It wasn’t easy getting this piece home, but we did it. We borrowed our neighbor’s van because the cabinet was too long and too wide for our CR-V. But moving it out of the antique barn required three of us trying to maneuver it out a door, down a flight of stairs and into the car, all the while sweating in 90% humidity. The whole time we were worried about the glass doors. And dropping it. But Patty, who works at the barn, is an old pro at loading and unloading furniture – I don’t know what we would have done without her!
I had to lighten this photo a bit because it can be dark in this little corner. For a second, I panicked that it wouldn’t fit, but it fits beautifully, almost as if it was made for this space. Don and I are in love with it and we can’t believe what a difference it makes in our home.
It also takes up less space than the desk that was here previously. The cabinet is only 8 inches deep, so it doesn’t block access to the bathroom, which is to the right.
Once we got it in the house, Don took off with his camera and I proceeded to clean out 86 dusty and dirty cubbies. Yikes! Then I had to sort through all the stuff in the desk, find a new home for all of it, then put the desk and chair outside for Don to take to our storage unit.
While cleaning, I discovered some things about the backstory of this piece. I think the cubbies were separate at one point and that long ago, someone built this cabinet around them. Why? Because there are letters and numbers and, in some cases, names written in pencil over the cubbies in old-fashioned handwriting. But whoever built this unit put the cubbies in upside down, so I have to cock my head to read them. Most likely they were in an office somewhere, used as mail sorters/mail slots.
See the R and the S? There are also paper letter tags towards the bottom of the unit. When I have some more light (it’s cloudy today) I’ll try to take some pictures of the names,
I haven’t done anything other than to clean it thoroughly and put two egg cups inside just to see how they fit and how they look.
They fit perfectly, as I knew they would.
Eventually, I might get a piano/desk lamp that would focus light downward on the contents of the cabinet. We’ll see.
I love this piece. It was made for our little cottage!
I’ll most likely spend the weekend playing with the egg cups and where to place them in the cabinet. This morning I have to recycle and do some mowing before…yes, you guessed it…the weekend brings even more rain.
Happy Friday.
So charming and interesting! I love how this piece fits perfectly by your stairs. What fun it will be to get your egg cup collection set up in this cabinet.
We finally got some rain here overnight and looks like we’re in for the same today, but we desperately needed it here. The grass is crispy and brown and dried leaves were already falling from the trees.
We have leaves falling from the trees because of too much rain! You can’t win either way.
wow … that cupboard fits and looks great; you found the perfect spot for it! it will look even better with all your egg cups on display … and a few empty cubbies will need filling so you know what that means! i am very happy for your happiness and am glad you listened to your heart, went back and got it!
enjoy the puttering and the weekend!
kathy in iowa
I am, too. Thanks, Kathy!
Perfect, all the way around!
It’s even better than I thought :)
I can’t wait to see what you do with this.
Enjoy, Monica
It will be fun to fill it with egg cups, Monica!
It was made for that spot in your cottage and it was pure destiny for you to find it! It looks wonderful. What fun you will have filling the cubbies. Have a most lovely weekend. I hope you see cooler temps than we will be having here – three days of 100 and high humidity – ugh!
We were teased for the last week with lower temps in the low 90’s. That may not seem cool but when you are used to 98 and above with heat indexes up to 110, trust me when I say that 92 is wonderful. I’m hoping and praying that this is our last heat for this summer. I know we will not be out of the 90’s for a few more weeks but if we could just see the low 90s and cooler nights it would be great. Starting to feel the coolness in the morning hours and that is a beautiful thing.
Blessed Be.
We had a heat index of over 100 degrees yesterday, Belinda! We’ve had that quite a bit this summer. It was miserable! I understand.
Excellent addition.
Thank you Cara.
It is perfectly AMAZING!!! What a great find for your cottage and it fits in that space like a glove… like it was made exactly for that space. And to then find the little names & letters on the cubbies (upside down no less because the ‘builder’ of the piece accidentally built the box with the cubbies upside down) makes it even better!!! I love it, love it, love it! And wish I could find something that amazing too!!!!! OH BOY. I can’t wait to see it filled up with the egg cups – they are going to look amazing in this cabinet and what a great spot in your home for viewing them – all protected!!!
Dawn P.
It’s a real find, that’s for sure. I think it’s Don’s favorite thing in the house!
A perfect fit and the eg cups are going to look great in it. It was meant to be!
I think it was! Thanks, Karen!
It is perfect…fits like a glove. I bet you are going to have a ball this weekend playing with it. And…now you have more room for more egg cups! I am anxious to see all your egg cups on display together.
It’s been raining here since last night…yippee. But….now we have flash flood warnings in our county…yikes. Feast or famine…it seems. Enjoy your day! ;)
You’re so right – feast or famine!
Wow – it’s like a built-in for that space. I am excited just to see the fun you are going to have with this.
I have been raising Monarchs for the first time – released my second one this morning. It’s the little things!
Good for you! I love Monarchs.
Can’t believe how perfect the cabinet is. Pure synchronicity.
Last summer I went browsing in an antique consignment store in a former Ethan Allen space (i.e., huge). I spotted a duplicate of your Life is Short finger-plaque. Thinking of you, I nearly bought it on the spot, but I couldn’t think of any place to hang it. So I hesitated. Less than a month later, I returned with the intention of nabbing it. To my shock and dismay, the entire business has folded and the building was empty. Lesson learned: see it, buy it. You might not get another chance.
Oh no! I’m so sorry you lost out. It’s always shocking when a business just disappears! As if it had never been there.
This piece was just waiting for you and Don! It is (as everyone has said) perfect for your cottage. It truly looks like it is home now. So charming and add the egg cups and what a treasure it is. So very happy you were able to bring this home. Enjoy it. Oh that pesky rain, get the yard work done while you can. It looks like rain here today. I’m going to clean house. Hugs!
The rain started early here, so I can’t mow. And the recycling center was closed for some inexplicable reason. Not a good start to the day!
So go play with your new cabinet. :) Sounds like the perfect rainy day thing to do!
I did!
I love anything with cubbies — and how perfect it is this piece for your egg cup collection!
I just have the feeling your cabinet was flipped and hung from the wall at some point. Is there any evidence of hardware on the back near the mounding at the bottom? Or holes drilled through the back of the cabinet? Another indication would be if the underside of the shelves are darker on the bottom. The cabinet is wonderful no matter what the orientation.
No, none of that, but looking at it, it might have been hung on a wall with the top being the bottom. It would have been very heavy!!!
But that might be why everything is upside down.
You’ll have so much fun organizing (playing with) your egg cups this weekend! How content you’ll feel when they are all placed in that perfectly charming cabinet, all nestled in their own cubbies!
It’s so neat to see most of them in the same place, Wendy!
I think if it was used to sort mail it sat on a table or desk. It would be much easier to sort mail if it was off the ground. Fits nice where you have it located.
Thanks, Olivia!
It really looks like a built-in, Claudia! Meant to be!! So pretty. Hope you have fun playing as you fill up those sweet cubbies.
We have had some rain, and that is pretty exciting! It is actually a very lovely soft rain that has been going since the very early morning. About 40 miles from here they had over 6 inches overnight. As people have said ~ feast or famine. We do need it quite badly, but not in those quantities in just a few hours time which, of course, has led to flooding.
Have a good Friday and a fun weekend arranging. We all look forward to more pictures!!
There’s been quite a bit of flooding out here due to the constant rain we have had. We’re fine, but I know other communities have suffered.
Claudia, You are so right…it fits there perfectly. I love that it once may have been a sorted mail piece . Glad you got it home safely. Blessings for a fun filled weekend. xoxo, Susie
Thank you, Susie. The same to you!
So perfect ! Did you measure the width beforehand ? Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Before you put in the egg cups, consider making the piece tilt backwards a tiny bit with shims.
Your Don was in a cast pic on a rerun of The View this morning, btw.
Connie
Last week he was in a music clip on Morning Joe. “Our Sweet Don” keeps popping up everywhere!
I hope he gets paid for it! xo
Oh yes. We have very little extra space here so I measured.
If you look closely at the picture, you’ll see we’ve already shimmed it.
Oh Claudia! 😍
If anything was meant to be that is!
Can’t wait to enjoy the pictures to come. Enjoy the journey!
Thank you so much, Jacque!
This cabinet/cupboard just gets more and more interesting. Before I read the text of your post today, seeing first the photo, I said to myself, “Well, THAT was sure meant to be right where it is!”
It sure is. It’s perfect for this cottage and that space. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Don so excited about a new addition to the cottage.
You are right, it was made for this space in your home. It is a beautiful addition to
the Cottage.
Thank you so much, Lea!
Oh, your new cubby really was made for that spot! Looks terrific. You’re going to have so much fun arranging and – if you’re anything like me – rearranging it. It always take me a while to figure out how things should be arranged – no matter what the room – but once I find it, I’m set til I move again. Probably why I’ve only had 3 apartments since leaving home – LOL! Once I finally find my “niche” I happily stay put. Well, have fun this weekend with it. Won’t it be nice to have all your egg cups displayed? That’s the best part of being a collector – seeing years of work and remembering how you came to acquire A or B etc. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I’ve placed all the cups in the cubby but I’m sure I’ll rearrange. And I didn’t dust them, so tomorrow, I’ll probably dust them. Thanks Janet!
If ever anything was meant to be, it is this cabinet! A perfect fit and it looks so lovely! So happy you got it!
Thank you so much, Dottie!
Just beautiful and, as everyone says, made for that space. Made for your cottage where it looks quite at home. Have fun styling it.
Thank you, Kay!
The cabinet looks perfect in that spot. It is a beauty.
Marilyn
It sure is. Thank you, Marilyn!
It fits perfect!!! By the way, I was the one that was also bidding on the Snow White egg cup. It ended at the wrong time of day for me to keep bidding. I’m happy you were the one that was successful!!!!!!!
Oh no! I feel guilty now. It’s much better not to know who you are bidding against. I’m sorry, Caren!
I love the cabinet! Perfect fit! I’m very glad you did not pass it up. Enjoy!
Thank you, Judy. I’m so happy I bought it.
Hi Claudia – I do read every post you write first thing and follow both you and Don on Instagram with pleasure. Love the newest addition to your home – wonderful, well aged and ‘fits just right’ cabinet for your egg cup collection. It will be like your new very wonderful old stove – you will be taking peeks just for the pleasure of seeing it in its new home filled with your treasures.
Hugs.
Joy
Yes! You’re absolutely right, Joy. I keep peeking at it and I still do the same thing with Stella. xo
oh my. grinning ear to ear here. I just finished reading the post and every single comment!
there is nothing left to say!
I also think it must have been meant to be! and just think…
you won’t have to dust them so often. just the glass on the case! LOL. xoxo
I didn’t dust them before I put them in there, so they still need to be dusted – at least for one more time!