Thursday, November 21, 2019

Vintage Armoire Turned Secret Hidden Doors

A while back I did one of my upcycled and repurposed furniture blog posts entitled, The Upcycled Armoire, where I shared some very cool examples of vintage armoires that were not only refurbished, but they were also transformed to be used differently from their original purpose in the home. If you haven't seen the article, be sure to check it out (pinnable link below) for some instant inspiration!

I just came across this vintage repurposed armoire and I had to share it with you. If you're not exactly clear on what an armoire is, it is a piece of furniture similar to a closet, that is used to store clothing. Armoires, or wardrobes as they are also known, were popular in old timey days due to the lack of closets in homes. You can still buy armoires, but if you are a teaquer as I am, you already know that they are often found at thrift shops, antique malls, and in some of the nicer flea markets. So why buy new when you can buy a vintage one and transform it with your DIY skills, right? Right.

Obviously the one pictured above has been truly repurposed, gutted for whatever reason (hopefully due to damage and not just for fun), and turned into doors for a hidden room. The mirrors are an added bonus since they add depth to the room. This old armoire is certainly one of the old hulkingly giant ones, as it covers an entire doorway. Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this armoire turned secret, hidden door transformation is one that is both charming and clever.

What do you think?

The Upcycled Armoire

It's been a while since I did an upcycled furniture blog post, so I thought it would be fun to start the week by taking a look at old armoires. I am always impressed by the ways that creative folks repurpose old salvaged pieces of furniture. I soon found that old armoires are no exception!

First of all, what is an armoire? A traditional armoire is an old movable cabinet that was commonly used for storage or as a pantry to store household things such as dishes.

If an armoire had a rod installed inside of it, it was used as a closet to store clothes. Those are commonly known as wardrobes. Now that makes sense! When I bought my first home, it was an estate, so it came loaded with old dusty furniture. What did I find in the basement that I instantly fell in love with? An antique armoire. I soon found out why the previous owner had the armoire. There was no closet in the master bedroom! Haha!

Now, what do you do with an old armoire? The obvious answer is that they are great for storage. Armoires are perfect for hiding blankets and out of season and surplus linens.

Do you happen to have a huge bathroom? If you do, add an old armoire to store towels and toiletries. I have two kids and we love to play games, so my armoire was quickly repurposed into a game closet!

Here are some other ways that you can use an old armoire or wardrobe:

Turn it into a mini bar.
Use to store books or games.
Use it as a craft cabinet to hold craft supplies.
Paint it crazy colors and turn it into a piece of art furniture.
Use it to store your old vinyl record collection.
Update it with wallpaper or stencils.
If it has screened doors, use it to display collections or showcase your favorite things.
Idea: Create your own screened doors with chicken wire.