Friday, August 9, 2013

The one that got away (kinda...)

This is a little tale of a cabinet that escaped my clutches (well more aptly escaped my paint brush).

Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life

Earlier this week my daughter had an after-school play date so I asked my son if he wanted to come treasure hunting for furniture with me. He loves my furniture and blog and is always asking about how I painted something or what I've bought. We managed to catch 15 minutes of the end of an auction which is actually quite a good time to go for little bits and pieces. Most of the dealers had left and there were only about 15 people left bidding. We managed to find a gorgeous little French style stool (I'll be painting it and listing for sale soon) and an old gramophone cabinet. 

Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life
Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life

The cabinet was looking very much worse for wear. The hinges were broken for the lift up lid, so the lid was literally hanging down the back, the insides were filthy and the fabric on the fretwork was all ripped and sticking out, making it all look like it needed a tonne of work.

Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life

No one else even placed a single bid and I scored it for a good price. I went back the next day to pick it up and brought it home and decided to get stuck straight into it. I initially thought that the horn part was metal and that it would be difficult to remove but it was just hard cardboard and a couple of blows from the hammer crumpled it enough for me to lift out. I then pried all the nails out that held the wooden record holders and the fretwork, then ripped the fabric off the fretwork. 

Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life
Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life

 40 minutes later it was gutted and I set to with a brush and water.

Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life
Vintage gramophone cabinet: Lilyfield Life

I posted the photo below on facebook and Instagram saying it was my next piece to paint and did anyone want to place a custom order? Very promptly I received a message from Selene who asked if she could buy the piece "as is" so she could paint herself.
I nearly said no as I really wanted the pleasure of painting it and breathing some life back into it myself. I had visions of turning the fretwork into a door and painting it something like this from Kathy at Petticoat Junktion painted in Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint in Tricycle (which I still have a box of in my paint stash) but then my business brain stepped in and so I agreed to sell it.

Petticoat Junktion Gramophone cabinet

Selene was particularly keen to buy it because her initial is right there in the middle of the fretwork.

Beautiful fretwork


Selene has agreed to send me photos when she's finished painting it and I'll share the makeover with you. And in the meantime I'm now good to go find something else to paint!

It would have been beautiful to paint though, don't you think? It will make a treasured piece for Selene's house I am sure.

have a great weekend
Fiona xx



17 comments:

  1. It's stunning Fiona, and I would have loved seeing what you did with it but I'm sure Selene is very happy with her treasure.
    Beth x

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    1. thanks Beth - I'm pleased Selene bought it especially as she was very happy with it.

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  2. Such a beautiful cabinet Fiona, what an amazing find! But I can understand letting her go, especially when someone loves it so much. Look forward to seeing what Selene does with it!

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  3. Wow that is stunning, lucky Selene! And I loved your I aspiration, Karen

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  4. I keep seeing little pieces and wondering what they would be good for. Love it filled with quilts with the front missing. Now to find one and add to the list of projects. K

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    1. I love little cabinets - a good corner filler for lamps also.

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  5. Oh what a shame you didn't get to work your magic - it looked really good "gutted"! Will love to see what Selene does with it and if it turns out similar to what you would've done.

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    1. I am also looking forward to seeing what Selene does with it. It would have been beautiful to paint!

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  6. sometimes it is nice to just let it go! and mine is different- mine is the kind that flips open at the tp and had the old record player with gramophone. i think maybe harder to gut that way but who knows!

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  7. what a lovely cabinet. The fret work was very pretty. Look forward to seeing what Selene does with it. What did Jonty think?
    Brenda

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    1. Jonty was very pleased that his find sold so quickly!

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  8. Just gorgeous Fiona, I would have loved to see what you did with it. Look forward to seeing what Seline does with it. Gosh you find some amazing pieces!

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  9. Ooooh, so gorgeous! Love how this came out. That is the perfect color on it! x

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  10. Hi Fiona, just popping over from Re-tiqued. I know how hard it is to pass along something you have a vision to paint! I scored a gorgeous antique sideboard and sold it on to a lady who wanted to paint it herself too. I remember before I sold it I would lie awake at night thinking of what I wanted to do with it. I still do that with pieces Im excited to paint. Ps. I lived in Balmain for many years. Back in my frosty northern homeland now, but give Sydney a little hello for me!

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  11. Hey Fiona! Thanks for the information on the dresser top epoxy, I knew it wasn't laminate! I love this old piece you scored, I'm not sure I could have given it up unfinished!

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  12. Fiona, thanks for sharing my Tricycle Red Cabinet. I truly love the little cabinet. But I have to tell you...I don't think I could have let your cabinet go. The fretwork is over the top. I know it will look amazing painted. Thanks again for sharing!

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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