Monday, March 21, 2016

Charming Commode

Okay, how many of you thought I was calling a toilet charming?
commode, dresser, upcycle, reclaimed wood, old spool, antique, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html
Nope, a commode is ALSO a small chest of drawers and when I was given this one, I knew it didn't need much to be charming again. 

antique, dresser, commode, upcycled, barnwood, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html
It had no top so I added a reclaimed wood top, cutting out the curve with a jigsaw.
small dresser, antique, commode, barnwood, wood spools, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html
The top drawer had no handles and while I had knobs that were the same as the knobs on the other drawers, but I chose to add old spools instead.
wood spools, old dresser, commode, small chest of drawers, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html
I am sure this piece was the natural oak color originally, and then pink, and finally  creamy white.  I left it as I got it.
commode, dresser, antique, barnwood, chest of drawers, old spools, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html
I simply washed it down, and then clear coated it. I love pieces from the past, love the stories they must hold, and am happy to fix them up for future generations.
commode, small dresser, antique, wooden spools, barnwood, http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2016/03/charming-commode.html

11 comments:

  1. Charming indeed and I love what you've done to rescue it. I'll also bet that the left hand bottom section held a chamber pot or vintage wash basin back in the day! assuming the piece is old enough. Grin.

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    1. Yes it would have and this one is definitely old enough. It has a great tag nailed to the back of it, from a Dry Goods Store. I can't read all of it, but this piece came out of Virginia City< MT, an old gold mining town.

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  2. What a fantastic job. I love the touch of the old spools, that is very imaginative.

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  3. Beautiful! Love the spool drawer pulls!

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    1. Thank you Laura, I thought they added a little fun and whimsy.

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  4. Becky, just a little FYI, what your piece actually is, is an antique wash stand. I have one very similar that I recently gave a makeover to & I looked for it online to see if I could find out anything about it. The door side was where you would put your wash basin & pitcher. There's many different styles & I saw one almost identical to yours. Just google antique wash stands & check it out. Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you. Looks awesome by the way.

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    1. Thanks Deb, it is actually called by both names. But, washstands tend to have a harp or towel rack/holder and this does not and does not look like it ever did have one. The chamber pot would have been kept in the little cupboard, thus a commode. We use both names at the antique place I work at, but usually call the pieces without the towel rack commodes.

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  5. You're absolutely right Becky. I didn't know it could be called either. When I was a young teenager my parents bought 2 octagonal shaped end tables & called them commodes. Hence my confusion. Didn't mean to sound like a know it all, because I certainly don't. Nice to learn more about it. Thanks.

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    1. No worries at all Deb, I appreciate your input!! I just didn't want to call it a washstand since it didn't have the towel bar, especially on the tag to sell it. I didn't want someone to think it was missing something. The idea of a chamber pot actually being stored in the cupboard is a little less than pleasant. Indoor plumbing is a good thing!!

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  6. Ha, you are so right. If there is just one modern convenience that I really appreciate it would be my indoor plumbing. And I definitely don't mean an indoor chamber pot hidden in a cabinet!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!