Painted Library Cupboard

I love old vintage linen cupboards and china cabinets

especially when they are painted.

Ones with tall and stately lines...

ones with shabby chippy sweetness...

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Ones with glass paned doors or old chicken wire inserts

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Love them.
Old cupboards are perfect for displaying books, treasures or photos.

I have a vintage china cabinet that was my grandmothers and she gave it to me about 15 years ago

 but kept it at her house and used it to hold her mothers china and wine glasses.

It is not an antique antique-  it is probably from sometime in the 1970's

It's lines are simple, beautiful and classic though the finish wasn't perfect.

  I was inspired by so many painted cupboards I have seen out there in design books or blogs
and I was especially inspired by the beautiful cupboard that Brooke Giannetti- Velvet and Linen -
has in her office.
 Ohhh... I LOVE it!

The more I thought about my grandmothers cabinet the more I kept thinking that it would look beautiful

in a coat of shabby paint.

Softer. Lighter.
 More like some of those antique cupboards I love.

It would be perfect to hold oodles of books in the living room, silver and china in the kitchen
or even fabrics and bits in the office.

So I grabbed a couple cans of chalk paint, put Pandora on my Ipod and painted away.

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Coco first- I wasn't 100% loving how dark it was coming out so I then layered another coat of paint on it again with Coco mixed with right off the hardware store shelf White.
It created a very pale shabby grey... which I am loving!

I wanted a lighter look on the interior so chose ASCP Country Grey and left the tops of the shelves dark.

I haven't put any wax or distressing on it yet~ not sure yet if I will try the dark wax or clear.
Some of the finish came out a bit streaky and splotchy... which I have noticed with chalk paint
and for the most part it doesn't bother me.

I love that the doors open all the way ~ so many possibilities for displays.

  A little stick house my daughter built for a school project, a chunky reproduction pediment and starfish finish
the display inside and an antique baby basket filled with hydrangeas fit perfectly on the top.

The books are all turned backwards and are mostly antique books I have collected for various reasons.
 I love the old curled darkened ruffled edges, worn corners and gilded pages showing.

(Had to get a photo of little Miss Bella sitting in her favorite spot to look out the window)

:)

I'm kind of loving where the cupboard where it is right now
 but not sure it is staying there yet ~ I have another spot in mind too.
Things are always moving  from room to room over here.

I've been busy working away on finishing up the bathroom re-do

will be sharing it's refreshed and remodeled look soon!

Hope you are having a fantastic long weekend!!