Dressed to Impress

A  dresser, also known as a Welsh dresser or buffet, is a piece of freestanding furniture that consists of a sideboard with drawers at the bottom half and a shelf rack on top. Traditionally, it is a practical piece of furniture which was used to store and display a china service, beautiful copper pans, jelly moulds and other metal kitchen implements.

Slowly throughout the 19th century the purely functional role of the dresser was superseded with other functions, such as being the most beautiful way of displaying the best china service in the home. This led to the humble dresser finding its way into dining rooms, where it is now used as a sideboard and the rack as a place to exhibit your best china.

It is such a versatile piece of furniture and completes a home, I think. Equally at home in the kitchen, a dining room or sitting room, it adds a touch of homeliness that no other piece of furniture can match.

Not only providing storage but providing a home and display for favourite china or other personal effects,  in so doing, it reflects the personality of the one who dresses it. 

 Being on the large size very often, when they do reach the end of their 'shelf'' life (excuse the pun), they arent easy to dispose of, which is where I love to step in, when the owner needs to replace them. 

They then provide me with a blank canvas to get creative.

 Since we are in the business of selling on, I tend to alternate between neutral shades which sell well, and bright colours, which I love and I hope others will love too.

 Painted in two tones of Farrow & Ball Archive Estate Eggshell & Autentico Neutral Chalk Paint to the door panels, the backboard has been dry brushed for a more rustic look. 

A 20th C hardwood dresser painted in Annie Sloan Greek Blue and waxed

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint comes in some stunning bright colours which can be distressed and dark waxed, a perfect finish for antique dressers, while Farrow & Ball produce some lovely neutral shades to compliment pine.

19th C Oak Dresser with Geometric Mouldings painted 
in Annie Sloan Antibes Green

Decoupage to door Panels

Stencils and decoupage can be applied to add a vintage French look to a modern dresser

'Boulangerie' Stencils to doors and backboard

and occasionally the shape of a dresser can determine a theme 

Old Charm Oak dresser painted in Annie Sloan Louis Blue & Old White for a nautical look


While the funky and unusual reflect my own taste, I 'm very conscious of not losing sight of what most people prefer to compliment their homes, i.e. Neutral tones, and this dresser which Ive just finished is designed with those in mind. 

All these dressers have been given a new lease of life. Having provided many years of service from new, they can now provide many more years of both style and function, with a new story to tell from their shelf displays. 

What better way to dress to impress! 

For details of dressers we currently have available, you can go to The Owl Cottage Secret Cupboard, our Facebook Page,  for more details.

One man's trash......

We were asked today if we would clear the remaining items from a house that belonged to a lady who had recently gone into a care home. Her house needed to be sold to pay the fees, and the effects cleared as soon as possible.

Although we dont normally do house clearances, we agreed in this instance to help out. While there was nothing of particular value, nevertheless, there were some nice items that could be re-vamped, and it is always far better to recycle such furniture, than them ending up in landfill.

Its always a little bit sad to see someone's life possessions being disposed of in such a way but it does ensure continuity of use for those items and its a true saying that none of us can take our possessions with us when we are called to leave this earth. In fact, it puts life into perspective and makes one realise that it isnt things that are as important, as people, and that we should never take friends or family for granted, but show them that we care whenever we can.

Our possessions are simply on loan to us for as long as we care to keep them and in the case of antiques and quality furniture will almost certainly outlast us. Each piece of furniture tells a story in its scuffs, bruises, ink marks and patina. Thats why I love not only antiques but pre-loved furniture in general. When we no longer have a use for a piece, it can be passed to the next in line who will leave their imprint on it and so it becomes an intrinsic part of our heritage to be enjoyed by each generation.

And with each generation, the finish of the chest of drawers or the table will reflect the fashion of the day.  From the dark wood stains of the Victorian era,  the utility white gloss of the mid 20th century, to the stripped and waxed pine of the 80s - and now the fashion for shabby chic furniture which started in the Noughties.

Victorian Mahogany Writing Table

Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers

Victorian Washstand painted in Annie Sloan Duck Egg

I wonder what the next trend will be - mmmmm - perhaps I should be starting it!

Shipping Day - Couriers & Carriers

With four items of furniture to be shipped out, our first priority had to be to ensure each was fully protected with bubble wrap for transit.

Victorian Dressing Chest Painted in
Farrow & Ball Lime White

A dressing table destined for a Manor House in Cornwall, a Georgian tea table to Wales, a students bureau to Sussex and a bookcase to Baldock which we were delivering. The beauty of Ebay is that it reaches the parts that other websites dont, and we can ensure items are delivered door to door thanks to our reliable Nationwide courier service. We also have the added advantage, thanks to our volume of business, to be able to offer this service at an affordable flat rate.

Regency Mahogany Folding Tea Table

20th Century Students Bureau

Ercol Vintage Bookcase

Since we work from home, as a concession to our neighbours, we rendezvous with our courier at the local A1M service station to hand over the items, rather than have a regular collection outside our cottage. Anything to keep the peace, since early on, our immediate neighbour objected to a courier van being loaded on a weekly basis next door to her house.  Despite the fact she looks out on a beautiful church in a country lane - a commercial vehicle calling once a week was, for her, a blot on the landscape and just unacceptable.

We also sent a parcel off via our local post office, as well as one via Hermes - a brilliant courier employing local people to collect and deliver parcels, hold on to them all overnight until they are collected by a main van and taken to the depot. This keeps their charges to a minimum and provides local employment too. The Post Office could learn from them.

While Mike took charge of packing and despatch, I completed painting an Edwardian washstand in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg which I finished in dark wax fading to lighter tinted wax.

I also painted a Victorian pine table base and two chairs in Duck Egg, with tinted wax to create an aged effect, as well as a bookstand. For the latter, I used the paint effect suggested by Annie Sloan in her book, Paint Transformations - two contrasting shades on the same brush. In this instance, I used Antibes  Green and Aubusson. Delighted with the end result. Photos to follow.

Thursday 5th July

While Mike rendezvous'd with our courier to hand over a van load of furniture for distribution all over the country, I embarked upon my latest paint job - a Victorian pine shelf unit which came into our possession in a rather poor finish, and screaming out for an Annie Sloan makeover.

So, I was pleased to have a project where I could use a shade I'd not used before, Aubusson, combined with Farrow & Ball's Lime White for the interior. I was really pleased with the end result.

Antique Pine Shelf Unit Painted in Annie Sloan's Aubusson
with Farrow & Ball Lime White Interior

Listed today are two very traditional and elegant pieces of furniture in Bleached Walnut, a gorgeous pale walnut finish, by the renowned furniture retailers, Maple & Co. Soooo elegant.

Please feel free to browse our Ebay shop for details of the above and other items we have for sale.
A perfect end to the day was for us  to cool off with a top down drive this evening to Wimpole Hall, the National Trust owned property close to where we live, making the most of the sunshine and the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside.

First Entry - 4th July 2012

I'm taking my very first baby step into the world of blogging, motivated by some of the fine blogs Ive stumbled across on my world wide web travels.

Described by some as a silver surfer, though I prefer to think of myself as a savvy surfer, I embraced the internet about 10 years ago and soon went from making the odd purchase on Ebay to becoming a full-time seller with the invaluable help of my husband, Mike.

Our Ebay Store

Now with over 3,700 positive feedbacks, accumulated over the past few years - with not one negative, I'm rather proud to claim,  I have found that, for all its faults, Ebay has provided our business, Owl Cottage Collectables,  with a worldwide clientele from all walks of life and cultures.

What they, and we, share in common is a love of all things vintage.  

Whether it be a high end antique or an upcycled preloved piece of furniture, it is not only far more environmentally friendly than something bought new on the high street, but has an individuality and charm that simply cant be replicated - offering the new owner something which is unique to them.

From our cottage in Cambridgeshire, we enjoy foraging at antique fairs, auction houses and sometimes the odd car boot sale in order to rescue and restore vintage finds to their resplendent best.

I love transforming the odd piece thanks to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and am fast discovering my favourite shades and effects, though would never dream of painting anything which would be devalued as a result.  Here are a few of my past projects and, with the aid of this blog, will add future finds and restorations as and when, as well as a daily journal.