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Antique Cupboard with a Clever Secret

SimpleDecoratingTips.com This Antique Cupboard holds a Clever Secret

But first, let me start out by clearly stating: THIS IS NOT A POST ABOUT HOW TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET! (Ha Ha… as you’ll see real quickly further down…)

No, this is about an antique cupboard with a clever secret…

It’s a handsome piece I found when we were renovating our 100 year old house. It was either find a huge cupboard like this one or build a utility closet, because I needed a place on the main level for the vacuum and cleaning supplies.

SimpleDecoratingTips.com antique utility cupboard

I found this cupboard on Craigslist for $100… it was in great condition, just with a really bad coat of old paint… That was easily fixed. (it also had a makeshift dresser inside it, which we had to remove in order to have room for the vacuum.

SimpleDecoratingTips.com antique cupboard knob

By the way, to have the contractor build in a closet would have cost upwards of $500 with nothing fancy at all! I loved this option… so much better looking… and still lots of storage!

(Ha… see what I mean about this post not being about a clean closet?)

SimpleDecoratingTips.com antique utility cupboard one door open

But it sure does store a lot of stuff… with a couple shelves across the top as well as along the right side, making use of that tucked away cubby area. (we added the shelving to it)

But on the left no shelves…

Why???

Well the hinges are a clue…

SimpleDecoratingTips.com hinges on antique utility cupboard

Yep, that’s right! At some point a former owner actually carefully changed the left panel into a door!

SimpleDecoratingTips.com left panel is actually door on antique cupboard

So now both ‘doors’ open wide for easy access…

SimpleDecoratingTips.com both doors open on antique cupboard

Wow!

(and I’m not saying ‘wow’ because it looks a little messy… 😉 maybe you are though… I was saying ‘wow’ because of all the stuff I can store inside this cupboard)

I can keep my ladder, tools and cleaning supplies in there and not have to struggle with getting them in and out, thanks to the hinged panel turned door.

SimpleDecoratingTips.com both door open with shelves on right

What a smart idea to do with an old cupboard/wardrobe! Change one of the panels into a door and create a huge opening for the closet.

OK, enough of looking into my not so wonderfully organized or ‘staged for photos’ closet interior… let’s look at the outside again, because it is kind of charming.

SimpleDecoratingTips.com antique utility cupboard

So for $100 and less than a pint of paint, our breakfast room has the much needed utility closet, but in the shape of a charming antique cupboard with a clever secret door, no less.

Oh and one tip about installing it…

When we were installing the cupboard and baseboard after a huge renovation in the breakfast room, (check out the posts with the breakfast room renovation here) we, (our carpenter) attached the cupboard securely to the wall, and actually cut the baseboard to butt up to it, instead of go behind it… that way the cupboard back is totally flush against the wall without a gap in the back.

Did you know I now offer e-decorating? I can help you with your decorating needs via email, without having to step foot in your home. If you’re interested in more information, visit my e-decorating site: Frame and Frills. I’d love to help you with your project!

Here are more closet and storage ideas:

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Antique Cupboard holds a Clever Secret

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along.

This post is linked up at the following other sites: Design, Dining and Diapers, French Country Cottage, Too Much Time on my Hands, The Charm of Home, Designer Trapped, My Thrift Store Addiction, Posed Perfection, Savvy Southern Style, From Evija with Love, A Pocketful of Posies, DIY Dreamer, My Repurposed Life, Cozy Little House, A Stroll Thru Life, Home Stories A to Z, Yesterday on Tuesday, StoneGable, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Coastal Charm, Between Naps on the Porch, It’s that DIY Party, Skip to my Lou, Redhead can Decorate

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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I’m Liz, the author, and I’m so glad you’re here!

My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Redo Your Furniture!
The shop is stocked with amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!
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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I'm Liz, the author, and I'm so glad you're here! My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Redo Your Furniture!
The shop is stocked with amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!


Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

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Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Disclosure Policy According to Federal Trade Commission guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. My truthful opinion will be what I state, no matter if I'm getting paid or not. Accuracy and truth are the priority for me on this blog's information, no matter if it's about a product or anything else. Not every product or service or store etc. may be mentioned in each and every post as an affiliate. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post.

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