A Footstool & A Cabinet

I think we’ve entered that season of life where neither of us can handle large-scale projects because they’re so all consuming, and we just have spurts of energy here and there for little things right now. That’s totally normal, right? It makes me crazy because I am ABSOLUTELY ready to do a bathroom. But – not just yet,

So I’m going to share some of the smaller-scale things we’ve done (or purchased!).

The first is this little footstool. I found it at Goodwill for FIVE DOLLARS, and the lid lifts up to store things that are exactly magazine shaped! The romantic side of my life that pretends I have a lot of time in the mornings, seeing me slowly enjoying my morning coffee whilst reading a magazine or a book. And – this summer? I totally did that. In the 60 or so days of school that I had since this project was done? MAYBE I did it three times. Sometimes it’s just knowing that it’s there, right?

The tapestry on it is in good shape, but it’s not my vibe. I left it on, and just covered over it. Now in 40 years someone can buy it AGAIN at Goodwill for FIVE DOLLARS and get so excited at the fabric they discover underneath!

It’s like I’m cultivating future joy,

I used this scrap fabric I had.

I really like how this fabric and the carpet play together!

We’ll see how long it lasts – the chair in the dressing room has seat fabric that’s finally going, so I’m going to replace it (the fabric, not the chair), So, I may end up recovering this fabric AGAIN to match whatever I pick out for the seat.

My friend Matthew has an incredible stall at the Southport Antique Mall, on the south side of Indianapolis. We first became acquainted over old house Instagram, and he has a great eye and a great vibe. He goes to auctions a lot – and I had asked him to keep an eye out for an old sewing cabinet with 5 or 6 drawers. He sent me a picture of one, and I said “YES DO IT.”

My intention was to make it a really cool jewelry cabinet – I don’t have any fancy jewelry but I have a LOT of fun casual pieces.

Here’s the problem. One, it’s exactly the size I was envisioning, and that has turned out to be WAY TOO BIG. The other problem? LOOK AT THIS ARTWORK ON THE BACK.

There is literally no way that I can put that artwork against a wall, so it HAS to be a floating piece. S0, plans are changing, and it’s going to be an end table in the Parlor! (Apparently I took this picture close to Halloween. Peep those skeletons on the floor.)

So, now I need a jewelry box.

Here’s another thing. I’m getting older. And, I’m a conductor, and music scores are REALLY SMALL. I gave up contacts a couple of years ago, because I needed progressives. Since then, I’ve become wildly addicted to glasses. Not really expensive ones – the crazy colorful ones you see online. I watch for deals, and I have a small collection now of about 20 pairs.

Matthew to the rescue! He posted this vintage eyeglass cabinet, and said it was at the antique store. Also, his pictures are SO MUCH MORE dramatic than mine.

And I went that day and bought it.

Y’all – this thing is DEEP. Each drawer holds SIXTEEN pairs of glasses, and seven drawers. That’s 112 pairs of glasses. Did I buy a few more pairs to celebrate? I sure did. Did I buy 92 pairs? Absolutely not.

But here’s the thing – this is PERFECT for my jewelry. It’s worked out beautifully to hold both my glasses and everything else.

The sections in each drawer are red velvet lined, but maybe 12 of them were missing the velvet. I put (not pasted) wallpaper samples in those drawers.