A New (Old) Sideboard for My Dining Room
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyAfter searching for more than a year, I finally have a new, well old, sideboard for my dining room. Today I’d like to show you what I found.
A bit of backstory: Last year I did a major kitchen remodel, which affected my dining room as well. The changes in the latter space included refinished hardwood floors, new French doors, three new windows (which were not there previously), and a handful of other things. Because of these updates, I decided to start fresh with furnishings and decor.
I was (and still am) taking my time in developing this space. There has been no need to rush to get it done. I’m OK with the space feeling/being incomplete for now.
Well, that’s the backstory.
A New (Old) Sideboard for My Dining Room
Flash forward to almost a couple of months ago, when after a year-long search for the “perfect” sideboard, I found a beautiful vintage cabinet on Facebook Marketplace and knew immediately this could be it.
I had envisioned a painted piece because my dining room already had a lot of wood in it with the table and floors. However, anything can be painted, so I was more open-minded in my search.
And here’s what I found:
Isn’t she a beauty?
Now a few notes about the sideboard…
- The size was ideal. I wanted something to sit underneath the window trim, and this was perfect
- This piece is not painted like I originally envisioned, but it’s darker than the surrounding wood tones so it doesn’t get lost. Of course, I could still paint it if I desired. But for now, I like it as is.
- It’s rougher than what I had in mind. I’m assuming someone made it for a garage or workshop. It came with that “workshop” smell. The insides of the drawers were also dirty and stained with oil.
- Although it’s a tad rough, it’s well built, solid, and heavy. Those are characteristics I like.
- One of my favorite aspects is the asymmetrical drawers. If you’ll notice, the drawers on the right are not as wide as those on the left and in the middle. I love this because it means it’s one-of-a-kind.
- Other details that I like: It still has all of the original drawers (which can be rare in old cabinets). All of the hardware is the same. And with 12 drawers, there’s a ton of storage.
Before I could start using this piece, I needed to do something about the dirty drawers. My first thought was to line them with wallpaper, but that is a BIG project, and I don’t have the supplies on hand. So, I decided to paint them instead. I figured that this would give me a clean surface and lock in all of the dirt and oil.
I used my go-to craft and furniture paint: Fusion Mineral Paint. I love this stuff because it doesn’t require a primer coat or a topcoat. However, I later learned that if there are oil stains, a primer should be applied. Oops!’
I had a quart of Fusion Mineral Paint in Lamp White on hand (though I did end up having to order another quart), so I went with that. After a thorough cleaning, each drawer got two coats of paint. And then I went back and applied a third coat to the areas that had those oil stains coming through.
The paint did exactly what I wanted it to do. It locked in all the old dirt and freshened up the drawers. And even though I didn’t use a primer on those stains, the paint ended up doing a great job covering them up.
Only a few are still slightly visible, but that’s part of the charm of a vintage piece.
Once the paint was dry, I was able to start loading up my new sideboard.
I was so looking forward to this moment since for the past two years all of my linens, extra flatware, and other entertaining items have been packed in totes in the basement. They finally got a proper home.
I love these containers from The Container Store. (You want the 1.8 qt oblong container.) They perfectly fit a flatware set for a serving of four. I assume many of you don’t have multiple sets of flatware, but if you do these containers are great for storage.
I’ve filled about half of the drawers so there’s still plenty of room for more goodies. Once I organize things a bit more, I’ll give you a full tour.
My sideboard purchase also inspired me to finally order a rug for the dining room so I’ll have to update you on that when it arrives. I have a couple of other decorative storage solutions in this space that I’m excited to share with you, too. Stay tuned for those.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the new (old) sideboard in my dining room and are digging it as much as I am. (Frankie says, “Hello!” too.)
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Beautiful, Michael! You’ve got yourself a treasure! It looks wonderful in the space – a perfect fit in size and style! Enjoy!
A beautiful piece that looks perfect in your space and doesn’t need paint. Love the white accents on top. Love your blog, such great inspiration. You have a gorgeous home.
Stunning sideboard! It’s truly amazing what you can find on Marketplace! I would not paint it ever. The darker wood in your floor picks up the color of the wood in the sideboard and is perfect. I love the unique character it lends to your space. It’s always great to have a focal piece that starts conversation as well.
What a great find! It fits your space perfectly, and, wow!, what great storage.
Absolutely perfect! Patience is a good thing. I love multiple drawer storage for all that small kitchen stuff we accumulate for entertaining. At first, reading your choice of white, I cringed. Then I saw the final result, and, of course, it is the perfect choice! No other color would have done. But then that is why I adore your decorating style, you have a gift for seeing the beauty of what could be. And you’ve done it again with this stunning find. Bravo!
I love this piece. I really like to see furniture pieces given a 2nd or 3rd life as something different. Another thing I really like is the juxtaposition of rustic and refined working together in a home. I recently eliminated a big hutch top from an older Ethan Allen pine hutch I have had for years. My taste and style have evolved so much over the years, but I didn’t want to get rid of the entire hutch so I painted the base in a mid-tone of blue and eliminated the white porcelain knobs and put on brushed brass. It looks so fresh and really brightened up my kitchen. We are planning a move in the next 6 months and this hutch base will get a 3rd life as I am going to use it as vanity in a 3rd bathroom in our lower level. Michael, I hope you are doing well.
LOVE IT!!!
Simply genius…. paint really refreshed the drawers & will protect the contents from the older smells & dust. You have an amazing collection of linens, tableware, & dining room accessories. Gosh, you probably have enough items to rent out for small dinner parties! Have you ever thought of doing that?
As always, I love visiting your blog & reading your IG postings.
Wow! An amazing piece!!
WOW!! I love the piece… it is GORGEOUS!!
Perfect in the room and perfect storage for linens etc. GREAT find!!
Absolutely love! The color is perfect and great idea to paint inside of drawers!
I love this piece and am glad you have, at least for now, decided not to paint the exterior. So much storage! What a find.
That piece is absolutely fabulous!!! You have opened my eyes to local antique shops I never knew existed! Thank you 😊
Can you imagine a time when something this beautiful was made for a workshop!!!
Love it!!! Amazing find!!
Love your side board…gorgeous color, grain, and joinery. Hope you never paint it
You found the perfect piece for your dining room. There can never be too many areas for storage whether drawers or shelves. I love the natural wood. Getting rather tired of all the painting of furniture we have been seeing everywhere. One question… what exposure are your begonias getting? They are some of my favorite houseplants and though mine are usually summering out in my shade garden they always are brought back in the fall and I never have found a good indoor spot for them.
So glad you are back to doing your blog. You were missed. Stay well.
They get the morning sun. The angel leaf is doing fabulously! The other (break dance) is struggling. I ordered it online so it had a rough ride getting here. It may just need some love to start performing again.
xo Michael
LOVE it!! It couldn’t be more perfect.
Initially, I thought you might line the drawers with wallpaper on the inside walls and felt in the bottoms of the drawers. When you I mentioned the oil and dirt, I knew that was not happening !
Nice job on a great find. That piece is perfect unpainted. The rough wood and patina have a story to tell.
Love your blog and your sense of style and whimsy.
~~ KL in N Tx
Yes – I may do wallpaper next. But I wanted and needed to seal everything up first. I also know that wallpapering the drawers will be a BIG process, so I’ll save that for the winter months.
xo Michael
Great piece! I personally would NEVER paint it! I love the painted drawers though. I have an old piece in my dining room that precisely lived for a different purpose too:)!!!