabinet for lighting which is upcoming. I hope?

So that's the details of all my kitchen/living rooms cabinetry. But I may have left out a detail. The counters are a chocolate concrete. a totally different story.

Thanks for visiting.

sk

SK and Pinterest