The second display cabinet I bought on eBay a few weeks ago seriously worried me. First of all it was in a really, really bad condition. Three out of four legs were broken off, the surface had several dents, scratches and holes and it looked as if the cabinet had been standing in the rain for weeks. In addition the surface somehow extremely marked off. I tried to paint it white but every single coat of paint turned from white to somehow-yellow-brown as it dried. I therefor first needed something that is called “Sperrgrund” in Germany, it’s a sort of paint that, once dried, protects the underground from shimmering through the paint. And as I didn’t want to take any risks, I didn’t use the Sperrgrund based on water but the one with syntetic resin, which stinks and takes hours to dry. And then I had to paint coat after coat after coat and … phew.

When I bought the cabinet on eBay for only 30 Euros I actually thought that I got it for a really cheap price. Compared to the work it needed to be done, I don’t know if it really was a bargain buy. Nevertheless it’s always a great feeling to have something individual that you have (re-)designed just the way you wanted it to be. And in the end all the work of the last five evenings really payed off.

And that’s it, in its second version. I laminated the back board with a green-white gingham wallpaper. After I had painted the cabinet in an off-white from bottom to top, I actually did like it but as well thought that it was totally colourless. And as I had thought about painting it red before but didn’t really had the guts to do it, this time I just gave it a try. So I spontaniously bought red paint and put on three more coats of paint on the outside. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure about the colour until I put in the books and put away all the newspapers and dirt around it.

I am so relieved that the outcome is such a beautiful eyecatcher in our living room. I’m totally pleased with my decision and now think that all the work was worth it. Sometimes you just have to take risks, give things a try and trust your instincts. And maybe this 100-year old bookcase will now survive another 100 years.