Cupboard Restyled

I'd been thinking for awhile that our porch could use some storage space, and because pretty furniture is so darn expensive, I thought I'd attempt what I hear so many others have done: score a solid but ugly piece of furniture at a thrift store and then pretty it up with a little paint. I even went to a few thrift stores in this quest, without finding anything suitable.

And then I remembered that I live in a 100+ year old farmhouse. With significant quantities of "antique" furniture hidden in nooks and crannies of the basement and surrounding buildings. I went in the basement, and lo and behold, I had 4--count them--4 cupboards to choose from! Now, before you judge me for not knowing what things are in the basement of my own house, let me tell you--my basement is the scariest thing I've ever seen. It's made of rocks and cement and spiders. I never go there. Angel does, every day, to empty the dehumidifier, but most of the time you couldn't pay me to go down there.

But I descended to the depths, and came back with the requisite ugly cupboard. Exhibit A:

And then this setting--a lonely, dilapidated, completely random piece of furniture inexplicably placed in natural surroundings reminded me of art photography.

So here's my mockery of photo art.

Back to subject. I used spray paint, for the first time in my life, although now I wish I would have stuck to regular paint and a paint brush. When I took the painter's tape off of the turquoise on the outside, pieces of the turquoise paint came off too, revealing the yellow paint underneath. First I was despondent, and then I decided that I'd meant for it to have that roughened look all along, so I went with it. And, in case bright turquoise wasn't gaudy enough, I used a paint pen to draw all over the cream panels with henna-inspired designs. I love the patterns and style of henna--Angel says when we get our own house, I can do one whole wall as an accent wall, covered in henna-type designs. I'm excited already!

What I'm most proud of is the inside, which is completely turquoise. It's an attack of beautiful brightness as soon as you open the door! I may, at some point, go back with a brush and fix the torn paint but for now I just decided to like it. But there you have it. The cupboard is still a piece of junk, but now it's a piece of junk that's pretty enough for me to allow on my porch.