I started collecting antiques directly out of high school and filled our entire house with them. Because they were so inexpensive and I loved the look and the history. Back then, you could pick up random pieces at auctions and flea markets for a few dollars. Some of the pieces I bought back then are still with us today. When I look at our antiques, they bring up past feelings. In the midst of moving to the cottage, I realized that so many of our items in our house have a long history with us personally. BUT, I realized you don’t know the history. I talked about one of our pieces over on Instagram stories, and so many people loved hearing it. Therefore, I thought it would be fun to start a new series here on my site. Here is the our story behind our antiques.
Roughly 22 years ago, I went through my divorce. We owned our own home and a few rentals. We each chose the home that we were going to live in and sold the others. And we did the same with the furniture, each choosing items that fit both of our needs. I chose a smaller home, with little closet spaces, that needed a major facelift as it was quite outdated. I, of course, did lots of work to it, including pulling up the old carpeting to expose the hard wood flooring, painted every square inch, including ceilings and trim, etc.
When I got all of my antique pieces moved in, I had nothing in my bedroom for my television. Money was very tight… and my bedroom was very tiny so I needed pieces that could serve several purposes.
I decided to check one of my favorite antique malls in Portland, Indiana. Which we haven’t been to in awhile… which means we need to take time for a road trip. ???? Anyway, I found this wardrobe there. The finish was terrible and the doors were broken. I even believe there was a piece of wood missing.
It was $40. I took it home, refinished it, and I believe my dad fixed the doors for me and added a few shelves. I ended up using it for my television and kept all of my sweaters and jeans neatly folded in this small wardrobe. It was so special to me because of the price and because it served such a great purpose for me.
This little wardrobe has travelled with Deb and I throughout all of these years. It held our television in a few of the houses we lived in. And, most recently, we removed all of the shelves and added hooks to hang our coats in the rental when we realized we didn’t have a coat closet.
We realized we are in the same boat here in the cottage. We are without a coat closet because, as you know, this cottage will be Deb’s workshop when we build our actual home. And, we wanted to make it as simple as possible to change this space to it’s first intent. Therefore, this little wardrobe works perfect for a coat closet. Who knows what else it will become in the future. But, I love the feelings this little wardrobe brings up.
I have several pieces in mind that I want to share next, but let me know if there is a piece you want me to talk about next. I love getting your input, too!
THE STORY BEHIND OUR ANTIQUES
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I too have one of these. It was first a wardrobe for our first baby and a great place for storing diaper boxes. Later we took out the wood door inserts and added nice plexiglass and it became a great collectible doll display case. Eventually mirrors replaced the plexiglass and its now used for craft supplies. Oh, originally ours was painted green and on the back porch of the first house we bought to house yard tools. The piece was refinished and has served many purposes. Just love mine as much as you love yours.
Love antiques!! I have several that belonged to my grandparents and these pieces mean the world to me. To me they add character !!
Thanks for sharing!! Can’t wait for the next piece!
This was so enjoyable to read! Such a sweet idea! It would be fun to also see photos of the pieces in the “former lives”! One of the better things you have done, Danelle! Loved it. Keep on!
So ... did you change up the finish on this beauty..? If so, I’d love to know what you did. Would love to see a photo of what it originally looked like when you first got it ... but you prob don’t have one or you would’ve posted it;)
I LOVE the stories behind pieces. I am a fellow antique lover. But my most favorite piece in my home is my paternal grandmother's wooden ironing board. I have it set up as an entry table in our living room. I love following along with you and Deb. I check in on you guys daily.
???????????????? Love this!!
I’m so glad you are doing this. You have some beautiful but very useful pieces and not only do I like the history of them, but your thinking in how to use them!! Thanks for sharing !
Love this! Thanks for sharing!!!! I don’t care which one you pick to share the history but.....Just keep them coming! ????
Loved the story. It looks like it is in great shape considering the repairs.
Our stories are so similar. I too divorced 22 years ago. I had begun collecting in 1977 after getting married. I took most of those piece when I left. I sold a few but still have many. They have traveled from home to home. At first I felt guilty for taking all the “good stuff”” but he remarried and the new wife was into modern crap. So everything he got was gotten rid of! I met my partner about 16 years ago and we love doing projects. Much like Deb, she’s very handy with the saw. We bought a home at a lake and gutted and transformed it to a totally different house, along with some help from an Amish gentleman that lives nearby. We employed him for a year before moving in. I even work in the same field with the same employer as you did. That’s how we found about about you two. We love watching your progress and can’t wait for the new build! I designed the home my ex and I built 2 years before the split up. It was exhilarating and exhausting, but sooo much fun. Would love to do it again! Keep up the projects and the antics, we will grab a cocktail pull up a chair and be watching ????