Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The most magnificent cabinet

Are you ever super indecisive? 

I have struggled with the decision to keep or sell this amazing cabinet
 - not just amazing -

the world's most magnificent cabinet.


keep or sell?


sell or keep?



So here's the story:


I was at an auction a week or two ago and spied the world's most magnificent cabinet tucked away in a corner. Love at first sight. It had to be mine. It was literally hidden behind a pile of other furniture. Hiding, waiting for me...

I asked for an estimate and it was definitely out of my budget but I couldn't leave well enough along, I was in love and so I decided to do a phone bid and see what happened. After much excitement I won the auction and the cabinet was mine. Worth the money spent.

Mine! 

I was absolutely thrilled, jumping for joy in my backyard with the phone in my hand....but where would it fit and how would I get it home?

 I spent a restless night worrying about these important things.


At about 3 am that night I remember Balmain Rentals and that you can rent a ute or truck by the hour so the next morning I went and paid for the cabinet and then picked up a truck (which was about 3 minutes drive from the auction house, so handy and local), the guys at the auction house helped me load the cabinet on to the back of the flat-bed truck and I drove home. I persuaded a neighbour and a girlfriend to help me unload and carry the world's most magnificent cabinet inside. Man, it was no mean feat. This baby is huge. 2m long and as tall as I am  - with those beautiful glass panes in the door we wanted to be careful. We got her into place and then I raced to return the truck. The whole venture took 56 minutes and the truck rental came to $21 including petrol. I have been wanting a truck or van for ages (ha, ha I know, some women want diamonds and shoes, I want a truck) but now I can cross that off my list as I can just hire a ute when I need - so affordable and convenient.



Anyway for the weekend I had the cabinet sitting in our dining room (along with my French provincial sideboard and dining table) and it made the room so small. I didn't buy the cabinet for the dining room but where I wanted it to go I thought it wouldn't fit so I plonked it in the dining room while I thrashed back and forth in my mind - keep or sell? sell or keep?

It doesn't look bad in these photos as I had moved the dining table out of the way but it was crowded. I had bought the cabinet for our study area but I didn't think it would work.

Yesterday I listed the cabinet for sale on facebook and then thought well I may as well see if it does fit in the study area. So I moved the sideboard out that usually sits in the study and dragged (on bathmats) the cabinet over and guess what, it didn't look too bad. I was worried that it would block too much of the view of the garden from the kitchen. And it probably is a little bit too big but I decided to leave it for a week, and see how I feel. I was so worried that I am so indecisive and flaky about selling things at the moment but I bought the cabinet for me, not planning to sell but then probably just gave up too easily on trying to make it work for our house. We are in the middle of planning a renovation so I'll try and make this cabinet work somewhere in the new plans.



One of the problems is that this floor in the study actually slopes (it would have been a verandah at some stage) and so the cabinet is sloping which means the doors are a little hard to open (but when it was on the flat floor of the dining room, they opened perfectly) but I think I can live with that till we renovate it. If I keep it I will possibly paint it but I'll wait and see where it is going to live first. No rush, especially as the wood is lovely anyway.



Each pane of glass is bevelled edged. The craftsmanship of the construction. 
I just love it.



So I think I'm going to have to keep for a while, and in the mean time I'll paint the sideboard that was in the study and sell it. You can see it below, in the dining room (and in the photo below you can see why the world's most magnificent cabinet couldn't stay in the dining room.)



Anyway so there you have it. The ridiculous thought process that has been occupying my mind for the last few days. Aah the dilemmas of a furniture painter.  

What would you do?

Fiona xx



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50 comments:

  1. Oh Fiona, I can see your dilemma, it is stunning. I love it and I think you should keep it. It is just so perfect for your beautiful house.
    I love your story and photos as well.
    Adele x

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    1. thanks Adele! I am really liking it in the spot opposite my desk.

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  2. I say keep it!

    If you are agonising over it so much, it will be hard to part with. I love it, I think it is amazing, and if you can get it home for less than what a carton of beer is worth - it's an absolute winner!

    Looks fab near your computer, you will work it in with your reno's somehow.

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    1. Sometimes I worry that the house will end up crowded like an old lady's but it's not as though I'm not always getting rid of stuff is it! thanks for your input Jo!
      Fiona x

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  3. I'm with the others - keep it. It really looks stunning and suits your beautiful home. You have to make it work (sorry Karen).
    Love your blog Fiona, don't ever stop. My daily dose of inspiration.
    love Beth

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    1. thanks Beth - I'll keep on keeping on with the blog. much appreciated

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  4. KEEP! it is such a beauty! we don't have pieces like that here!

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    1. Here either usually –this was made in Egypt to look like a French piece and was imported here. It’s stunning. I am thinking I will have to keep it.

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  5. The world's most magnificent cabinet has your name written all over it. It called out to you. It had been waiting for you to give it a new home. You must keep it! It is truly beautiful, and I can't wait to see what you do with it (if you do anything at all). Don't you just love it when a piece calls out to you and you actually get to bring it home?! It doesn't happen often but when it does, I become VERY happy!!! :-)

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    1. thanks Petra, I think that too. I couldn't actually believe that I won it and it didn't go for more than double! I am very happy xx

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  6. Bea-u-ti-ful!
    KEEP IT!! the heavens meant for it to be yours xx

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    Replies
    1. thanks Annabelle. I think the universe definitely provided this one.

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  8. Fiona, Keep it, don't paint it. I'm so jealous.

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    1. I don't think it needs painting either. It's a dark room where it is but I don't know where it will end up so happy to leave as it.
      thanks xx

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  9. Sell it to Karen !!!!! :) She will adore it everyday tooo <3 <3 <3 lol

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    Replies
    1. oh Karen! it's not looking good - I will just have to find you another beautiful one I think xx

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    2. :'( sounds like a plan I'm happy to wait for you tho. I agree not to paint it - although your projects come up beautifully it is so beautiful as it is

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  10. Two words Fiona -KEEP IT.You are going to renovate - design something around it, if you can do your beautiful kitchen, you can do this. Sorry Karen- I think you might lose this one.
    Best wishes Brenda

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    Replies
    1. thanks so much Brenda - I am going to have to have a long hard think about the plans and what room will do this piece justice!

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  11. OMG Fiona, you have an eye for beauty - how do you find all these gorgeous things? Keep it.

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    Replies
    1. they just come to me! LOL , thanks Hannah
      cheers Fiona

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  12. Yeap you will love her, to pretty to sell

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  13. I loved the magnificent cabinet story today!
    Really nice - let me know what you decide.
    Dad

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  14. Just beautiful!! I think it must have been meant to be yours...

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  15. OMG it is stunning.You are crazy if you don't keep it-you will regret it if you do sellnitlove dee x

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Dee, I think I will have major regrets as it is just so unusual – a centre piece!

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  16. You have to keep it as it was meant for you.... You will make it work for you Fiona....

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    1. thanks Jennifer. can you believe how beautiful it is!

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  17. It's gorgeous, you must KEEP . Sorry Karen :(
    What rule book says you can't plan a renovation around a single piece of furniture ?!

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    Replies
    1. If there is I am tossing that rule book out the door!!

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  18. It is fabulous!! You gotta keep that sweetness!

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    Replies
    1. thanks Lynn, it's lovely and fabulous and magnificent and wow the storage is just great!

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  19. It is beautiful. Keep it I say :)

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  20. Hi Fiona,

    I think the decision is unanimous!! It is gorgeous, why not keep for a while at least, you can always sell it later if it doesn't work!

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  21. I would surely keep that piece! I will say that I was surprised at how large it is when I saw it in context of the other furniture near it. It's a big one but absolutely gorgeous.

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  22. You absolutely have to keep it - no question!

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  23. KEEP KEEP KEEP until you have renovated, then decide. It is beautiful and classy.

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  24. Oh it really is stunning. It seems like such a versatile piece that can go anywhere. Keep it. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  25. Love this piece. Great find! Stop by my Friday's Five Features and link up this post (and others)! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-3.html

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  26. If you don't know...don't sell...you'll be sorry...and you can always sell it later if you change your mind.

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  27. Oh. My goodness. I would SO be keeping that incredible piece of furniture! Pieces like that don't come around every day... Wow!

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  28. Keep it! Keep it! Keep it! -- Min

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  29. Just stumbled on your website. You've got a real gift for spotting and transforming things! Love your writing too. That cabinet is huge but yes, magnificent.

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  30. Keep it - or sell it to me! Thanks for your blog, I'm enjoying getting lots of tips so I can start some painting!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com