Putting on a fresh face: an old piece of furniture finds new life as a display cabinet - Home

Sunset, July, 2003 by Mary Jo Bowling

You might expect food pros Gayle and Joe Ortiz--they are deli-bakery owners and cookbook authors--to have sleek, high-tech, industrial-style cabinets. You would be in for a surprise. Their new kitchen reflects a love of flea-market and antiques shopping. A case in point is the cabinet pictured above.

Instead of buying all new overhead cabinets, the couple found old pieces with character and refurbished them. This one might have been part of a larger piece of furniture. Its pediment, which adds architectural detail, is a common feature on antique upper cabinets.

After adding a fresh coat of paint, new hardware, and a new glass front and then bolting the cabinet to the wall, the Ortizes have the perfect place to store and display kitchen items. The vivid red interior is a dramatic backdrop and makes everyday plates and glasses look more interesting. The dark black-green exterior makes the red pop and draws the eye to the items inside.

"We aren't ones to put design over function. We feel that if it functions, it looks good," says Gayle. This cabinet succeeds on both counts.

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Be patient. Striking gold at the flea market might take longer than ordering brand-new cabinets.

Know your spaces and carry a tape measure. Determine just how tall and deep a piece needs to be to fit the space you have in mind so you will be ready when you stumble across the perfect discovery at a flea market or secondhand shop.

Test sturdiness. Know how heavy the items stored in the piece will be. Make sure shelves are up to the task.