Saturday, January 19, 2013

Pretty Storage Solution


Storage can be a problem in an old farmhouse.
Whether it's closet storage or shelf storage,
it tends to be far and few between.

{It ends up wrecking complete havoc with a tiny bedroom turned
"walk-in closet"....

Insert resigned sigh here.

But that's another story for another day.}

I knew I wanted something sweet and unique to store some craft items in.
Something other than plastic tubs (that are stacked in a miniscule closet) and rustic baskets
that you will find in almost every room in this house.

Something a little more shabby chic.

Something really pretty.

So, a couple of vintage hatboxes made their way into my studioffice recently via a quick, cheap trip to eBay.

I was delighted to come across this sweet blue floral one.





It now holds paper roses, strips of vintage fabric, and bits and bobs.







Votives: TJ Maxx; wallpaper candleholder: Stephanie Bradley


And this pink floral one is filled with ribbon and stamped 'Heaven's Walk' tags.





So much prettier than plastic tubs and bins.  :)
They make me wonder what woman decades ago owned them, 
what her home was like,
and what type of hats she stored in them.


I moved on to the master bath to make some changes there next,
and spent the remainder of the day giving the antique cabinet above the loo a little face lift.

I had grown tired of seeing the apothecary bottles and seashells.
It needed something fresh and cottagey.
Something that said, "I belong in a romantic old farmhouse."

Thoughts of painting the inside of it had crossed my mind recently.
I almost used the same paint as I did on my sweet rustic prairie table.

But today...I wanted to see it wallpapered with some florals.

However, I didn't have any wallpaper.

Next best thing.....??

Fabric.

Yep.  I used fabric.





I had no idea if this was going to work or not, but I plunged ahead anyway.
Worse case scenario, I would wash off the glue and paint it.

A homemade template and a little Mod Podge later,
I had this.






Then this.


Sorry about the blur.....


 And finally....

this.






I filled it with sweet gifts, hand milled soaps,
and vintage linen hand towels.






Sweet ring box, glittery vintage earring, and millinery flowers: gift from Stephanie at The Spanish Dahlia.













I'm kinda diggin' the shabby chic farmhouse look in my loo....
and the pretty new storage in my studioffice, too.   :)

Now....on to that disaster of a walk-in closet.
If you don't hear from me by the end of next week,
please send help.



~  Blessings  ~




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61 comments:

  1. Oh I just love that little cabinet!!!

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  2. Pretty changes make all the difference in your heart. I love changing out a little area and making it cheery. The middle of winter is the best time to play around like this, I think. Love the cabinet and your hat boxes. I use them, too and just regular boxes covered in pretty, vintage papers.
    I hope you make it out of that bedroom/closet pretty soon. I know you can make it a fun project and it will be so pretty when you get done.
    Shabby cottage is a very good look for an old farm house. Have a great week!

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  3. So lovely Laurie~ love your fabric backed cupboard and new hatboxes!

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  4. I live in a 1928 beach cottage so I understand about storage. I imagine when it was built, the owners lived inland and didn't store much when they were relaxing at the beach. I don't even have an entry closet. I have resorted to boxes like you. I have different metal or wood boxes all over the house. People assume they are merely for decoration, but they store all sorts of things.

    Love your sweet little cabinet.

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  5. Looks very precious! I too love the shabby old farmhouse look myself.I had a great aunt who owned a berry farm and we got to play and run all over but most of all I fell in love with her beautiful old farmhouse.Wish I could visit it today as it was 35 years ago~Blessings Kim

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  6. Do you have one of those Narnia closets then, too, Laurie? : ) You walk in there and get lost for days ~ that's how I feel sometimes. Love that little curio shelf. A great piece for a bathroom, I think. Love the fabric you added to the inside.

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  7. You inspire Laurie! Thank you for sharing projects and offering glimpses into your beautiful blessed home.

    Warmly,
    Jacqueline

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  8. Your little cabinet is so sweet with all your special pretties inside. And I love the vintage hat boxes. Perfect for storage!
    Mary Alice

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  9. The little cabinet is so lovely--the fabric & the trinkets! I love old hat boxes, too. I display a few in my guest room that hold some of the pretty hats that I wore in the '80s when they were "in" ;-). Please don't forget to share the inside "scoop" on your pretty silver hearts.

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  10. The little cabinet is especially adorable!

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  11. Laurie,
    Everything is so pretty. Love the storage boxes...and the little vanity cupboard is just precious with the fabric background. Great idea. Love it!
    xoxo.

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  12. I know you work hard to make things pretty in your home but secretly I think you have a magic wand! Everywhere I look I see the beauty in the treasures you find and make. The cabinet turned out just lovely and the hat boxes are just the perfect place to store all of your craft things. You are an inspiration sweetie!

    XO,
    Jane

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  13. Hi Laurie! So great to hear from you! You are a talented designer - do you suppose I might see you on your own HGTV show some day? I look forward to it! Just love the fabric back & glint of silver in your sweet cabinet. Carry on girlfriend xo

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  14. It looks so sweet--love how it turned out!

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  15. Such sweet hat boxes to treasure Laurie. I often wonder about the history of items I buy too.

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  16. The hatbox is so pretty. I have some too, where I store lace and other thing.
    Love the little cabinet is just beautiful.

    Have a great day

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  17. I looks perfect. I love the dainty flowers against the white.

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  18. You are such a busy woman...nice done !!!...it looks great !!...happy sunday...love Ria...xxx..

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  19. So romantic pictures you'r showing, hugs from snowy Switzerland, Barbara

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  20. Laurie I love all your posts!!!Wonderful-again you took my breath away!!! These boxes are wonderful,I try to get these for us, but so far in vain ... And loved gifts from Stephanie-she is really amazing ♥♥♥
    Have a nice day and lots of other wonderful ideas, which inspire us ♥
    xoxo...by Vicky

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  21. Beautiful Laurie! What a sweet hat box! Those special ones are hard to find!
    xx
    Anne

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  22. That is so pretty and lovely! What a great idea- you fashioned it perfectly!

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  23. Very pretty soft fabric you used. Love it

    x
    Carole

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  24. Oh wow Laurie, this little cabinet is BEAUTIFUL!!! Good for you-just going for it-because it turned out so pretty.! I love the pretty storage boxes too. I just LOVE your style!
    This is so funny, because I am going to tackle my closet next month and have decided that I want to have it make me smile every time I turn on the light, instead of...where the heck it that teal cardigan? : ) I want it pretty and functional.
    sending hugs...

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  25. So darling Laurie! we have very limited storage here too....My close is in for need of something.......
    xoxo
    Shellagh

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  26. Very pretty. I always love to see your photos. The cabinet looks especially sweet with the new fabric and specialties added.

    ~Shanon

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  27. Laurie,
    What an amazing use of vintage hat boxes, dear friend!!!
    I love, love, love the fabric backed cabinet!!!
    I'll be back to see the reveal of your closet, too!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  28. Laurie, loved your recent post. Thank you for sharing your project from start to finish. Blessings, Karn from A Cape Cod Nest

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  29. oh laurie, i love what you did with the fabric! i love this fabric period! so inventive and simple, but effective and beautiful. i too want to get my nest in order, beginning with closets and drawers. i made some progress in our bathroom, yet meanwhile the closets in living areas just get worse!

    best to you as we both strive for more order.

    michele

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  30. Hi Laurie! I love the hat boxes and great! idea with the fabric cabinet! so cute I just love your blog xoxo Val :)

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  31. Sweet and shabby and lovely.

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  32. I love the old hat boxes too! I have one that I painted white, but I love your florals.
    Your little cabinet is so romantic and pretty. What a lovely job you did on it and all your additions to it are perfect!

    All my heart,
    Deborah xoxo

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  33. Sweet little cabinet, adore the fabric you chose, it looks so pretty in your bathroom! I love your hat boxes, the patterns are so lovely and fit perfectly in your home!
    Hugs,
    Pendra

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  34. Very pretty and the fabric is perfect!

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  35. The fabric works perfectly with the little cabinet, and the hat box is beautiful for storage.

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  36. Oh, how pretty! I love that bathroom cabinet...that was such a good idea to use fabric! xo

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  37. I love the little cabinet Laurie...perfect for your romantic farmhouse!
    I also love old hat boxes...did you see the beautiful old hats that Laura showed over at 52 Flea ~ heavenly!

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  38. I love your pretty boxes. I don't like the plastic bins either! They are very useful and holds lots of stuff, but i do not like the way they look. I have mine hidden under my bed!
    Your bathroom cabinet is so beautiful! Lots of treasures inside!
    xo Cindy

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  39. Your hatboxes are such a perfect storage solution. I must remember that!! And your glass doored cabinet is so dreamy with that gorgeous fabric. I could even smell the heavenly scent from that soap. Lovely lovely my dear! xoxo

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  40. Enjoy your posts so much!I must try lining something with fabric now : )Very beautiful! ~Sincerely, Christy Leah

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  41. I can so relate to storage problems, the Charmer really lacks in storage, and we really do need to be creative about it. I love your hatboxes, so pretty and being a lover of fabric I'll have to think about lining a few of my storage items.

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  42. Ok, can anything get any more charming than your little cabinet with the sweet fabric in it! How cute! Great photos too... love love that faded floral, and the hat box too. Why use plastic when there are baskets, and old hat boxes and sweet fabric and wood!

    Cindy

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  43. Everything is so charming. I adore both the hatboxes and that sweet little cabinet. Great idea to use the fabric.

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  44. Your boxes make gorgeous photos! Your shelf is just darling now! Perfect for a romantic farmhouse...

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  45. Oh how pretty is that. I love all the fabrics! Of course I am a floral nut. I need to find something to line now!

    Thanks for sharing!
    God bless....Brooke

    http://creativecountrymom.blogspot.com/
    My home and garden site...

    http://brookekroeger.blogspot.com/
    My Vintage Art and Printables site...

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  46. So very pretty you are so creative! I like every detail.

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  47. Oh how beautiful! Everything looks so sweet and lovely! Love the soft, vintage, romantic look! Beautiful!

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  48. Oh I just love vintage hat boxes! You scored some great ones, Laurie. Perfect to help with your storage challenge. I hear ya about that - our 1939 Cape Cod house was never built with storage in mind.
    Your bathroom cabinet turned out delicious!!!

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  49. Oh my, one pretty thing after another! I love your choice in craft storage! And all those details in your bathroom are so, so, pretty!

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  50. It is all so pretty, but I'm particularly attracted to the hat boxes. I found you at the Rustic Restorations Party and I’ve become your newest follower on GFC. I’m also hosting a party this week and I would love for you to come by and share this at my party - Fluster’s Creative Muster.
    http://www.flusterbuster.com/2013/01/flusters-creative-muster-party-4.html

    Hugs and Smiles,

    Robin
    @ Fluster Buster

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  51. Very pretty ideas! Love the back of the shelf colors! I just started a new link party and would love if you would come on over and share your post or social media sites. http://designeddecor.com/talkin-about-thursday-link-party4/

    DeDe@DesignedDecor

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  52. Your hat boxes are sweet! They beat plastic bins hands down. I love the way the cabinet turned out!! It's so soft and romantic with the beautiful rose fabric.

    Hey Laurie, I would love it if you would link this to my new linky party, "What I Accomplished Wednesdays."
    http://www.greenwillowpond.com/2013/01/what-ive-accomplished-wednesday-cha-cha.html

    Have a great weekend!
    Deborah

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  53. Love what you did with the antique cabinet! Perfect for your loo! :) Thank you for linking this up to Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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  54. I am so glad you stopped over to link up to Talkin’ About Thursday - http://designeddecor.com/talkin-about-thursday-link-party4/
    DeDe@DesignedDecor

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  55. Hi Laurie, love the fabric in the sweet cupboard. Yup, it worked! I have a set of hat boxes and they do make great storage. Plastic just doesn't cut it does it? I have been in the cleaning and organizing mood also. Did my pantry and sewing room. Afterwards I thought that I probably should have waited. Going to get dusty up here with the basement refinish I'm afraid. Oh well, looks much better for now. I too need to do my walk in closet. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  56. Laurie, You did it again! I love the idea of using hat boxes for ribbons and lovely strips of fabrics. The cupboard lined with fabric is a special touch to your shabby chic farmhouse. So pretty! Thanks for sharing at Simple & Sweet Fridays. I want to thank you for all your inspiring comments on my blog. You're the best!!

    Jody

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  57. Love it Laurie - beautiful ways to store things - the fabric is beautiful. I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  58. Yes i am totally agreed with this article and i just want say that this article is very nice and very informative article.I will make sure to be reading your blog more. You made a good point but I can't help but wonder, what about the other side? !!!!!!Thanks plastic containers

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