stuff in boxes

[fufaraw]

OH and I found this primitive-style curio for a really good price on Craigslist a few years ago, and promptly stuffed it full of things. And stuff, as you do. The door and both side walls and all but the center shelf are glass, but still, it was very dark inside--what was meant to be showcased, well, wasn't. These pictures were taken in daylight, with flash.

(click any pic to enlarge)

He installed a light at the top, but against the dark green it bounced weird, and the solid wood shelf blocked the light from the bottom half of the cabinet. We'd just been frowning when we passed it, vaguely unsatisfied. While we were trying to decide what sort of light to use, OH carefully pried the cabinet back, a sheet of 1/8" paneling, off for me and laid it on a worktable. I used some flat latex and painted it white. When it dried, it...still didn't look good. It looked flat, and dead and no better than the green. I stirred in some metallic silver craft paint and laid on a second coat. When dry, it looked...grey. With a very tiny amount of shimmer.

The cabinet is too primitive a style for a mirrored back, so that was out. I've used contact paper to cover third generation hand-me-down furniture and flea market reject furniture, especially when circumstances prevented painting. And I will never do it again. It always messes up, and when you do remove it, it pulls part of whatever finish there is off with it. It's just a mess. I haven't tackled wallpaper, but it looks difficult. Plus, expensive.

But giftwrap is comparatively cheap, it goes up with tape, and comes down easily if you get tired of it and want to switch it out for another pattern. So I went off to Target to look at the giftwrap. I found this geometric, with small mirrored dots.(click to see the pattern) OH helped me get it onto the back straight and taped well, and I like it!

Now I'm wondering if, rather than trying to light the china cupboard in the hall, I should maybe paper the back (and sides? whad'ya think?) of it, too. Opinions?Y/N?

Comments

[minim_calibre]

Try lighting it first. That hall gets less light than the front room, so the paper might not work as well. Also, doesn't have glass sides to let in the light there is.

[fufaraw]

You have no idea of my relief at that opinion! I really didn't want to haul everything out of it by the shelf, paper the back and possibly the sides, and then try to fit it all back in. Electricity it is, then!

Or, you know, we could just keep opening the pantry door and turning on that light to shine through the glass. It's worked so far.

[minim_calibre]

It's an informed opinion! :)

Lights are the way to go, though, for sure, if you want a longer-term solution.

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

I love how the cabinet is transformed. Such a great display. I would never believe it was as simple as wrapping paper! I will give no opinion. I have never displayed things in glass cabinets so I have no reference. Still, if other lighting options don't work then it may be worth experimenting on a rainy day.

[fufaraw]

I love wrapping paper for decorating. I had a bookcase at work that was basically wooden cubes, all the same size. I got so tired of looking at white paint, but I couldn't make permanent changes. I cut pieces of corrugated cardboard from cartons, and foam core and poster board I had left over from projects, cut them all so they'd just fit in the opening and friction fit against the back. I used light quick coats of spray paint on a couple of the panels, one experiment with fabric and glue (painstaking, messy, and not stellar results), and several different giftwrap designs. And then I spotted the covered panels at random in the bookcase. No glue, no nails, the panels all popped out as easily as they went in, but they looked great and really cheered up the space.

If I needed to reconfigure the storage, or just got tired of a color or design, it was easy to change. I've also used giftwrap to line the interior of a Hoosier-style cabinet a friend had in her shop to display glassware and small antique objects for sale. And covered boxes and books... Giftwrap is my friend!