A lovely lady got in touch some time ago looking for the right piece for her hall. After sending various pictures and images to get a feel of what she needed, I was confident of her ideals and requirements.
Initially the request had been for a nice hall console. But after we spoke, I got the feeling she needed more. I understood her lifestyle a little better.
With small children she needed storage and also place to ground her children, where they could hold on too, while she put their shoes on. So not just a hall console, this piece was also a place to set a lamp on, a key tray/plate for car keys, house keys when coming through the door. Also a place for a pen and notebook, the things you need at your front door.
It also needed to store all the wee sun hats, woollen hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. So rather than a console table, a sideboard was a much better option.
The sideboard was perfect to store shoes, wellingtons, trainers etc and it had to fit with the existing modern contemporary decor in the house.
So she settled on an antique Jaycee Reprodux Oak Sideboard. In need of much TLC it was dark stained all over inside and out. Its smelled, was damp. Two latches were broken and the top had a few gashes too. So it made for a super transformation.
Jaycee Furniture was founded in 1947 by Jack Cohen. The company are renowned for manufacturing designs based on Elizabethan and Tudor styles, a golden age in England's history when fine cabinet-making skills and craftsmanship were established. Jaycee furniture is quite distinguishable by it's linenfold designs and carving.
It's typically dark but such quality furniture, not everyone would have been brave enough to choose it. It takes vision. We whittled down to 3 colours but finally after sleeping on it, the owner decided on Purbeck Stone by Farrow & Ball. Perfect choice.
So, I set about starting it. Airing it, drying it, cleaning it. Removing two broken latches. Sanding, filling, priming, getting it ready for the first coat.
I colour washed the top and neutralised the dark stain in the wood grain and finished with 4 coats of satin based varnish. This ensures it will be durable.
For the main body I painted 3 full coats. I had a paper in mind to match with it. Beautiful colourful, modern and quirky all at the same time. Luckily the owner loved the paper! So that was easy. I inserted paper inside on the shelf and the base, also in the drawers.
It has turned out so well and the owner is delighted, me too!
