Gemini Finds | Restoration Hardware French Casement Double-Door Cabinet
Restoration Hardware French Casement Double-Door Cabinet - $2,525.00
Wayfair Glacier Peak Standard Bookcase - $1,959.99
Pier 1 Cremone Collection Cabinet - $799.96
These charming cabinets/bookcases all have a distinct French farmhouse look that works well in a modern or vintage interior. They would look beautiful in a warm, modern, minimalist room like the setting for the Restoration Hardware cabinet, or of course they would also look at home with a traditional farmhouse or transitional style interior.
The most interesting design element of these cabinets or bookcases is that all 3 incorporate Cremone style hardware.
Cremone bolts are a locking device where vertical rods are mounted on the exterior surface of traditional French doors and casement windows. Turning a handle raises or lowers a rod into a locked position at the bottom or top of the door.
They first appeared in France in the 18th century, although it’s believed they originated in the Cremone region of northern Italy. Cremone bolts quickly became popular since they offered more security than earlier locking mechanisms, as France’s cities became increasingly urbanized. Many Parisian apartments are still equipped with traditional Cremone locks on their windows and double doors.
The Restoration Hardware French Casement cabinet feature crown molding along the top and both of its’ doors have have beautiful full-length cast iron Cremone hardware locks.
The Wayfair Glacier Peak bookcase is unique because it uses reclaimed pine in the frame. I always think it adds extra interest and creativity when something new is created from something old, as well as being a good use of an existing resource.
The Pier 1 cabinet pictured is the Linen Gray finish which features contrasting casements in natural wood. It has Cremone hardware on one of the doors.
Once you have a cabinet (or any set of shelves) then you can begin the fun part - styling it! I don’t know about you, but I’m always a sucker for the “Cabinet of Curiosities” theme - interesting bits of flora and fauna along with whatever else I find intriguing.
My own “Cabinet of Curiosities” including a vintage typewriter my boys used, a chunk of found coral, IKEA seashell illustration, and concrete giant clam shell.
For flora - greenery always works whether real or faux, tillandsias so long as the’re close to a window or rotated in and out. Or better yet, flora that is not green! So no worries about keeping it alive! An interesting piece of driftwood, found pinecones, or your kids’ acorn collection housed in a pretty bowl all look lovely and can be meaningful or sentimental as well.
Fauna - a beautiful seashell - real isn’t necessary (there are some beautiful cast-concrete versions or thrifted vintage ones), your kids’ seashell collection from that amazing vacation (some of my best souvenirs are found and free), a figurine or small framed illustration of a favorite or beautiful critter (ebay is a great source of inexpensive vintage prints/illustrations you can then DIY frame).
Mix in some pottery, favorite books either stacked or on end and held in place by a bookend (removing dust-jackets often makes for a cleaner look) and any other object that you think is meaningful, useful, or beautiful. Voila, you have a lovely French vintage style cabinet holding some of your favorite things behind casement glass windows kept securely in place with Cremone-style metal hardware.
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