I LOVE this project. It turned out exactly like I had it in my head!
So I ended up with 6 compartments of various widths. Each is 3 inches deep except the last cabinet which is a "dummy" cabinet. It hides the electrical wire,so is not as deep, but perfect to show off vintage items on original display cards. I painted the doors a pale pink...the same as our bedroom walls in the adjoining room. I got the glass door pulls a number of years ago in various colors. I have been waiting for the perfect project for them.
I gather and collect alot of random things. Items that I just like and make me smile. I have never had a spot for them, but this cabinet is perfect to display this hodge-podge of finds.
Door number ONE
Door Number TWO...one of my favorites
I love the vintage Magic Slate as a background...just add a couple of storks and a old metal kazoo to the mix!
This elephant belonged to my grandmother.
This is one of my favorite things in the cabinet. They were all random things that I had no spot for, but too cool to part with. The tiny silver metal holster on the right is printed with "Roy Rogers" and I have had for years tucked in a drawer. The "Rodeo Stunt Rider - Good Luck" pin was a Raisin Bran giveaway (Raisin Bran printed on backside). I attached the stunt rider pin to an old leather toy holster I had and added a old plastic cowboy. I wired magnets to each of the holsters and attached them to the metal tape can, which I nailed to the cabinet. I now have a cool spot for a couple of old nifty vintage items.
Teeny tiny harmonica and doll found in basement of estate sale.
Door number THREE.
Honeycomb chicks all in a row.
One lone doll roller-skate.
Vintage spun head cowgirl with a couple of oversize mushrooms, old kool-aid packet and some old glass doll bottles.
A collection of handmade dolls.
Door number SIX (sorry about the glass glare)
This is the shallower cabinet so the items displayed here are a bit different, as they have to have a narrower profile.
My vintage pin-back collection.
My favorite candle holders on original cards...those graphics make me swoon!
Vintage doll clothespins on original card (thank you Melissa)
So that about wraps up today's tour. I know this cabinet will be a constantly changing spot as I find more goodies and change this and that. Love this little hodge-podge cabinet...LOVE!
How can you possibly top this blog!?!!! I've looked through it 3 times already. I love the pink doors and the handles. The large stork is so cute, and the little doll furniture. Wow. Perfect.
Posted by: Janet | July 01, 2010 at 08:24 AM
Solved at last: where to put the old Kool-Aid packet! Tons of fun, Laurie - you know I love anything with the words "random" and "hodge podge" and lots of photos to match!
Posted by: barbara | July 01, 2010 at 08:52 AM
So many fun little vintage treasures! What a great way to showcase them! I love everything! I think my favorites are the stork and honeycomb birds!
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | July 01, 2010 at 08:56 AM
Laurie, this is fabulous! I love every little thing. Oh does that kool-aid packet bring back memories! I have so many little things like this, too. You've totally solved the problem of where to display them.
xo
Claudia
Posted by: Claudia | July 01, 2010 at 09:14 AM
I don't even know where to start...my head is spinning!! First, I have to say your Dad and Husband are awesome! To be able to create those cabinets, along that wall~ genius! Do you ever leave your house?? I would NEVER! I think I'd find myself rolling across the floor in front of those cabinets admiring the amazing collections! I'm not sure how much more I can take~ if you top this post, my head is sure to explode!
Posted by: Kristen | July 01, 2010 at 09:21 AM
You are a lady after my own heart!! Love it!! Love it!! Might have to talk hubby into one.
Posted by: Lynn | July 01, 2010 at 09:25 AM
First of all you are soooooo lucky to have men to help you with these beautiful cabinets!!! I think my favorite cabinet is number one:) I love all the cute treasures that you have put in them!! The cabinet knobs are soooo cool. Oh well back to look again!!!
Posted by: elma | July 01, 2010 at 09:48 AM
If I say WOW that hardly seems enough.Double WOW?!!!!!Amazing, beautiful, fabulous, drool worthy...I could stare all day.
Posted by: Carrie @ Junque Magnet | July 01, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Oh my word - this is amazing!! So perfectly arranged and such a fun mix of Ethel-ness. That little cowgirl is priceless - I'm going to have to review all of this again to catch every little thing. Fabulous!!
Posted by: Into Vintage | July 01, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Wow...was that fun!!!!!! My favorite???? Door #6!!!!! I also have a thing for old items still in the package for parties!!!! All of it tho is so perfectly "Laurie" !!!!! Your home has to be incredible! Thank you for this tour...great idea!!!! I think this need to go into a Organize type magazine!!!!!
Posted by: Sandy McClay | July 01, 2010 at 11:29 AM
WOW! This is just perfect! I couldn't quite visualize what it would look like in your last post, but it's wonderful! Love those pulls that you used too. Your two guys are great carpenters. Always love to look at all of your super cute little goodies. I swear, I never see anything like it here.
Posted by: Bella Dreams | July 01, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Oh, the glory of it!!! Fantastic! Just wonderful!
Posted by: Kim G. | July 01, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Holy cow you did a wonderful job on filling up those cabinets and they look wonderful!!! absolutely wonderful..;)
Posted by: Gina | July 01, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Oh Laurie, the cabinets filled
with your treasures are wonderful!!
I love the pale pink paint and
the cabinet pulls!! Your Husband
and Dad did a wonderful job of
creating your dream cabinets!!!!!
Love everything and the metal
cups are sooooooo cute!!! Will
you be changing this from time to
time? I have to go back and look
at them again! : )
Hugs,
Janis
Posted by: Janis | July 01, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Love it!
Posted by: Gloria | July 01, 2010 at 12:28 PM
aLL I CAN SAY IS wow!!! i LOVE IT!!!Such cool stuff!!!
Posted by: Tamera Wolfe | July 01, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Jealous...that your husband did this for you without huffing and puffing and that you had such wonderful things to put in it...jealous that he let you paint it pink in a main room without a second look. Gosh, Laurie it is so fabulous I had to take a second look on our main computer because I was afraid I was missing something on my laptop. Thanks for the inspiration. I've got to go talk to my husband!
Posted by: Renee | July 01, 2010 at 01:20 PM
You could charge admission!! It would be my first stop if I ever got to Oregon - "Magpie Ethel's Museum of Wonderful and Cute Stuff."
I am soooo envious. I'm going to show my handy husband how loved you are - maybe he'll figure out a way (and a place) to make me some cute cupboards like yours.
Thanks for sharing your good fortune!
Posted by: Jayme L. | July 01, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Laurie,
I LOVE it! It turned out perfectly. Isn't it wonderful when something turns out exactly as you imagined it?
Have a lovely weekend,
Molly
Posted by: molly | July 01, 2010 at 01:57 PM
So wonderful! Such a great use of space, and a great way to display such fun vintage goodies!
Hugs,
Jill
Posted by: Jill | July 01, 2010 at 01:59 PM
"Perfect"---I absolutely love it!!
Posted by: Lisa | July 01, 2010 at 03:25 PM
You must have been like a little kid, sitting there on the floor, sorting all of your things, deciding what goes where! It looks fantastic, and I bet you're so happy to be able to display all of these things. They finally have a home! One of my favorite things: the box that says Just For Fun. That sums you up, to a T!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | July 01, 2010 at 04:56 PM
What wonderful display space!! I love all of your favorite little things....so perfectly highlighted in your beautiful cabinets. Love it!
Jane
Posted by: Jane | July 01, 2010 at 05:12 PM
That is the most amazing project I have ever seen. I love it when a plan comes together and this plan is awesome. Thank you for showing us the start to finish and what a finish it was.
Note to self.... Get out those tiny treasures and put them somewhere where I can enjoy them.
And give those special handy men in your life an extra special treat.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Posted by: Debra Ganas | July 01, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Oh Laurie,
All I can say is "AWESOME!"
xo,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | July 01, 2010 at 05:44 PM
WoW!! You have quite the stash! I LOVE that kitschy little kinda stuff too!
Posted by: April | July 01, 2010 at 05:58 PM
Two words - totally awesome!
Posted by: Carol T. | July 01, 2010 at 06:24 PM
I adore these cabinets and all your wonderful collections!
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | July 01, 2010 at 06:35 PM
You are AWESOME! People say they are going to do things all the time and never really get around to it. When you posted about that store and it's neat shallow cabinets, I wanted to make some for myself too! But you actually did and that's awesome. They turned out fabulously and I love the stuff you put in them. Especially the row of honeycomb chick with the lattice behind them. So cool! I definitely have to make them for myself now! Someday....lol
Posted by: Crystal | July 01, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Oh how fun! I love all the stuff in your cabinet.
Posted by: Becca | July 01, 2010 at 07:41 PM
Laurie I think this may be my favorite post you have ever done. Completely genius is all I have to say!!!! I love that you created this (with the help of a great husband and great dad :-) and now have a completely unique place to display your vintage fabulousness. Hooray for you. LOve LOve LOve it.
Paula
Posted by: paula | July 01, 2010 at 09:47 PM
Laurie!
This is just too perfect and I cannot think of anything else to say! I bet the most fun was actually arranging all your little treasures... I am so jealous!!! Tell your dad and husband they deserve Man of the Year award!
Jeannie
Posted by: Jeannie DiMauro | July 01, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Hi Laurie!
DOOR #2! DOOR #2! How I LOVE the cowboy/Roy Rogers/plastic cowgirl section! It's my FAVorite! How clever of you to think "Cabinet doors" for your displays! Love, love, love! It's like having your own Department store windows to decorate...and how fun would THAT be?!?
Posted by: Paula Clare | July 02, 2010 at 01:49 AM
This is an absolutely inspired idea! The perfect depth for showing off little things, and I love all the different colored glass handles!
Posted by: Joyce | July 02, 2010 at 03:23 PM
It really is wonderful. I so enjoyed looking at all the goodies inside. I know you will have fun seeing your treasures displayed there!!
Posted by: Angela | July 02, 2010 at 07:39 PM
Hi Laurie,
I'm your neighbor, Angela, different than the person above. These are the most amazing cabinets. They are really unique (and I look at alot of design eye candy). Your dad and husband did such a beautiful job. What fun to fill and change the displays.
Posted by: Angela | July 02, 2010 at 08:28 PM
What a truly great idea. Wasted space turned into adorableness. Your sticker collection is a thing of beauty. Mimi
Posted by: Mimi Sue | July 02, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Simply Magical! I am going to have to review this post again and again to revisit every single wonderful detail! Perfectly Perfect! Happy 4th of July! Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 03, 2010 at 02:34 PM
"Swoon" is the only word I can think of!!!
Your home is the swooniest home I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing it with us. I can't tell you how many ideas you have given me for my house.
So fun!!!
Posted by: Melissa | July 03, 2010 at 04:22 PM
perfect!
what a great collection and such a wonderful way to display it!
Posted by: gretchen | July 03, 2010 at 08:53 PM
AWESOME!!!
LOVE
IT
ALL!!!
Warmly,
Deb :)
Posted by: deb | July 04, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Great cabinets and what a collection! Thanks for sharing. Connie
Posted by: Connie | July 05, 2010 at 05:21 AM
Laurie!!
I am so impressed that you were inspired by our French Pharmacy Wall here at Crown & Crumpet. Your cabinets look fantastic and girl what a collection! I love it!! You have a great eye!
Your blog is loads of fun too! Take care and thank you again for letting me know we inspired you!
All the best,
Amy Dean
Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon
Posted by: Amy Dean | July 05, 2010 at 01:34 PM
Your collections are wonderful and so is the cabinet. Great way to display so many things.
Posted by: Renee | July 05, 2010 at 05:52 PM
What a totally amazing cabinet and what a fun collection! I really enjoyed taking a peek, tfs, Nan
Posted by: Nan | July 06, 2010 at 12:01 PM
I'll just say it I'm green with envy!!!!! Lordy what fabulous cabinets and such wonderful treasures.
Posted by: Mary | July 07, 2010 at 03:38 PM
What a creative mind you have! One of those things that everyone's probably saying, "Why didn't I think of that?". Perfect!
(I'm getting caught up on my blog reading cuz I've been so busy the past few weeks, so you may get a lot of comments from me - don't feel obligated to respond to them all!)
Posted by: SueLovesCherries | July 10, 2010 at 05:26 PM
Geez, look at all those yummies! The cabinets turned out GREAT! What a super idea. I struggle finding homes for my goodies because our new house has such an open floor plan. I have no wall space!
Posted by: Shelley Germann | July 12, 2010 at 06:21 PM
just found this post by accident and absolutely love it, such a super collection of smalls and super way of displaying them.
Posted by: Su Gardner | September 06, 2013 at 01:01 PM