Fabric + French Antique = Fab Project

I begin the post with the “why” behind the project.  If you are in a hurry, it’s okay, go ahead and skip down to the project details.

I don’t have any china cabinets in my house, and I am actually quite proud of that fact.  Those of you that read my blog know about my dish addiction appreciation.  So you will understand what I am about to say.  People who drink too much, but don’t do it alone or before 5 pm, use those facts to prove that they are not alcoholics.  And so, if I don’t have a china cabinet, then I can’t possibly be a dish-aholic.   EVERYONE knows that!  Sure, I have a built-in buffet full of dishes, but that doesn’t count because it is BUILT-IN and was NOT purchased by me to hold dishes.  (I do have to admit though, that when we bought the house I did notice it and thought, hmmm.)

I once mentioned (okay, boasted) to my mother-in-law (who had three china cabinets at the time) that I DID NOT own a china cabinet.  She said, “Of course you don’t, your WHOLE HOUSE is a CHINA CABINET.”  I tried not to be offended; she was on dangerous ground.  Did I mention she has THREE china cabinets?

At some point, I did relent, about not owning a china cabinet, and decided that maybe it would be nice to have a place to store and display dishes in the dining room.  The table seemed so lonely in there.  Would it be wrong to have dishes displayed in a dining room?  A lot of well-respected people have them.  So I began to look for a china cabinet that wasn’t a china cabinet.  I like the idea of a place to display dishes, but I don’t like most china cabinets.  I wanted something… a little more unusual.   In my search, I found a lovely French linen press at an antique store.  I realized that I could keep the upper doors open and use it like a china cabinet, where I could display some dishes.  I bought it.

I brought it home and put it in my dining room.  It fit in the room, but with the doors open it was a little crowded.  I would just have to make it work.  I loaded it with dishes and stepped back.  Something wasn’t right.  It needed….something.

Originally meant to store linens, the linen press was meant to be left closed when not in use.  Since I planned to leave it open all of the time to display my dishes, I wanted the interior to look more finished while it was open.  I decided that it was time for a project.  I wondered what it would look like if the linen press were lined with fabric.  I had never done this type of project before, but it seemed simple enough.  Here is what I did.

PROJECT DETAILS

ITEMS USED FOR PROJECT

• Green toile fabric
• Matching trim
• Non-permanent fabric glue
• Large piece of paper (for pattern)
• Pencil
• Straight pins
• Scissors
• Glue gun

Since the fabric had a pattern, I made sure to buy enough so that I could position in a way to best show off the country scenes, without cutting off some one’s head.

PROJECT DIRECTIONS
For the back of the piece, I simply measured the area where the fabric would go, and then cut a piece of fabric exactly the same size.

For the doors, I placed a large piece of paper on the area where I wanted the fabric, and attached it with tape.  I then used a pencil to trace the outline of the area where the fabric would be placed.  This area was indented, so I also had to use my hand to help keep it in place as I traced the outline.

I then removed the paper from the linen press, and used the scissors to cut the paper along the pencil marks.  I now had a custom-pattern.  I placed the paper pattern on the fabric, carefully adjusting its placement so that the above lady would be centered, and not crooked, when I cut the fabric.  Next, I attached the pattern to my fabric with pins and cut it out.  I removed the straight pins and the paper from the pattern.  I repeated this step for the other side of the linen press. Applying glue to the wrong side of the fabric sparingly, I then pressed the fabric neatly in place, smoothing out the bubbles.  Once the glue was dry, I measured out the appropriate length of trim, and used a glue gun to affix it in place and voila!

I loved the new look, and we kept the linen press in the dining room for some time.  Much later, I decided that perhaps the linen press wasn’t working that well in my dining room, so I played my own version of musical chairs, until it finally was removed to the country, where it currently resides and enjoys a more relaxed lifestyle.  Now we actually use the piece as its maker intended, to store linens and clothes.

Although this project is from several years ago, I still love the fabric lining, but sadly I must now keep it closed.  You see, Mr. CH doesn’t have the keen sense of order and decorum that I do, and therefore doesn’t understand the need to keep his clothes stacked neatly, so that I can keep the doors open.  I think Mr. CH may be going too far in embracing his inner “Bubba.”

So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.  Ezekiel 16:13

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CEDAR HILL FARMHOUSE - updated country French style

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