Boxing Up Your Armoire With Style

By Jim Connelly & Peter De Sousa
October 2008

Treasure hunting secrets revealed

When it comes to decorating the tops of armoires, we have all been subjected to the most commonly used camouflage fillers. The old favorites were either a trailing plastic ivy plant, very cleverly positioned to ramble and dangle a wee bit ... just enough to trick us into believing it was the real deal. No one was fooled. Once the dust settled like a light coating of snow the love affair was over!

Option two was the collection of different sized hat boxes that resembled an oversized set of kitchen canisters from the 60’s. That’s when we morphed into “designer mode” and had the brilliant idea to use our left over wall paper to cover the boxes. Most of us were guilty and thought the shiny bathroom wallpaper looked so good on those hatboxes. We were such a clever bunch of poor sods.

Psssst ....

Now, listen very carefully as we divulge one of our best kept secrets ... go Good Will hunting. These stores are an absolute goldmine, an Aladdin’s cave filled with forgotten treasures. Warning: Now that we've told you, we may have to (s)kill you.

Treasure hunting is a delicious, intoxicating and addictive experience best enjoyed when you gear down into "slow mode". We work as a team when out on a hunt (it gives us an edge). Remember, it's essential to appear calm, and in no way show any sign of excitement when you locate a lost treasure. This is hardball folks ... a poker face is a must. Take a deep calming breath then make your move. When closing in on the target, we've got this maneuver down to a fine art! Still, one has to think fast when the unexpected happens.

The best laid plans ... plan B

On one recent treasure hunt, Peter had circled the quarry (a genuine antique Japanese netsuke) – positioning himself to block all entry to the target area. Jim started to make his move when suddenly, out of nowhere an intruder snuck up from behind and snatched the precious piece right from under our noses. Talk about gobsmacked! (FYI: Netsuke are miniature sculptures that were invented in 17th century Japan. Originally used as button-like fasteners, they evolved into highly prized works of art. Wikipedia gives a pretty good description of the history).

Thank goodness for Peter's quick thinking. “Is that a Faberge egg?”, he hissed in his best Russian spy voice. The woman whose mitts were still on the netsuke, followed Peter's gaze and loosened her grip. Distracted for just a second, she let go of the much treasured object and Jim swooped in for the (s)kill. Our hero James Bond would be proud!

But let’s get back to the armoire ...

We have a love affair with old leather bound books and vintage boxes. While on hunting adventures, we started to collect all kinds of leather vintage cases and boxes with cool padlocks and interesting hinges. Thus we discovered a perfect design option to dress up the tops of armoires.

The warm ambiance and glowing patinas from the time worn leather, all still functional for storage and lined with rich plush velvet plus the richness and textures of each leather box, invokes a past era and allows us to become time travelers. One can't help but wonder how many journeys and adventures they had with their previous globetrotting owners.

Should you decide to take it, boxing up your armoire is your next assignment. And remember stealth and (s)kill are a must when treasure hunting. This article will self-delete in five seconds ...