For the last seven years, I have been looking for the perfect piece to provide stylish storage in my kitchen. Problem is, the space. It is a small space. The piece couldn’t be too long, or too wide. It would also need to be relatively short, because it will be placed in front of 2 big windows…and there is no way I would completely block the natural light. So, while I would have loved a full fledged hutch, it would not work. *sigh* And I am fussy. I know what I like and I can’t see spending the money on something I will grow unhappy with in a few short weeks. I’d rather wait and find it. Now you can see why this has been so difficult.
But magic happened last weekend…
We were wandering up and down the aisles of Hoffman’s Barn, not looking for anything in particular. Placed in the corner, on top of another dresser…there it was. A dresser. A small one. With a wonderful, shabby, chippy, uneven, worn looking cream finish.
With some even lovelier detailing. Turned legs. A scalloped design on the bottom front facade. Old painted hardware. Carved wooden accents on the sides and front of a drawer.
Lots of storage for glasses, silver, candles, table linens, napkins, over-sized platters, and whatever else we want to hide from view. And enough room underneath to stack some cooking magazines. The top can serve as extra space for drinks and appetizers when we decide to entertain. I was in heaven.
There it sits, filling in the empty space in my kitchen. It is a perfect fit, exactly what I wanted. It is no longer a dresser, but a sideboard. We may even buy a piece of marble for the top of it, to add a cutting surface.
This just proves two of my rules when looking for antiques or flea market treasures.
1. Always think outside the box. Just because a piece was originally used for one thing, doesn’t mean you can’t transform into something else. Use your imagination. Be creative. Make it work.
2. Don’t settle. Be patient. If you are like me, and you know what you want and love….only spend the money on what you love. It may take time, but you will find it. Have faith…it will come. And when it does, it feels soooo good. Like the perfect mate, you will know when it is the one.
Do you have a story about a piece? Something that took you forever to find, but when you finally found it, angels sang? Or maybe a treasure that you turned into something other than its original purpose? I would love it if you shared….