As we were finishing up our kitchen refresh, I began looking at the space with a critical eye. I love the kitchen, but something about the space was bothering me. After some contemplation, I realized what it was! Everything was black and white. Now, you know that I love black and white, but I felt like there needed to be some color to enhance the black and white. I didn’t want to paint the vintage dresser/buffet in the dining room. So, that left the primitive corner cabinet, which is the largest piece in the room and somewhat of a focal point! Here’s a before shot taken at Christmastime!
*This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Please see my full disclosure statement HERE.
Primitive Corner Cabinet Before
I sat down in my gray tufted chair in the living room and looked at the cabinet, trying to decide what color to paint it. Then, I glanced over at the painted shiplap and knew the color! I painted the shiplap last fall and have fallen in love with this gray/green moody shade! The color is called Luxe by Magnolia Paint and is available at Ace Hardware. Are you ready to see the after?
Cabinet After
I just finished painting it last evening and couldn’t wait to share it. So, this morning I quickly styled the interior shelves with some things I had in other areas of the house. I didn’t touch the cabinet interior. It is painted with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter.
Cabinet Interior
This primitive antique cabinet is really old. I’m not sure what year it was made, but it was built by my grandmother’s father or grandfather – I’m not sure which. It’s pine and is heavy! The back of the cabinet is made up of rough vertical pine boards. You can see a break in the boards in the above photo and in the one below.
I’m so glad I never painted the original pine shelves. Pine does turn this orange hue over time. But, I don’t mind it. The raw wood adds some warmth to the piece. Below is a close up of the carved out wood for the interior door closure.
I hope you can see what I mean when I call this a primitive antique corner cabinet! Even though it looks roughly made, it is so smooth and worn from time. These mini cottage roses are from Valentine’s Day. I broke down my original arrangement from Mark and cut the rose stems short to use them in various small glass bottles. They’ve dried out naturally this way. I think I might make a small wreath with them!
it’s just paint!
So, what do you think of my color choice? If you are concerned about me painting an antique piece, I’d say my parents did the most damage when they had this cabinet stripped of the original paint from my Grandmother’s home. That was it’s original, antique state at least as I remember it. Funny, as I think about this piece in my grandmother’s kitchen, guess what color it was painted – white with black accents on the doors! And, who knows, it may have been painted before it was white and black? I hope to keep this old cabinet in our family, so I’m not particularly concerned about devaluing. The value it holds for me is purely sentimental!
It looks great! Love that paint color.
Thanks so much, Eva!!!
What a special cabinet to have had in your family all these years! I love the color! I painted a plate rack my father made about 30 years ago in BM’s Cushing Green and loved it so much I did a little bookcase in the same color – I see you have a navy dresser next to it – i painted my pie safe in Behr’s Navy. I love the interior color of your cabinet as well. Revere pewter used to be our trim color in the Living Room when we first moved in the house 25 years ago. Very pretty color scheme and a nice refresh from the all white. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, now I need to go and check out Cushing Green!!! And, Revere Pewter is my fave for walls!
Doreen, it turned out so beautifully! I love the color and you really have made it a statement piece now,,,what a wonderful cabinet!
Thanks so much, Linda!
Lovingly made; lovingly painted…absolutely GORGEOUS!
Ahhh – Thank you, Lee!
Lovely!
Lovely!
I love the colour, such a special piece to keep in the family. I have a few pieces from great grandparents and grandparents. So special. Luckily my boys do like some of them. Hopefully will keep in the family.
I LOVE it! It looks so rich. Have a blessed weekend!
Thanks so much, Vanessa!
I think painting it makes it really stand out in that corner and the color is lovely. You know each and every one of us has different decorating ideas, so I, personally, would have to either paint the nearby buffet white or match it to the corner cabinet. I’m just not sure about two entirely different colored painted pieces being side by side. But, as they say, you just keep on doing you. LOL
The buffet is black. Sometimes it does look blue in photos. I actually just edited my post photos a bit because it was reading navy blue. But, you are right – different strokes for different folks! It would be pretty boring if we were all the same!
Love it! However, I loved it white also. 😊
I love it! So much richness!
Just love the paint color and the cabinet. Good for you for
choosing to redo the piece and want to keep it in the family.
The corner cabinet looked good painted white but the new soft green looks really nice too. Sometimes we just need to refresh our rooms and what better way than with a coat of paint and something we already own. I have no problem painting any wood piece in my home. They are not museum quality and should be enjoyed.
Sharon
That’s so gorgeous. My favorite color is green. I think I must missed it reading, but what is the green color? Just beautiful
Found it! I feel stupid overlooking color. Lol
It’s absolutely stunning! Wonderful color. I can feel the warmth and age just looking at it! Most of all it’s your choice for a piece that is sentimentally yours! Well done.
This is a beauty and the color is so pretty, calm, and looks like Spring/Summer. I am saving the paint name, I HAVE to find some way to use ut in my home.
Doreen,
Absolutely stunning. . .in green!
Love the history behind your primitive cabinet!
During the ‘refreshing’ in my home, I’m bringing about changes
that reflect my personal desires, tastes and needs.
As you, friend,have done here.
Well done!
Pat
It looks so nice. Love the color!
Doreen, I love it. So nice to have a piece with family history. My parent’s just gave me an old cabinet from my dad’s childhood. That would make it over 80 years old! There is a story of my dad rolling under it as a baby and getting stuck🤣. I might paint it this color, there is a layer of green paint under several layers of white, so it would be perfect to return it to a green color. Thank you for sharing your paint story.
Loved hearing your story too!
This is gorgeous, Doreen!
It is beautiful, however I am sad that the original finish of a real antique has not been maintained. People used to refinish their antiques many years ago and now the common feeling among those in professional positions state that original finish should be kept. If not the value of the piiece (other than family value) is lost.
How Beautiful! I loved it white, but I am really loving adding in soft muted colors, myself, right now. So, I am really loving the new look of your primitive cabinet
I think it is gorgeous. I have one similar and was undecided what color to paint it. Now I know….you did a great job staging it also!
I’m so glad you like it, Wanda!!! I’m sure your’s will look terrific!
I love this color and you now have motivated me to paint my Solid cherry wood corner hutch.
I always love this piece but we recently did a kitchen renovation that went into the Dining Room and it’s currently lost. It needs something!
I think LUX will make it pop! I love it!
Is ACE Hardware the only place to carry it? What type of finish did you get? Thanks for all the tips! Can’t wait to get started!
Maria