Like all Designers worth their salt, I have a cache of favorite places to go and find wonderful things for wonderful clients. I will take the exact locations of such places with me to my grave, because if everyone knew about them there would be nothing for me to buy, and we can't have that. I love patronizing the kind of family owned places that not only remember my name, but also remembers most of what I have purchased over the years. I usually have a love/hate relationship with them; loving them for their constant supply of incredible antiques and decorative objects, but hating them for that reason as well, because I feel compelled to buy them all.

At one of my favorite haunts, always peppered with Oriental carpets, antique engravings, and 50's revival kitsch, I found this sad little piece. I know it came from a lot purchased during an estate sale; it came in with a Spanish bedroom suite and some incredible Chippendale chairs. I have never emoted pity for furniture, but there's a first time for everything.

It really was a nice case piece, perfect for a bedside or small entry. It's vaguely French cabriole legs proudly supported by porcelain casters, it's bow front finished by a scalloped apron, with a little spit and polish it could be magic. This would be a charming, dare I say darling, little Victorian chest, had some Sadist with a screwdriver not slapped on some overwrought hardware more suited for a coffin in a Mausoleum than a bedroom chest. Once we get beyond the style of the hardware, which is really a matter of taste, I think the real issue is scale and proportion. It is probably the most common cause for dilemma, yet the easiest to resolve.

My solution is always to map things out, whether it's small scale on graph paper or with a roll of blue painters tape on the floor, seeing it in scale always helps a person to gain the perspective they need. Although, the previous owner of this piece would not have needed to even go to those lengths to get his hardware right. When changing hardware, it's usually a good idea to stick with the same size, so you don't have to be bothered with drilling new holes. Replacing hardware in this manner will not only refresh or update, but also save time and energy.