Friday, March 1, 2013

Trashed China Cabinet.


 It was July 6th ... Mr. Z.'s birthday and we were going out for a nice lunch ... but first, I had to go to this Estate Sale. Well ... on the way ... out by the curb was two large rolls of carpet and a skeleton of a piece of old furniture. Okay ... just a piece of junk, but I sure would like to have the nice old wood for projects.  Sooooo ... what is a good junker to do, but stop and pick it up. About that time  a young lady drove up and I asked if she lived there ... no, but she was the "service provider" ... (care-giver) for this elderly couple ... anyway, I asked if I could take the piece ... she would go ask ... yes, and she proceeded to help me load it ... well ... too big for my van. So I just decided to leave it ... but out comes this little old lady with another part to the cabinet ... then the young girl comes out with more pieces, the door, the base ... well, how could I refuse to take it when they were going to all this trouble to bring more parts. So I had to call Mr. Z. to come with the pickup. He hates it when I do this. Waiting the twenty-five minutes for him to get there was pure torture. I just knew that everyone driving by was saying something about that little old lady picking up someones trash.
I did not get a before pictures, but this was just about what I saw at the side of the road. The girl explained that it was built in to the wall and they broke it up taking it out.
We just had to figure out how to get it back together. The glass was actually built into the sides and panels, so had to go in when we glued the pieces together. This is the front skirt part. See all that old glue. All old glue has to be cleaned off or the new glue will not hold. I paint full strength vinegar on and let it set for a little while then scrape it off with a knife or putty knife and steel wool.  

    It is messy, but has to be done ... when the wood is free of all the shine, then the glue is gone. Now ready to re-glue. 


 
Here it is with the two side panels and the skirt. To fit it into the wall, the back legs had been cut off and parts on the side of the skirt had been removed. 

  
So we build a base to make it sit level.



The missing piece on the side of the skirt. 

   
I dug in my box of furniture parts and found something that would work.  

I cut both ends off and they were a pretty good match.

 
Once painted, it was hard to tell that they were not original.

 
I also found this neat old chair foot and painted it while I had paint in my brush.  

Most of the work was done on the work table, but when it was time to work on the inside, we sat it up on two work benches so I could get inside to tape off and paint. Not too easy to get to the inside front wall.


 
Since we are starting the addition to our shop, we needed to move it out. So here it is in the garage. It will be in the garage sale, so we did not move it into the house. No room anyway and too hard for us to move it up some steps. 

It is about five feet tall and four feet wide. Not tall as most china cabinets are, so I sat something on top to give it height.   
Paint is a DIY mix chalk paint, using unsanded grout ... just used some OOPs paint. Went on gray, but sanding brought out the green. Stained with MinWax dark walnut and buffed with MinWax clear wax.  Lightly distressed. We added rollers for easy moving and to lift it off the floor just a little.
 
.  
The shelves sit on boards that span across the side glass panels; are adjustable and each has a plate groove. The inside is painted a warm white, tinted with a little green. 

Looks great with vintage stoneware or antique quilts.

Do you feel embarrassed when you pick up something out of someone's trash pile? 

Should I have felt embarrassed ?  

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate your comments.

If you have a problem when giving a comment, please let me know.
I think there may be an issue, but until I know what it is, I  cannot fix it. 
Thanks very much. 
Audrey Z. 


Linking to: Curb Alert-trash day link partyNew Curb Alert! Trash Day Link Party





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39 comments:

  1. Another great project I never care what others think or say if it makes you happy that's what counts. Great post thanks!

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  2. Well done you!! It is great. Pity I don't like near to go to the garage sale :-)
    Cheers, Gee

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  3. Nope I'm way past feeling embarrassed lol. I'll stop for just about anything that looks salvageable. You did a fantastic job putting that cabinet back together, love it!

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  4. What a wonderful piece! You did a great job. Beautiful!

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  5. WOW!! What a beautiful piece!!

    Wouldn't you like to stand outside now where you pulled this out of the trash with the same piece and say "Look at what I turned it into!!"

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  6. What a great cabinrt! You did an excellent job bringing it back to life. The color is perfect. Wish I could go to your sale, Audrey.

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  7. Amazing transformation ! It is just beautiful !

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  8. Hi Audrey!
    This is gorgeous. I can't believe that it's sitting right in the garage and looks so lovely!
    The paint showing the green undertones...has my heart swooning! You did a wonderful job. I'm sure it will sell quickly!

    as to being embarrassed...NO!
    You should NOT be...and No. I am not. However, The Honey frowns upon it and rolls his eyes when I set my eyes on something...but I just give him the stink eye, right back. LOL..

    have a blessed weekend, Pat

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    1. I'm glad to see several mention their other half frowns or groans when asked to help with our passions. I'm in the same situation and it helps somehow to know other people are in the same boat, and I just told him that he's NOT and I'm NOT the only people that have this occur. :)

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  9. What a beautiful job you did on this cabinet! It's lovely. You shouldn't feel embarrassed because you know you can turned it into something beautiful and useful.

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  10. How clever you and Mr. Z are! I do not think I could tackle this job. Beautiful transformation!

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  11. Do what makes your heart sing Audrey. Your and the Mr did a beautiful job. Its an amazing transformation. From trash to treasure for sure!

    hugs
    Sumaya

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  12. Wow! This is such an amazing transformation! Great job!

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  13. WOW....this just blew my skirt up.
    AWESOME is the word...what a fantastic piece and what a good job you did, bringing it back to life.
    You sure are blessed with a talent to do these things.
    xo bj

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  14. Hi Audrey, You did a great job bringing that cabinet back to life. It's beautiful now. I feel a bit embarrassed too when I pick up a piece of furniture from the trash even though I think I shouldn't. It's worth though, because after I have cleaned and painted them, I usually love them more than ones we bought.
    Hugs,
    Julia

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  15. Absolutely NO, you should not feel embarrassed!! To end up with a beauty like that - no way! You did an awesome job. I know it was alot of work but it turned out just gorgeous, Congratulations on a job well done!!

    Judy

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  16. Absolutely Beautiful! I love how it turned out and I definitely don't think you should ever be embarrassed to pick up curbside potential. I love your before and afters! I'm a new follower and I look forward to hanging out here. I'd love a visit whenever you have the time.

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  17. Audrey - what a beautiful piece!! Never feel embarrassed to follow your passion!!! If others don't have any vision, that's their problem!

    Good for you sticking it out until you got it home.

    You're fabulous!

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  18. Audrey,

    Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment about Minerva!! it is fun dressing her up.....

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  19. Oh my goodness Audrey! I cannot believe my eyes. That is a stunning transformation. It really is gorgeous.
    I say never feel embarrassed to use such vision and talent to save something from the landfill. You are doing something positive on so many levels!!

    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

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  20. It's gorgeous! Yes, sometimes I'm embarrassed picking through trash ... but there's really nothing to be embarrassed about when you think about it. :)

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  21. Audrey,
    This is just the most amazing transformation! You two have such talent to not only recreate this piece but to make it stunningly beautiful! What a great storage piece for antique quilts!

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  22. I can't believe you brought that old cabinet back to life! It is gorgeous, and I can't imagine it will last very long in your garage sale. Your oops paint color really brings out the detail in the piece. Well done!!

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  23. Amazing Audrey! It turned out beautifully. I would love to have you share it at the Rock 'N Share party going on now. Blessings, D

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  24. Visiting from Rock 'N Share Wednesday. What an amazing job you did turning that old broken down piece into a beautiful piece of work. Thank you for sharing.

    Linda @ Mixed Kreations

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  25. Audrey, this piece is amazing. I love how it turned out. Great rescue! Around here people do not put stuff out for the junk. We either take it to a thrift shop or to the dump. I would be in 7th heaven if I could pick from someones trash. Alot of work went into this piece but so glad you rescued it! I would love if you linked this to my party, Share Your Cup Thursday.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. I admit that I am embarrassed but as I peel away with my free find, the embarrassment ends! Great find - and can't believe you had the patience to piece that beauty back together! You rock!
    Kelly

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  27. Absolutely stunning!!! Love the colours and your attention to detail.

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  28. There you go again Miss Audrey. Your mind never stops now does it. Aren't you glad you made that stop. Looks fantastic!

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  29. Wow Audrey, that came out so gorgeous!! I am so jealous of your box of furniture parts, too. :) And nope, never embarrassed about roadside rescues. :)

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  30. Hi, dear hard working friend...:)
    I know you have just about worked your little butt off...bet you have that new work area all fixed up.
    I see it's been awhile since you had time to post...hope you aren't just wearing yourself out.
    Mr. Sweet and I are sooo proud of ourselves for all we've got done around this old house. We've worked and worked and have the attic all empty and clean...cleaned the old metal shed and then tore the shed down. The back yard looks so nice and orderly now. The only thing left to do now is have our son send a crew over to move all the furniture and clothes, after we sell the house. It sure does feel good to have all the hard work done...and not have to worry that we might die and our kids would have to do all this work. Whew...it's been hard but we sure are thankful God has given us the strength to get it done.
    I hope you and yours have a wonderful and blessed Easter.
    Love to you, my sweet friend.
    xoxo bj

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  31. amazing job, and it is gorgeous!!

    blessings
    barb

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  32. What a great old piece! I can't believe someone would rip that out!! I love what you did with it.

    You shouldn't be embarrassed at all. I'll be everyone driving by was wishing they had seen if first!

    Thanks for stopping by and following; I'm following back :)

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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  33. Wow Audrey! When you do something, you really do it! You turned a pile of wood into a beautiful, functional piece. That was a lot of work, but it paid off big time.

    Today I went to u-haul and saw a chair on the parking lot grass. I have to admit I did feel just a tad weird putting it in my car, but then I realized I'm going to give that discarded chair a good home and keep it out of the landfills.

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  34. Wow! W O W! WOW!!! You really brought this back to life! Thanks for linking up to the Curb Alert! trash day link party. Hope you are having a great Sunday evening.
    ~Tami

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  35. Wow Audrey, I'm impressed - gorgeous makeover. I'm still a little uncomfortable garbage picking so I wait until it's dark and send my husband *blush* - he's not the least bit embarrassed.
    Marie@The Interior Frugalista

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  36. HI! I really appreciate you linking up to the Curb Alert! Saturday Trash Day Link Party last week. I would love for you to join us again this weekend and link up any Trash to Treasure projects you would like to share. Hope to see you soon! http://tamicurbalert.blogspot.com/2014/02/curb-alert-trash-day-link-party-2.html
    Tami @ Curb Alert!

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  37. Mrs. Audrey, this is a GORGEOUS transformation and I love how the parts you had to make are spot on! As to my comment on someone else's comments, it shows our "other halves" that something they frowned up helping pick up was able to become a beautiful piece again.

    And just wanted to add, I wanted to go to your Home Page and bookmark your blog, but I don't see any links that will take me to your Home Page. Maybe I'm looking right at it and don't realize it's a link to your Home Page but as for now, I'm going to try to erase anything after the ".com" and hope it will take me there. I like to bookmark the home page because more than likely, if I've come to a page in the middle of your site, there might be more I'd like to see! Just an FYI but again, maybe it's just me.

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    1. Hi Lori ... thanks for your visit and nice comment. Sorry, I do not have a HOME page button, but I will try to create one. Your idea to erase everything after .com should work, but in case, here is my home page
      http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com/ .Hope you can bookmark that page.
      Cannot email you... (no-reply comment blogger)Thanks,
      Audrey

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