Remembering the harrowing task of refurbishing my kitchen cabinet

When I was a stay-at-home “domestic engineer” I tried my hand at refinishing several pieces of furniture. The pieces were sometimes cast-offs that family members no longer wanted, and some we “bargain bought.” My favorite of all the pieces I did was a 1920 era kitchen cabinet with metal leaf for workspace, a flour bin with a sifter, and three doors concealing shelves where dishes or pots and pans could be stored.

A friend sold us the cabinet at an unbelievable bargain. She and her husband bought it when they married, and she no longer had a need for it in her modern kitchen. She feared it was going to be stolen from the building where she stored it. Our friend said we could have the cabinet and what was in it for the same price. It contained beautiful glassware from the same period. I was thrilled beyond belief at our good fortune.