Buying Old Furniture

I've been wanting to get an old nyonya pantry cupboard for quite some time now. There is really no other piece of furniture that is so closely associated with the Malayan kitchen. In my primary school days, I would come home from school and head straight for my grandmother's cupboard where lunch awaits. It is very hard to find one in KL now unless you are willing to pay quite a high price for an over-refurbished piece.

So, it was with this quest in mind that I drove down to Malacca with Lars last month. We went straight to my favourite junk store in the old Chinatown which is ran by a rather eccentric proprietor, Mr Tham. I ended up buying a 1930s turquoise cupboard for a little over RM200. It's not a proper pantry one but I like the old paint job. Looking at this photo, you might think WTF? It needs a bit of work but I can make it quite presentable. I am thinking of lining the inside with striped or polka dotted cupboard liners.

I am really inspired by the way Tricia Guild furnished this New York loft:

Meanwhile, as I was negotiating, Lars got busy checking out the odd self-help messages that old Tham put up around the store.

At least the guy has some entertainment value.