Our entryway has gone through several changes since we purchased this home. After we removed ALL. THE. THINGS… we removed the hand railing because it was the original one to the house and to be honest, we didn’t like it. It wasn’t gaudy enough for us. We like things that are out of the ordinary. We like incorporating the unordinary into our spaces. Nevertheless, we also love changing it up. Furniture moves in and out of the house faster than lightening. I’ve had several pieces in this space over the last couple of years, but this giant cabinet in our entryway is probably one of my favorites…. so far!
Let me tell you my personal history of this giant cabinet. Soooooooo way back in the late 1600s when my kids were young, ???? I acquired this cabinet from my parents. If I remember right, my dad bought it for very inexpensively at an auction and had absolutely no place to put it…. but it was cheap. So he bought it. It is a BEAST. When I told him that I would love it, he rounded up three other men to help transport it and carry it in our house.
I used this giant cabinet in our bedroom for sweaters, jeans, etc. We had a small closet so this worked perfectly for out of season clothing and purses. I remember keeping my photo albums, old year books, scrapbooks, etc, in the bottom doors.
When I moved from that house, I ended up putting in my living room as a home decor cabinet. I stored all of my extras in it when not in use. Well, I grew tired of it. I literally told Deb one day that I wanted it gone. I didn’t want to sell it because it’s such a huge unusual piece and I may want it again. But I had no clue where I would store it.
My friend and her hubs happened to be building a home around this time. She knew her kitchen cabinets weren’t going to be done right away. Literally, a few days after telling Deb that I wanted this cabinet gone, but not gone for good, my phone rang. She said, “If you ever want someone to store that huge cabinet in your living room, I would be willing. I’m looking for a temporary piece for my kitchen so I can store dishes, silverware, etc.” I swear to you. This happened. It was so freaky. (This happens A LOT with this particular friend. I swear we are antique junking deal finding soul sisters connected in some way.)
Deb and I bought a storefront on a total whim SEVERAL YEARS later. We were trying to figure out what type of furniture we would need to store some of the smalls we were selling. I remembered that cabinet and thought I would give my friend a call to let her know we would be needing it back. She said, “Funny, I was just about to call you and say we are getting our cabinets and don’t need it anymore.”
We used it in our store for our candles that we sold and several other smaller items. It worked out perfectly and it was perfect timing for both of us.
When we sold our storefront, we had no place to put this huge cabinet so we ended up storing it here in our garage. It worked completely perfect! It held garden gloves, small garden utensils, hot tub chemicals, and just basic junk.
A few weeks ago, Deb decided she was going to make a workshop in the basement of our house leaving the large shed out back empty. (Future plans for that coming soon.) BUT, she needs way more cabinets in the basement than what she has now. So, she wanted to move the cabinets in her workshop to our garage now. Leaving no room for this giant cabinet in our entryway. We talked about selling it, but I was back to my original thoughts. If I wanted a giant cabinet like this, I would never find it for less than $1.5 million. Therefore I should keep it.
I kid you not. We walked around the house with a tape measure trying to find a spot. My first choice was my office. I REALLY wanted it in my office upstairs which is getting a makeover soon. I thought it would be perfect for all of my home decor that I’m not using. It would also house the products from companies that I am working with until I am scheduled to post. It would have been perfect. Beside the fact that it weighs 600 pounds, it wouldn’t fit up the stairway. Therefore leaving three places it would fit…. each wall in the dining room and the entryway.
For all of you who move furniture around, you know what a potential nightmare it can be. You move one piece and you need to move another and finally your entire house is in complete chaos. I knew this couldn’t happen because we had a magazine shoot here a few days later. I decided the easiest, less messy place to “store” this giant cabinet would be in our entryway. Deb removed both sets of doors and all of the drawers to make transporting this beast from the garage into the front door a little less painful.
It took four of us total. We had to stop for a few breaks. We had to lay it on its back and actually stand it straight up for it to fit. But we did it. I ended up LOVING the top doors off so I could poop up the inside with my vintage crock collection and a few other things.
To be honest, this is probably my favorite piece I’ve had here in the entryway. I think it looks like it has always been here. It fits perfectly in the space and fits perfectly with my style. Who’s to say how long it will be here but it’s here now. ???? And, I’m loving it for a change.
What do you think? I’ve shared it over on Instagram and Facebook and got lots of good feedback. Can you believe this history of this piece just since I’ve owned it. I wonder how many more stories it tells. ????
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