Maximum Impact, Minimal Footprint

The advent of modern, flat screen televisions has had a great deal of impact on the way that we arrange our living rooms. The days of the two-feet deep entertainment center have come and gone. However, the expense has increased as quality has plummeted. Modern Grace Magazine’s Reluctant Contributor identified (early on) the need for a practical solution to overtly contemporary offerings while repurposing heirloom furniture for today. While charming and nostalgic, the china cabinet is sadly making its way into the history books as the kitchen has (for the most part) evolved into the key gathering place for our social functions. Formal place settings have become the exception, rather than the rule. Consequently, china cabinets Maximum Impact,

Minimal Footprint are popping up in every flea market, garage sale and online marketplace. Many still carry a hefty price tag, as the pieces are typically more sentimental than practicallet alone the fortune that our parents and grandparents invested in them. However, before storing yours away, consider the design and how it may serve you and your lifestyle.

While configured for its intended purpose, a china cabinet tends to be bulky and impractical for the ever-shrinking dining room. On the other hand, the cabinets tend to be between only 12-16 inches deep, yet tall and wide enough to accommodate a modern television with storage available below. With a little ingenuity (or a handy brother-in-law) you can repurpose that

heirloom into a stand-alone entertainment center which will likely be constructed of solid wood with American Craftsmanship. Modern Grace Magazine found such a relic at an estate sale for $75. After removing the glass doors and shelves, a little wood putty was used to patch screw holes as well as correcting the results of impatience. We measured for fit with a 55-inch television and fashioned a shelf and two false drawers to center the unit within the upper cabinet. Utilizing faux finishing techniques from previous editions of Modern Grace Magazine, we achieved these results with Rustoleum® Heirloom White.

Please share your thoughts as well as your own creations with us by emailing moderngracemag@cox.net.

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