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Our Little Cabinet of Curiosities in the Bathroom

When I started decorating our bathroom, I knew I wanted to add this little cabinet to this room.  But I wasn’t sure where.  It was behind the toilet in the old house and held a lot of random little items.  But, we already had the wooden one that Deb made from an old window hanging behind the toilet that we use as a medicine cabinet.  And to be honest, we don’t have a lot of wall space in the bathroom due to our large windows, which I LOVE. But I still found a place for it.   I wanted this cabinet to hold random items again, which are things that don’t really fit into any collection that I have.  I call this our little cabinet of curiosities in our bathroom.  And I thought it would be sort of fun to show you what it is in it.

 

Our Little Cabinet of Curiosities in the Bathroom

I really didn’t know what these little cabinets filled with random items were called.  Until I happened upon an Instagram tag years ago.  And it finally made sense.  I believe that cabinets of curiosities are sometimes filled with objects that are similar:  A collection of pinned butterflies, small skulls, sea shells, etc.  I filled mine with items that I love and that sort of tell a story on their own.  

 

First off, I need to tell you where we found this little cabinet.  Deb and I happened upon an auction one Saturday morning.  We saw some antique furniture out front and decided to stop and check it out.  When I take the time to stop and check out an auction, I immediately grab a number if there is no line. Awww.. I cannot wait to find another good auction this summer.  Once we got inside, we saw things were going for pretty good prices.  There were about three things that I was interested in.  But, didn’t want to spend a fortune on them.  

This little cabinet with a glass door was one of the items.  If my memory serves me right, it was around $35.  It was originally chippy white paint, but back then, it wasn’t a thing to leave it covered in chipped up paint.  I usually stripped every single piece of furniture that I bought. It was actually one of my hobbies and one of my favorite things to do on the weekends.  Over the years, this little cabinet has been stored several times because I didn’t have any place to hang it.  So, I’m loving it here in the bathroom.

 

 

Inside the Cabinet of Curiosities

Top Shelf

On the top shelf I have two vintage lady head vases that were left in the hoard at the old house.  I added a vintage victorian bathtub tray that I found years ago on the Marketplace.  And, of course, my 4-H fair Queen of Adams county crown.  Ha!  That was from the year 1983, I believe.  And I’m just realizing that it was 40 years ago.  Gahhhhhh.. time flies.

 

Middle Shelf

I added Deb’s little green sewing machine that she had when she was little, a small antique hanging glass vase and a sterile seat sign that was also left in the hoard, and a vintage brush that I found last year.  You know I had to add my bronzed baby shoes because where else would I display them?  I do have a few more that I need to find a place for but wanted mine displayed here.  I also added a stack of vintage ironstone soap dishes, a set of skeleton keys, and a really pretty door knob plate.

 

Bottom Shelf

The greenery urn isn’t vintage but I wanted a splash of life in our cabinet.  I added an old McCoy flower pot, an antique vanity tray mirror, and a bottle of Vaseline hair tonic that I found at the goodwill years ago.  This box of old coupons is something I picked up last year for a few dollars.  It’s also a perfect place for my iron rooster, another hanging glass vase, and a baby bath thermometer that was left in the old house as well. 

 

And that is what is in our little cabinet of curiosities.  I’m sure I will be adding things to it here and there as I find smaller items.  But I love having it and find it very interesting.

Danelle Harvey

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Danelle Harvey

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