Wendy Zock

If you know me, you know I have a hard time passing up
anything old. I love vintage pieces, thrift store finds, and
especially things that someone else might not see much
use for anymore. I’m always looking at something and
wondering what I could turn it into instead of buying
something new.

When I found out I was one of the Top 8 finalists in the
American Farmhouse Style 2027 Brand Ambassador
Search, I knew I wanted my project to represent that part
of me.

I didn’t want to go out and buy a bunch of expensive
supplies or create something that felt too complicated. I
wanted to take something old, give it a new purpose, and
create something that could actually be used in our home.

That’s where this old window came in.

I have been working on this blue bedroom remodel, and
there was a little spot on the wall that still needed
something. I could have bought a cabinet, but where’s the
fun in that? I loved the idea of finding an old window and
turning it into a cabinet instead.

Once I had the window, I built a simple wooden box with
shelves to fit behind it. After everything was put together,
I painted the new wood white so it would blend with the
old window. I didn’t want the window to look brand new.
The worn areas and imperfections were exactly what I
loved about it.

Then I added some pretty brass hinges and the window
already had this old-fashioned latch, and that was when
the whole thing really started coming together. The old
window became the cabinet door, and suddenly it looked
like something that could have been in the house for
years.

I decided to hang ours on the wall because I loved the
idea of adding storage without taking up any floor space.
But it could just as easily sit on a dresser, buffet,
countertop, or another sturdy surface. I think that’s one of
my favorite things about this project. Someone else could
make one and use it completely differently.
Then came my favorite part: filling it with things I already
love.

I added vintage books, blue-and-white pottery, flowers,
old glass, and a few little treasures I’ve collected along
the way. Nothing inside was purchased just to fill the
cabinet. I wanted it to feel collected instead of decorated.
And that really sums up the way I feel about our entire
home.

I don’t think you have to spend a lot of money to make
your home beautiful. Some of my favorite pieces are
things I’ve found secondhand, brought home, and figured
out what to do with later. Sometimes they need paint.
Sometimes they need a completely new purpose. And
sometimes they’re perfect just the way they are.

That’s what I love about this little cabinet.

It started with an old window that could have easily been
passed over, a few basic boards, some paint, and an idea.
Now it’s hanging in our bedroom filled with things I love.

It isn’t perfect, and I wouldn’t want it to be.

For me, creating a home has never been about buying
everything new. It’s about finding beauty in what’s
already there, giving forgotten things another chance, and
creating something you love without spending a fortune.