This restyle took a little longer than I anticipated. Partly because I took an extra long Thanksgiving-Get-Away to Rochester NY. Partly because the replacement glass order was slow coming in.
It’s all okay though.
Lately I’ve been doing my best to take a more laid back attitude. Not easy to do at times, but oddly enough, I’m finding the more I enjoy the process and relax into things, the more I’m getting done! More about this on a future post. {big smile}
Now ‘m excited to share this 1930’s china cabinet with you!
I know I’ve probably said this a thousand times before {and thanks to all of you who are still listening!}, but I reeeeeally like working on these vintage china cabinets. They have so much character and charm and always look elegant.
This 1930’s girl has been painted in General Finishes “Linen” – a beautiful and classic antique cream-beige. Her shapely legs have been left exposed in the original dark stain.
LOVE the contrast!
The legs on this cabinet were the in really good shape. All they needed to fix up the small dings and scratches was a quick wipe down with Trade Secrets. If you’ve never tried Trade Secret Scratch Remover 
, this stuff works wonders on concealing small scratches and imperfections with a simple wipe!
This 1930’s china cabinet is updated …but still has an elegant yester-year charm!
I’m a HUGE fan of General Finishes High Performance Water Based Flat. It’s not a ‘true’ flat but provides a very subtle sheen. The flat is an amazing topcoat it you’re looking for an authentic antiqued look. This was my first time using their Satin. After apply 3 coats, it’s a super tough protection with a nice sheen. Not as much as you’d get from a semi-gloss but definitely more than the GF Flat.
I know it’s hard to see in photo’s, but I hope you can get an idea of the sheen by the reflection coming off the top in the pic below.
I used a pop of color and pattern in the drawer liner to add some unexpected whimsy to this china cabinet! {And yes, those are my grey fuzzies in the reflection!}
So what do you think? Are you a huge fan of these restyled vintage china cabinets too? I love all your comments, questions and suggestions so don’t be shy…chime in!
Related Posts ~
General Finishes “Linen” Waterfall Dresser
How To Remove Glass From Antique China Cabinets
Replacing Glass with Chicken Wire The Safe Way
Enjoy your day happy painting!
Denise x
Sharing With~
~ The Painted Drawer ~ French Country Cottage ~ Elizabeth & Co. ~ Stone Gable ~ Thirty Eight Street – Patina Paradise
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Hi I LOVE the cabinet!! Just wondering if you used the general finishes “milk paint”or a different type of paint and whether you had to sand before painting. I have used chalk paint before but not this type so trying to decide for my next project. Thankyou!!
Thanks Shannon. This was a while back but yes I believe I used GF Linen Milk Paint and gave it a light sanding. 🙂
Thank you for posting this…inhave one thatbi am going to repurpose.
Hi there! Beautiful work!! I have a cabinet like this I am in the process of refinishing… was the one can paint enough to do the inside and outside? Also, what do you find to be the main difference between the General Finishes Top Coat and a polycrilic?
Thanks!
Hi Natalie! Yes, the one can was plenty for the inside and out of this cabinet. Are you referring to Minwax Polycrylic… or a specific brand? I’ve used Minwax, Varathane, GF, DB, and more. They are all comparable but if you’re working with GF products and want to stick with the GF line, they work beautifully together.
I have a cabinet very similar with the sides on it that don’t open and the one door in the middle. I tried to take the shelves out so I could update them and the inside but they don’t come out. How did you get yours out? the door is not as big as the shelves and there is no room to turn them so the can come out???
I know exactly what you mean Marlene! They DO come out but it takes some finagling! Start with the bottom shelf. Lift it up and off the shelf brackets by a few inches. Then angle it 20-30° and bring it down to the floor/bottom of the cabinet. Repeat this step for all 2-3 shelves (or however many you have). Once they are ALL laying flat at the bottom of your cabinet, now you will have the room to lift and angle them between 45-90° out the cabinet door. A little patience is needed. And I hope this makes sense. 🙂
I know that this is an older post, but taking a chance that you might see this question. First just wanted to say I enjoy your work and have pinned quite a few of those pieces and your how to’s, this one is no exception.
Now for my question.. This piece looks like there is a glaze or dark wax applied to the paint. Is that correct? I see that you sanded back in certain areas of the cabinet for an antique effect. If you did use a glaze or wax, was it applied before or after the sealer?
Also, if a glaze or wax was not used could it be used with the water based sealer?
I have heard different takes on using stains or wax with a sealer.
Thanks so much, norma
Hi Norma! So happy you’ve been browsing and pinning – thank you! This cabinet was not waxed or glazed. It was painted, moderately distressed, and then top coated with GF High Performance in Satin. And yes, you can glaze or wax when using a water based poly/sealer. Hope this helps. 🙂
Hi Denise thanks for the quick reply.
The little trim or lace on the bottom drawer certainly looked like there was a dark wax or glaze technique done. Very nice. Thanks for clarifying.
If you don’t mind one more question, ;), What order would one use with the wax or glaze using the sealer? Chalk paint-sealer-wax/glaze-then sealer?
Thanks again, norma
So pretty! I could definitely find a place for it in my home.
Really beautiful Denise!I really love those natural legs, what a great decision. Featured at Be Inspired this morning. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much for including me! 🙂
Love this piece! it looks great and yes I am a big fan of vintage cabinets.
This looks amazing, you did a wonderful job!
I have a weird quetion that I have always wondered about those particular cabinets….are the side parts just decorative, or is there a hidden door that opens? Otherwise is all that area just wasted space? These cabs are so awesome but if so they don’t really hold much for the space they take up, do they?
Please don’t feel this question rude, I honestly have no idea if this is correct or not. Beautiful piece.
Great questions and not rude at all Michele. 🙂 All the vintage cabinets similar to the above (that I’ve come across) do NOT have doors on the side. The ‘side’ space can be utilized, but the items can only be seen/viewed through the glass on the single door. And yes, these cabinets are smaller than the modern china cabinets we have today for sure!
Oooh, she is beautiful. I’m an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and haven’t tried General Finishes, but I like what you’ve achieved. I have one of these beauties in my garage that I’m itching to get to. It’s moving up my list. I saw your link at The Painted Drawer link party — and I grew up in Rochester.
Thanks Ann Marie! And we had so much fun in your home town! My sister and I were fascinated with Artisans Works on Blossom Rd… amazing place if you’re an art lover!
This is a classic beauty, as in, I’m pretty sure I’d love it ten years later. Lovely work!
Thanks Rachel!
Wow I love your china cabinet, it looks beautiful. The subtle distressing is highlighted so well with the satin finish. I particularly love how you have left the legs original, fab contrast and it’s great to see something a little different. I am also a huge fan of General Finishes but living in the UK it’s not so easy to get hold of.
Look forward to following more of your gorgeous work!
Thank you Katy… appreciate it.
This is beautiful! Very French shabby chic. I have a 30s/40s chest of drawers waiting for some love and seeing this has really inspired me – Thank you Denise!
Thanks Kerrie and have fun restyling your chest of drawers. 🙂
Denise, great transformation. I love these vintage china cabinets. They really are so versatile. I agree they look great used in bathrooms for storage and pretty displays.
They are so versatile! I wish I had a large enough bathroom to keep this one for myself. 😉
Love it. This should be mine!!!
haha… maybe I should keep it and it should be mine sistahh! 😉
I am a big fan of the smaller ~4 ft tall china cabinet – I have 3 of them and found uses for them all. One is in it’s original state but I would like to paint it and is the only one I use more traditionally for china/knick knacks and bar. The 2nd one I painted and it has no glass so use it for music and movie storage in the bsmt. The 3rd one I bought 2 decades ago already painted white with black fret work and detail. I have a larger bathroom and it is my linen closet for towels in the center glass portion and bathroom stuff in the non-glass sides and drawers and I love it in there – it adds a vintage flavor! Yours turned out great-all the detail pops now with the distressing you did, great knobs and I like how you left the legs. If it were mine I would have left the inside unpainted as wood only because my dishes are white so would show better with the contrast. All in white though yours is kinda like a lovely Grande dame with stockings and a lacey frill on the bottom of her skirt! lol
…”like a lovely Grande dame with stockings and a lacey frill on the bottom of her skirt!”… Love this…I think I should recruit you to start writing my posts for me Kari…lol. And I only wish my bathroom was large enough for one of these cabinets. I think they look AMAZING in bathrooms displaying linens, towels and pretty bottles of perfume!
Just gorgeous, creative, authentic, and a stunning piece for any home. I agree I get such great inspiration from your work! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words Kim! x
I LOVE the color Denise! You are so good at knowing where and how much to distress! The knobs are a cute touch! All the details in a piece really make the difference!!!
Thank you Debi! And I really like GF Linen too. A classic looking antique cream/beige for sure!
I love your beautiful finished projects and I get great inspiration from everything you do. This one has so many wonderful details. I love the details too and always aspire to find pieces like this.
I have a question as well, what if anything, do you do to the back of your furnishings, especially ones that your are selling? I almost always get dabs of paint on the back of my projects. 😛
Thanks Joyce! And for the back on these old pieces, I like to keep the back super clean and free of paint and have the old wood showcased. 🙂