Reverse Furniture Transformation

ByDiane Henkler 11/16/201502/16/2019 Last updated:02/16/2019

While I am busy focusing my efforts on packing up my house, I thought I would show you a reverse furniture transformation that I did over the weekend….actually Ed did it.

You are used to me taking cast-offs and updating them with paint and new hardware. This is not one of those, but I think you will find this intriguing.

Ed and I have had a few unique pieces of furniture handed down to us from our relatives. My faves…

…the library file cabinet

…the jelly cabinet

and the armoire in my studioffice that I use to house all my craft supplies.

Well…Presto Chango…

…the armoire comes apart like a jigsaw puzzle which makes it easy to move.

It has 8 pieces and 4 shelves that fit together with tongue and groove style fittings. Ed and I have taken it apart and reassembled it many times when we moved a lot when we were first married. We were not sure how easy it was going to come apart this time since it has been assembled and in the same place for the past 22 years. It came apart fairly easily. It was Ed’s grandparents, but we don’t know much more about it. Only that it is old and very unique. When it was handed down to us, it was orange. You can see a little hint of it on one of the side pieces.

When we land in our next house, I will document how it goes back together. I also want to paint it a different color. I have been wanting to do it for a long time, but have not been able to decide on a color. Once I see it in its new home I am hoping color inspiration strikes.

It is now in the PODS that we are using to move and I am off to labeling all the moving boxes that hold the supplies I had stored in it.

Do you have any interesting or unique furniture in your house?

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12 Comments

Jackie says:

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Having it regular wood conditioned? I know you want it. I simply love them specially this library file cabinet and I even have a plan where to place it and what shading do i need to pick.

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Jackie – I have never used wood conditioner. I will look into it. Thanks for the tip.
  
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Maxine says:

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Excellent Armory DIY.

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Janet G. says:

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I have a similar armoire that I purchased in 1991 from an antiques dealer. She called it a ‘knock down” because of the way it disassembles. Supposedly mine is English mahogany from the turn of the century in the Edwardian style. Can’t wait to see what color you decide to paint yours.

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Janet – Thanks for taking the time to share about your armoire. It is good to know that it is classified as a “knock-down” since I don’t know much about the piece except that it was my husband’s grandparents. I am hoping it all goes back together as it has in past moves.
  
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Judy H. says:

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Oh, there is that WONDERFUL library cabinet again. I know it is terrible to want something as badly as I want one of those! I just love them and I even have a perfect spot for it. I’m constantly searching and my sister-in-law who is an auction going extraodinaire looks for one at every auction, one day I’ll find one. The way you have yours painted and the shiny brass handles with the darling ID tabs onthe front of the drawers just akes it perfect!!

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Rickee Dozier says:

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I know you love to paint but have you considered stripping off all the paint and having it natural wood toned?

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Rickee – Yes I did. I actually started to strip it in two places to see what the wood underneath looked like. I was hoping it was going to be a nice wood tone like the piece I stripped in my kitchen, but it was not. It was a weird shade of brown, not the look I wanted, so I am back to choosing a paint color. :-)
  
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Catpainter says:

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I owned one of those old armoires just like yours with a beautiful carved top piece – came apart and the bottom was on wheels so you could stack it and roll it. Mine was a clear pale oak in perfect condition and I had it for many years. Purchased it in 1976 for $400 and was told 20 years later it was worth 4X that much. Sold it with a lot of other mint-condition pieces when I married and moved to California. Sure wish I still had them – gorgeous woods, elegant lines and so well-made. Furniture of that quality is timeless and so hard to find. Newer furniture is so cookie-cutter! Seeing yours brought back memories of my lovely Southern home.

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sharon / tpt says:

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might be a hoot if it goes back to orange again?!!

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Naomi says:

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Hi Diane. I enjoy all your posts and am especially looking forward to hearing about your move. I hope that you will also post your experience in using PODS for your move. My husband and I will be moving from AZ to SC late spring 2016 and are thinking about using PODS for the bulk of our move and it would be nice to hear how using PODS worked out for y’all.

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1. Patricia Wilson says:
  
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  Diane, at first, I was afraid that what you meant by the “pod” was you and Ed were deep sixing these pieces into a dumpster and found myself mentally screaming, “No! No! Don’t do that!” Reading the rest of your post, I realized you were moving them not discarding them. I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew I couldn’t make it in time from here in Connecticut to Pennsylvania to save them.
  
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