My sister and I headed over to our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore the other day. I wanted to pick up a few more cupboard doors to use to make signs. I found 4 good sized doors for $4 each, but before heading out we took a quick look around and I also found this fabulous little primitive cupboard.
I knew this would be a fun project to work on, and that a little paint and a transfer would really make it shine.
I started by sanding it lightly, then giving it a good cleaning. Then I painted the inside in Dixie Belle’s Gravel Road and the outside in their Sawmill Gravy.
Once the paint was dry, I sanded heavily because I wanted a lot of distressing on this one.
Next I pulled out an old IOD transfer called Specimens and applied it to the front of the cupboard.
I only used the bottom half of the transfer, and that was perfect.
Next I added clear wax to the entire thing. I also added some heavy duty D-rings to the back so that it could be hung on the wall.
This cupboard has a clever little latching mechanism for keeping the door shut (it totally reminded me of the one on the washstand I shared a while back).
I’m always a sucker for these sort of primitive details, how about you?
I was channeling my inner Nina Hartmann when staging this one.
Are any of you familiar with her work? I’ve mentioned her a few times here before. I have several of her books, and they can be hard to come by here in the U.S. I ordered the latest one, Living with Swedish Antiques, directly from her website (to order click on webshop, then books). Don’t be totally freaked out by the price, it is shown in Swedish krona. That being said, her books aren’t cheap. After converting krona to dollars, I ended up paying around $80 for this one, including shipping.
The book on the bottom of the stack, among vintage & friends, is also totally fabulous. Here’s a page from that one …
I think you can probably see why it appeals to me.
But I think my favorite book of hers is My home with vintage & antiques.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any tips on how to acquire either of these older two books. They are out of print and priced exorbitantly if you can even find them online. So I apologize for telling you all about how amazing they are, and then following it up with ‘and by the way, you can’t get them anywhere.’ But you can get her newest book, so you may want to jump on that.
The primitive look of this cupboard, the color of the Sawmill Gravy (white with a hint of grey), the crackled ironstone and the mostly bare evergreen are all inspired by Nina’s style.
I love how this little cupboard turned out. Once again, I’m tempted to keep this one. Or maybe swap it out for some other piece I already have.
But then again, maybe I’ll just be happy to see it go to a good home. So if any of my local readers are interested, be sure to check out my ‘available for local sale‘ page for more details.
So, how about you guys, are any of you already fans of Nina Hartmann? or just simply fans of pale, painted wood pieces with lots of character?
As always, thanks to Dixie Belle Paint Co for supplying the paint used on this cupboard.
q is for quandie 
Well just look at that beautiful cabinet. I love the Restore, I can spend $20 and get a cart full of wonderful things. Fabulous makeover and yes I am a fan of Nina Hartmann, even if today was the first day I have heard of her! Her books sound like a good BOLO. But back to the cabinet. It looks 1000 times better with your paint and transfer. I love it so very very much
LikeLike
Thanks Laura! Yep, definitely BOLO for Nina Hartmann’s books! I’d love to find her ‘a winter’s tale’, but I’m not prepared to pay $367 on Amazon for it 😉
LikeLike
That little cupboard is just darling and I would buy it in a heartbeat if local. (I’m in GA) I bought an old and similar (but not as cute and petite) cupboard and used it in a small narrow bedroom in our cabin. There wasn’t enough space for a bedside table so we nailed it securely to the wall and it was perfect. The shelves worked for the bedside usuals, clock, flashlight, water bottle, phone charger. You have given me a great makeover idea, as always, if I ever find another one. Thank you and Merry Christmas.🎁🎄
LikeLike
I love that idea, this one would be perfect for that too!
LikeLike
Oh my gosh, how pretty. I have never heard of Nina Hartman, I will now be on the lookout for her books everywhere I go. 🙂 I see where you get your inspiration. I am a sucker for these simple beautiful photos and neutral colors. You would never know it though, my house is full of color and I love painting everything in color!
LikeLike
Funny how that goes. I’ve always said I have a split personality when it comes to decorating. I love this sparse, clean, pale look … but I also love color. It’s difficult to have both in one house. I keep edging a little closer to getting rid of the color at my house 🙂
LikeLike
I love this little cupboard! I have one that is similar in my bathroom that we use as a medicine chest. I think that I will paint it like this. I love the patina on mine but we are remodeling our house and this color combo is perfect! thanks for sharing 😊
LikeLike
I think you’ll be happy with this color combo Monica! Have fun giving your cupboard a makeover.
LikeLike
I just love the way you use the family of whites……and this one with that interior color is so pretty! Your photo staging makes me want to go around the house decluttering……so much Christmas stuff! Well, after Christmas, I’ll take a crack at it…..And I like your nod to “fostering” a piece until it finds a good home……just like a kitty! I get it (-;
LikeLike
Precisely. I’m a foster home for unwanted furniture!!
LikeLike
You can take absolutely nothing and make it absolutely beautiful. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. From snowy Betty in Ontario. Love to .mom and Sis
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so sweet Betty, thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
What a lovely satisfying project. Love the simplicity and functionality of it! Merry Christmas to you and yours from the West coast of Canada.
LikeLike
One of these days I really must get to your neck of the woods. I’ve been to Montreal and Toronto, but never the west coast. Merry Christmas to you too Laura!
LikeLike
Linda, it’s absolutely adorable!!! it made me smile from the moment i saw it (i think im still smiling typing this) – it’s soooo cute!
I heard about Nina’s book about a year ago, found her on Instagram, then searched every possible library catalogs without much success. Im happy you treated yourself with her book!
LikeLike
Instagram is a great resource for finding photos from her books, and Pinterest is too. Both are probably a poor substitute for the books themselves, but hey, you take what you can get, right?
LikeLike
Love this!
LikeLike
Thanks Laura!
LikeLike
Absolutely a Nina Hartmann fan. Can’t get enough of her eye candy. My home is in Swedish decor as well as my business making Swedish copies of antiques. Just found you.
LikeLike