Pretty Vintage Script Cabinet

I could call this the cabinet that almost wasn't, but I'm glad I persevered and finished painting and distressing her.  I call it a her because she is definitely feminine.  I found her at a yard sale about a year ago and she spoke volumes to me.  I knew I had to reinvent her and I knew I would need my husband's help.    While I think of myself as the furniture whisperer (because I listen), my husband doesn't hear the same thing that I do.

He took an instant disliking to this little piece and felt it was total junk.  A couple of times I said fine, put it out on the curb.  Needless to say there was some disagreement over her beauty.

I don't have a before before picture when she was still in her original wood finish, but I do have a photo of her with the base coat.  I two-toned her with aqua and old white, then I added the appliques I purchased from Rita at Mammabellarte. I love these appliques and they really brought out the vintage in this piece.  I also used a gel stain to age her even more, then finished her off with Deft Satin lacquer spray.

I added script with my new French Poem stencil from Royal Design Studios.  I even put the script on the back of the piece.  I got a little obsessive.

We misplaced the original hardware in the year she was with us, or maybe she never had any to begin with, so I used simple wooden knobs.  I didn't want the hardware to compete with the gorgeous appliques.  Since the cabinet was in such rough shape, I had no choice but to shabby her way back.  I knew she wanted her years to show through anyway.  I'm pretty sure she's been around for 80 to 90 years.  It's so hard to find these fabulous vintage pieces I wanted to keep the feel of the cabinet in tact.

Here she is in the workshop waiting for her extreme makeover.  I hope she's happy with her new looks. Thanks so much for visiting us and taking a peak.

As a postscript, I am not being compensated by either Rita or Royal Design Studios.  I'm merely sharing my sources of materials should you wish to use their products to recreate something beautiful of your own.

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