When a Friend Throws Away an Antique

French wooden panel

 

A friend who lives up the hill called. He reminded me that he was make a haul to the dump. I threw the phone down and raced up the hill. He lives in an old big house. His style is art deco. Anything not deco was going to the dump. Including three door panels with ribbons, bows and flowers. A bit girly even for me. But the dump is no home for an antique girly or not!

 

French 1900s door panel

 

Carrying them home I went through the apartment in Paris in my mind, wondering how or if I could use them:

Bedroom… nowhere. 

Kitchen… nope.

Living room… no.

Entrance… Doors are needed for the closets, but these are too small.

Bathroom… Bingo, light bulb moment. I could have the builder transform them into a wall cabinet for toiletries.

Happy happy!

 

Painted French door panel

 

When I got home I  opened a can of paint, took out some wax… Here is a sneak peek,  I am not sure of the final color. But wood, not a nice looking wood at that, is not what I am after.

Hopefully, I will work something out. If the panels don't work for the apartment, I will have to find a home for them. 

 



Comments

39 responses to “When a Friend Throws Away an Antique”

  1. I don’t know if you have Gilders Paste there – you can add hints of color to the flowers – comes in all sorts of colors. Probably an equivalent product there that could do the same thing. I did that on a wooden mirror with flowers – wanted to “age” it from basic black and highlight (more) the raised wood.
    Kathy

  2. Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for saving them!

  3. that was a good friend who would call you and tell what he was going to do. Go to the dump. you are absolutely right. nothing old or antique should go to a dump. when i was child i found one of my treasured finds in a dump,so i should not say never throw anything in the dump. if you do,please warn someone. good find Corey, i like that greyish white on the doors now. Bestest

  4. Gorgeous! If you need to find them a home, you just let me know..They can come to Kansas!

  5. Laurie SF

    Genius!!!

  6. Lindy Rowland

    Love the grayish white color. Gorgeous!! A touch of romance. Would love to have it in my own home.

  7. Alan from Chicago

    Nice looking panels.

  8. Lovely grey/white beginning that I see . . . I look forward to seeing your final result.
    Great “throw away” find . . .

  9. Now they need to be a bit “distressed” with some sandpaper to add back that antiqued appeal. Love them!!

  10. Brenda L. from TN.

    OHHHHHH! You were smart to get those! I think they are beautiful! They WOULD look great as as tall cabinet for the bathroom….I also like the grey/whitewash look for them!

  11. love how you transformed them, corey! magnifique! you are making progress, young lady.. thanks for sharing..

  12. Diogenes

    Love them painted….way to go Corey.

  13. Beautiful Corey. Love the idea of using them for a cabinet door. Not sure what size they are, but could you use them as a headboard?

  14. Great doors, Corey…great rescue. Boy, if the dump could talk!
    Happy decorating,
    Julie M.

  15. You are a girl genius! The panels are definitely too good for the dump and your paint choices are great.

  16. Those are beautiful….and free! It was your lucky day!

  17. Seriously lucky day! Every now and then a friend does this to me, love it!!

  18. They are beautiful and I love what you did to them.

  19. liz briskin

    you just transformed your bathroom into a destination! you can make it work. and if not those doors, you will find something equally as magical!!! ooolala lizzieb

  20. Maybe window shutters …. Or turned horizontally
    they could be dresser drawer fronts.

  21. Oh I wish I had such friends…

  22. That is recycling at its best! Love the gray, so much better!

  23. Corey those are amazing! I love the painted look so much!

  24. The doors are wonderful! They would also be useful as lids to simple boxes to store misc. things in for guests.

  25. Love the look of the doors already – can I ask how you got that look?- you mentioned paint and wax. I am sure they’ll look great in your Parisian apartment.

  26. Stunning results – Bravo!

  27. Corey – you’re so clever…. that coat of paint has transformed them from dull and over-ornate to classic elegance! Hope you do find a home for them in your flat.

  28. Petra Leaford

    Hi Corey, they look gorgeous. Can you tell me how you get that look? Is it a chalk paint? Did you have to strip back the lacquer, or did you just start painting straight over the top? Your hand and eye, are well tuned to add that touch of magic!

  29. I love how different the panel looks now!
    Can you come to my home and teach me how to paint a wall grey, please?

  30. Oh I love this idea! Hope it will work out for the bathroom cabinets.

  31. Interesting idea, not fond of that wood color either, but the change is fab and to learn about Gilders Paste here too……the grayish white is right on in my eyes…..major improvement to the overboard frou frou look…..Love it! XO

  32. Nice dumpster diving! If the cabinet idea doesn’t work out you could cut out the middle panel with the ornamental piece and glue/nail it to the closet doors or any door.

  33. How brilliant, love the transformation the paint gives them. You are sooo smart + he is a wonderful friend so glad you were at home for that phone call. You will use them some where. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

  34. Love the panels! The design is beautiful and I can’t wait to see what you do with them.

  35. Teddee Grace

    Oh, please use them in the apartment! They are gorgeous! Just wall art if nothing else works.

  36. Oh my goodness, so pretty. They just don’t make things the way they used to…

  37. Beautiful, why can’t they just hang on the walls as art

  38. Absolutely stunning! You will add amazing beauty and ambience to the apartment!

  39. sarah webb

    absolutely beautiful!! i agree..if it doesn’t work out..put them on the wall as art or send one to me ;0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *