Sunday 21 June 2015

weekend projects:: up-clycing a vintage record cabinet




Before we moved I imagined the windows open on sunny days. Filmy curtains wafting in the breeze, music from an old record player drifting out of the windows. Maybe retro French jazz or vintage Bob Dylan. Well I haven't quite got the record player yet, or the records...and half of the windows don't open, but I did get a bargain vintage record cabinet in a charity shop.  A cute cartoonish, boxie one, with spindly legs that look as though they are about to run away...I love it, but wasn't sure if the teak wood, would go with other furniture. So I decided to paint it.

First a quick wash with soapy water. Then a gentle rub with fine sandpaper to help the paint adhere. Next a couple of coats of undercoat. I just used plain white matt emulsion for this, and then a final top coat of F & B eggshell in Shaded White that was left over from another project. 

When I was half way through, Ahmad came in and asked if I was sure that I wanted to paint it. I hate when that happens, don't you? If you're going to ask the 'are you sure question,' please ask it a little bit sooner, before the undercoat has dried and you're half way through the first top coat. 

I assured him that I was sure and continued painting. That's when the first seeds of doubt crept in. But it was too late, I had to go on. The paint dried beautifully, but I wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing. Then I put it carefully into it's new position and filled the empty record slots with folders...It makes a great filing cabinet until I get some records. I put up a few pictures on the wall behind, bought a  £3 sale lampshade for an old lamp,  a 20p vintage vase and with my lovely 50's Inger Waage Norwegian dishes (another really, really bargain car boot sale find) and William Morris coasters, it makes a useful  side table that had three unsolicited compliments in the first week. 

I think the moral of this tale is that when it comes to home decor, probably your first instinct is the right one. Maybe the timing was ok with the question after all, any sooner and I just may not have my renewed cabinet. I'm very please with my little bargain find. All's well that ends well... 

Have you done any fun renovations recently?
debx

14 comments:

  1. It fits in beautifully. I have the record player but will now be on the look out for a similar cabinet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. it's really quite perfect.....color, style, and location!!! good job. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think you made the right choice in painting that cabinet. It fits in perfectly. Looks very serene. I like your grouping of ecthings too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thanks Jane, It's really calming room now which is so good with all that we have going on at the moment.
      debx

      Delete
  4. It's perfect Debby, just perfect . I love taking old items and giving them new life. The table beside my rocking chair is really a sewing machine table that I refinished and my night stand table is one I recused from the dump.
    Happy Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you Tracey. Me too, it's the best thing when something has a new lease of life.
      I love those old sewing machine tables and I've done a bit of skip diving with a friend recently. We were given permission when the doctors surgery was closing down and I found five filing cabinet drawers. Three of them are now my spice drawers in the kitchen.
      Have a great week,
      debx

      Delete
  5. you definitely made it better and it "goes" with your house! I love the freshness of the white and the functionality of the inside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen it was a really useful find and with all these nice compliments, I'm sure now that I made the right choice in painting it.
      dx

      Delete
  6. All coming together quite nicely I'd say.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well thank you, that's kind of you to say.
      bye for now,
      debx

      Delete
  7. hi debby,
    just beautiful!!!!!!love your livingroom.
    blessings regina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Regina. I love all I've seen of your home on your blog too.
      Have a good week,
      debx

      Delete