How to find Ironstone & Cabinet Transformation

After collecting for 6 years, I am sharing how to find antique ironstone on a budget.  I’m also sharing the transformation of the vintage farmhouse style cabinet I am displaying my collection in.

You can see more of my collection and the cabinet transformation in this video:

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How to find Antique Ironstone & Cabinet Transformation

I have collected vintage and antique ironstone for over 6 years and finally have the perfect cabinet to display it in.  Find out why my ironstone collection is so meaningful to me, the transformation of an old blue cabinet, and how to find affordable ironstone pieces for your own collection.

Meaning behind my Antique Ironstone Collection

Over six years ago Kurt and I lived in a loft apartment in a small town, about an hour from home, while I went to grad school and he began his career as a mechanical engineer.  We had been searching for a house of our own for about 3 years at that point and dreamed of the day we would have a farmhouse on a lot of land.  We lived right down the road from a thrift store and every Friday I would go to see what treasures I could score.  I fell in love with the look of ironstone and found myself picking up pieces here and there.

This was the very start of my ironstone collection.

Over the years, my ironstone collection grew and I dreamed of the day I would be able to display it in my own farmhouse kitchen.  When we bought our farmhouse about two years ago, there wasn’t anywhere I was able to display it, so it was tucked away in a cupboard.  I had a spot in mind for a glass door cabinet, but the dimensions were narrow so it wasn’t easy finding the perfect piece.  After searching antique stores, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace, I finally found the (almost) perfect cabinet and my In-laws generously gifted it to me for Christmas.  I say almost because it was a navy blue and did not match the colors of our home, but I saw the potential!

Facebook Marketplace Farmhouse Cabinet

Since I needed to take this cabinet from navy blue to white, I decided to prime it first.  This is my favorite, go to primer.  Then I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Raw Silk for the outside and Fusion Mineral Paint in Putty for the inside.  I absolutely love this color combination and am already thinking of other ways I can use these colors together in our home.

Filling my Cabinet with Antique Ironstone

My favorite part of the process was moving the cabinet into the kitchen and filling it with my antique ironstone collection.  Seeing the years worth of collecting come together in one place in my farmhouse was a dream come true for me.  I love the way the ironstone pops against the darker paint color of the bead board, too.

How to find Ironstone on a budget

I have thrifted majority of my ironstone collection.  I wrote an eBook where I share my tips and tricks for finding antiques (including ironstone) on a budget.  You can download it for free HERE.  When it comes to ironstone, I have found some great pieces at thrift stores.  One time I was lucky enough to find a whole set of plates, saucers, and tea cups!  I’ve also had really good luck at estate sales of people who had collected ironstone themselves and were downsizing.  Other great places to look are antique stores, Etsy, and ebay.  These pieces may be a bit pricier, but you are more likely to find what you are looking for quickly and effortlessly.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today!  I hope you leave feeling inspired to tackle a project you’ve been thinking about or get a collection that you’ve been dreaming of started.  If you have other questions about my cabinet transformation or ironstone collection, be sure to leave them in the comments.

Until next time!