When I saw this Frenchy cabinet with all of it's frilly flourish, over the top detail I knew it just had to come home with me! I could hardly wait to paint it and get into all of those amazing intricate carvings with some ASCP Dark Wax!
Though very well made, this is not an old piece of furniture. I am guessing it is probably from the 80's or 90's based on it's construction. No one at the store where I purchased it had any idea what it's original purpose was and I had to do some serious Googling to find similar pieces to compare it with. Originally I figured it was some type of a media cabinet as there is a hole in the back panel that appears to be for cords and wiring, and I still believe that is probably what it was used for at one time. However, the pieces I came across online were old and authentic and they were actually Liqueur Cabinets. So there you have it, I am still not entirely certain what this lovely cabinet was originally intended for but I can think of a dozen ways it could be used now!
The doors both lock with this beautiful key, another reason why this was probably a Liqueur Cabinet of sorts!
The body of the cabinet was made over with Chalk Paint® Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan in Old Ochre while the details were highlighted with Old White. Both clear and dark wax were applied to finish the look.
Although there is nothing wrong with painting furniture to make it look fresh and new, I have a tendency to want to create something that looks time-worn, with history and depth and a story to tell.
In it's original oak finish, it was a dated, cast-off media cabinet. Now it's a stately French Liqueur cabinet that once graced the parlor of a fantastic castle and held expensive bottles of sherry and brandy served by a serious butler to elegant Lords and Ladies.
I like to dream up stories about furniture pieces as I paint them, don't you? I also find myself influenced by the movies or TV shows I am watching when I paint. My mom commented that this cabinet had a real Downton Abbey flair to it. I liked the sound of that!
Thank you so much for you for your sweet visit!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
