You know how a bunch of designers have been saying things like “every room should have something old in it”? Or have I been the only one noticing that lately? Sort of like how they say “every room should have something black in it” (but other than oil rubbed bronze curtain rods or dark mocha wood, virtually nothing in any of our rooms is black – although 95% of my shirts are black, so maybe that counts?). Either way, it’s official. I’m on the “something old” train.
It all happened when I was browsing craigslist (searching the words “dresser” and “sideboard” and “buffet” every week or so, if you’re wondering about my craigslist technique) since we want to convert a big piece of wood furniture like a dresser/buffet/cabinet to be a TV stand in the living room and also want a big buffet-ish piece for the entryway next to the front door. Then bam, out of nowhere, this happened:
I went crazy with sideboard lust. I immediately emailed the seller (it had just been posted that morning) and said “I love your sideboard, is it still available?” People ask us for craigslist tips so here ya go. Tip number one: don’t inundate the seller with a bunch of questions. I’ve found one of the most successful ways to get a good response is just to tell someone you like what they’re selling and ask if it’s still available. No complicated questions about size, finish, defects, delivery methods, price-negotiating, etc. That all makes you sound high maintenance off the bat. Just see if the thing is still for sale first.
Thankfully I heard back from the seller about five agonizing hours later and her response was very friendly. She indicated that she had a number of people interested and she was just going to sell it to the first full price bidder to come get it. This info was no surprise to me (aka: I knew she wasn’t bluffing) since about 99% of the dressers/buffets/sideboards on craigslist here in Richmond are listed for more money and aren’t half as easy on the eyes. We’re talking particle board dressers from Walmart listed for $180! Crazytown. Most other solid wood sideboards usually run around 400 beans like this one:
Tip number two: I like to use the “we’ll come get it and pay you cash right now!” approach when I’m trying to talk someone down on the price of something. But that only works when you’re one of the only people interested (when lots of people are vying for the same piece the seller will usually just wait for the highest bid since their fears of no one wanting what they’re selling are gone). So as soon as I heard that others wanted my buffet I knew it could come down to how badly I fought for it. And we wanted that sucker. Bad. John included. As in, he was totally crossing all appendages with me as an act of sideboard solidarity.
We probably would have paid $200 for it, especially after doing some googling around for something similar and coming up with other solid wood sideboards of about the same size on sites like antiques.com and craigslist alike for around $400 and $500! And when I looked for similar painted sideboards (in that pretty antique blue-green finish like the craigslist one) the prices got even higher. Like 695+ bucks.
So we probably could have purchased a wood sideboard and painted it to look distressed, but I wasn’t finding any other similar solid wood sideboards with the same chunky curved legs and perfect hefty size as the one that already came painted (and it was a few hundred less than the wood ones!). So we went all in. I emailed her back and said “Oh please oh please let me buy it! I’ll pay $155 so you’ll pick me over the others! I love it. If you’re available, we can come get it tonight and pay you in cash. Just say the word. I really am in love with it and promise to give it a nice home!”
Tip number three: if you want something on cragislist, especially something you think is worth more than the seller is asking, definitely give them at least full asking price or it’ll end up going to someone else. Often folks will buy things that are priced too low on craigslist just to resell them for more themselves (and I knew this buffet could go for more if someone linked to a similar one for $700 and made a good case about why it should be $400). So five bucks over asking price was my way of telling her “please pick me!!” – it was certainly worth five bucks to get the advantage and stand out from the pack.
Tip number four: if possible, offer to get the item right away (that way they won’t get an email from someone else offering them $50 over your offer in the day or two that it takes you to collect said item). So I shot off that “please pick me” email and then I waited. And about half an hour later I heard back. Sold! We just had to go grab it that night and bring the cash. So we switched cars with John’s dad (he has a Honda Pilot that has room in the back for pieces like this) and made haste over to the seller’s house with cash in hand while Clara hung with the grandparents. Tip number five: when you know you’ll be carrying a giant piece of furniture down three flights of stairs, it’s always nice to leave children in someone else’s care whenever possible – just so it’s one less thing to worry about while you’re cursing the day you ever laid eyes on that heavy-a$$ solid wood buffet.
About a half an hour later, this guy was in our entryway. And we were totally staring at it in that love-at-first-sight-in-a-cheesy-romantic-comedy way.
Tip number six: if a piece is old and painted, it always makes sense to test it for lead. Just to be safe. I used one of those lead paint test strips from Home Depot (they sell them in a set of four) and it tested out clean (many antique pieces were kept au naturale for decades and only painted in more recent years after lead paint was phased out, so I had pretty high expectations that this wasn’t lead paint but was very happy to have it confirmed). Whew. I do plan to use some sort of clear sealer on it, just to keep it from chipping any further, but I don’t mind the chips at all – I think it totally looks like something Anthropologie or Restoration Hardware would sell for 1K after sanding the heck out of a new piece to make it look old like this.
Once I saw it in the dining room I realized it was totally worth the price and those three long sets of stairs that John and I dragged it down. Doesn’t it look awesome with the green tones in the dining room curtains? This is the view from the kitchen peninsula. Can’t wait to add lamps and stacks of books and art behind it. Wahooo.
It’s pretty much my favorite thing in the whole house. There’s so much storage space and I love those curved baluster legs of hers. And every time I get a little pang about spending $155 for it, I just remember that we only paid $20 for Clara’s dresser that we refinished back in 2010…
…which we’ve now seen selling for $200+ every single time it pops up locally. So I guess scoring one big six drawer dresser and one giant leggy sideboard for $175 total brings the average price per piece down to $87. I can totally live with that. That’s basically the price of a three drawer dresser made of laminate from Ikea. And we actually got the old wood dresser in our bedroom as a hand-me-down from John’s parents (aka: free) so if you add that into the mix, we have three old wood pieces in our house for an average of $58 each.
So as much as we love clean and modern, we have to agree that an old piece in every room is beginning to sound like an awesome idea (we already have that old dresser in our bedroom along with an old chair & dresser in Clara’s room and a pair of old secondhand chairs in our office). And I guess we shouldn’t be surprised about the old furniture thing – I mean we like older homes packed with character, so it makes sense that an old piece of furniture with charm to spare is right up there with a box of Oreos and a Don’t Be Tardy For The Wedding marathon. For me. John wants me to clarify that that’s his idea of a nightmare.
annabelvita says
That is gorgeous! I love the green.
My “rule”is that I like to have one old piece of furniture for every piece of Ikea furniture I have – Ikea is the only stuff we can really afford so to avoid the “we bought the showroom” look I like to mix it up with hand me downs and other olds.
YoungHouseLove says
I LOVE that rule!!
xo,
s
Lindsey d. says
Your luck with Craigslist KILLS me! Why do people in my town think their janky old couches are worth hundreds! And the ask so much more for their solid wood furniture. I apparently used all my Craigslist luck on a MCM, vintage light fixture (that worked!) for $10 back in 2009. It’s been downhill ever since!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s an awesome score! I’d say for every awesome item I see that I actually want and think is priced well on craigslist I see approximately 500+ things that are junk that’s priced way too high. It’s definitely one of those I-look-every-week-and-maybe-buy-two-things-a-year things.
xo,
s
Tanja says
Lindsey, I often am tempted to email people saying “REALLY?”. I am also amazed at the insane prices for some absolutely horrific looking items.
Stephanie says
People always comment on my Craigslist luck as well, but like John and Sherry, I see a ridiculous amount of crap for every good piece that’s worth buying. And of course you rarely tell people about that amazing piece that you almost got, but had it pulled out from under you because you couldn’t leave work and someone got to it first. That’s just not a very interesting story :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s true! We have seen ugles and lost beauties! It’s a tale of love and loss and triumph and tribulation. Haha.
xo,
s
Robin @ our semi organic life says
Love the look and color of it! I think it’ll bring a lot to your house. Great tips too. I’ve been on the search for an old fashion big chunky wooden library chair. No craigslist luck yet.
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
That piece looks FANTASTIC! And the color goes just about perfectly with your curtains – not too matchy- matchy but a perfect play on the green. What a great coincidence!
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
That sideboard looks great! I love the color. And I hear you about trying to get a piece you really like off of CL! I found our card catalogs back on CL back in April after looking for them for at least a year (if I’m going to be honest, definitely longer than that). The price was so low compared to what I had seen that I jumped on it and thankfully got them!
YoungHouseLove says
I love that story!
xo,
s
Shreya says
That. Is. Stunning.
I love the pale green and cannot wait to see how you dress her up :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Shreya!
xo,
s
John@Our Home From Scratch says
Nice find guys!! That’s beautiful to say the least. The craigslist experience is always a fun one.. most of the stuff I’ve bought or sold on there is a power tool or woodworking related so I usually have a nice conversation with a total stranger about the joys of using the dust collector/jointer/table saw or whatever.
Good tips too… Glad you recommended the lead test kit.
We’re still working on our dining room wainscoting this week.. http://www.ourhomefromscratch.com/2012/07/trimming-out-the-wainscoting/
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s incredibly detailed work. Looks gorgeous!!
xo,
s
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
Aww man, she stole my word. I was going to say stunning as well. :) I absolutely love it!!
Alison says
Very cute! I look at craigslist too for solid wood dressers for my entry way. Of course when I found an awesome one, it’s not in the budget that time!
Sandy says
Oh, I thought you were going to put it in the family room as a media center, but I love it in the dining room. You are totally right about the color playing off the green in the drapes!
I found one that was part of a set that looks just like it (doors on the side and everything), and I got the whole dining set for $250! But, mine isn’t painted and chippy (yet!).
Great find!
Jamie says
It’s absolutely GORGEOUS! What a find–and in the perfect color too! Wish I had so much luck on Craigslist. :)
East Coast Creative says
Looks awesome Sherry! I am coveting it a wee bit right now. Even though we’re about an hour outside of Philadelphia, I’ve found I have to use their Craigslist instead of some of the suburbs locations because so many people in the burbs think everything is worth $500 and most times it’s junky. I’ve found great pieces and great prices closer to the city.
Awesome find. Can’t wait to see it all fancy with books and art! Have a great week.
-Monica
YoungHouseLove says
So smart to search closer to the city for deals!
xo,
s
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
I love that sideboard! They tend to be incredibly expensive here as well (which is why Kev and I refinished an old dresser for our dining room instead). For the most part though, all our rooms have at least one old piece because so much of what we have are hand-me-downs!
We use Craigslist all the time, but in general, we’re the sellers.
Renae says
Love sideboards/buffet for entries. We had one handed down to us from my husband’s aunt and it does so well at the front door with a mirror and lamp to catch the stuff that front doors tend to catch (esp. when they’re your main in and out). Nice score youngsters!! BTW please hurry with the styled post, i’m dying to see it!!
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
I once wrote this for something off craigslist –
“Hi – At the risk of seeming desperate – I would really love to have your chairs. We just finished building a double desk in our bedroom and I was hoping to someday find nicer chairs for us other than our mismatched, old rolling computer chairs that look wrong in a bedroom. These would be perfect.” – http://29ruehouse.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/parsons-portraits-and-plates.html
And I LOVE LOVE LOVE old stuff. Now if only we had a truck or an suv or a friend/family member with one. Our house would be completely overstuffed that it would be Aaron’s nightmare.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I love your craigslist quote!
xo,
s
Lisa says
Me too! I did the same thing this weekend, woot woot! I got a c-a-r-a-z-y deal and jumped on it before anybody else could. Mine was just $85 and I still can’t believe it. I recently saw one at a garage sale for $500, but I have to say, that one was in pristine condition. Mine isn’t painted, isn’t perfect, and although I wanted to paint it, I just can’t bring myself to do it. You did get a great deal. I usually call a day late, so I am thrilled. I love it, too, and like you, am also looking for a dresser to re-do for a tv stand, but that one I will definitely paint so I don’t look at ones in great shape. I love me some Craigslist!
Lisa says
P.S. I forgot to say-I love yours and it looks great with the curtains as you mentioned!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds awesome! Congrats on the score!
xo,
s
Julia (PawleysIslandPosh) says
Seriously Richmond, get on board with cheap factor of Craigslist. Everything I’ve tried to buy is gone as quick as it posts!
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
OMG! That is a steal. I’ve been on Craigslist lookout for dresser for quite some time for our guest bedroom. Just posted about it today.
http://whatsurhomestory.com/to-do-list-3/
YoungHouseLove says
Love your plan for that room!
xo,
s
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
Thanks Sherry. That dresser is the last piece of the puzzle.
Karen says
I love it! And I really like the idea of having something old in every room (it reminds me of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”). Sideboard solidarity rocks! What a great find.
Abby says
Aww man I have been searching Richmond Craigslist for something like this. Great score! I also find cool items at Class and Trash just up the road from VCC on RT 1.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, love Class and Trash!
xo,
s
maria says
gorgeous! make sure it doesn’t have bed bugs. or maybe that’s just a huge problem in nyc but they love to live in wood furniture :/
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, John’s an expert on that (he had them in NYC about 7 years ago and knows all the things to look for). He’s always on high alert since it was such a terrible experience for him.
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Ooh, don’t you just love that rush?? What a great find and really defines the entry. By the way, I love the way the wooden goose is about to fly out the door ; )
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, oh yes he was a thrift store find and we love that he’s so weird and funny.
xo,
s
Ellen says
There are some good phone apps for Craigslist that you can set up with your keywords so that any time something is posted you get notified. I’ve got a few set up right now for pieces I’m looking for. I’ve got an Android, but perhaps someone on here knows a good Craigslist app for the iPhone…
YoungHouseLove says
Smart!
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says
Ugh-mazing!! What a steal! And, wow, I can’t believe how perfectly it matches your curtains. Here’s hoping your hunt for number 2 is just as successful. I’m guessing this one isn’t going to be your entertainment unit?
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, I think we love it so much in the entryway that we’re keeping an eye out for another one for the TV. We’ll have to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Sarah says
My husband and I go to estate sales every weekend and completely furnished our home with pieces we’ve collected over the past year or so. I couldn’t be more happy with our results. It’s amazing what you can find if you’re willing to look!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome!
xo,
s
Kim says
Oh, I see why you snatched that sideboard up right quick. I love it, and it looks so good in your entryway with the curtains. But then I have a thing for old wooden pieces, and I totally adore the dresser that John’s parents gave you. I can’t wait to see what you put in/on/above it.
Your Craigslist luck is amazing. I have a hard time getting good deals. I’m stuck at work all day, and I’m single and puny, so I can’t just pop over to someone’s house and drag a big piece down several flights of stairs.
Ainhoa@ALittleBite says
Wow, it’s a great deal! And I love the “something old” rule – too bad we don’t have any decent thrift stores or something like Craigslist here.
Jessica D. says
I inherited an antique sideboard almost exactly like yours that is still au naturale and I always stumble over how to stage it. I can’t wait to see what you do with yours so I can get some inspiration!!
Jen says
I love love love this piece!! I never find stuff this great on Craigslist in my area :(
heather says
Love it! I’ve been scouring Craigslist for a buffet or dresser for my living room since I want to replace my current tv stand with one but I’m not having any luck in my area.
Jill says
Love love love! Well done Sherry!
Diane says
Isn’t that exciting? To find such a treasure, then have it in your home so every time you walk by or into the room, you get a huge grin on your face? That’s what happens to me when I find something new (to me) or make a change that I love. I find myself grinning at it for weeks.
And yes, Craigslist is full of “eye-rolling that-should-be-out-for-bulk-pickup” things but there are so many treasures, too, if you stalk the ads! And the good stuff goes so fast.
ENJOY!
Allyn says
I do love having a quirky old piece in a room, especially when the overall style is a little more on the modern side. We found a super old (like, 1918) Singer sewing machine on the side of the road last year and got it home and cleaned and put in our pretty dang modern living room. It looks so awesome. People threaten to steal it all the time. I tell them that if they can get it out of the house alone, then go for it. That sucker is HEAVY.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so funny!
xo,
s
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
I just want to say — you stole that piece!! That is awesome!! I am waiting with baited breath to see what you do with it! :)
Melody says
You guys did great! That’s a really nice piece. :)
Christi says
I am in love with your new addition to the family… please tell me the name. Mr. Green???
We just got gifted a whole bedroom set that needs love but it is from the 50’s so I need to do some research!
Love the fact you guys talk about craigslist the way people talk about buying a house these days!
xo
Christi
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it does need a name. I think she’s a girl (look at those shapely legs). Maybe Emerald? Or Eden?
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says
Eden!
Angela at A Typical English Home says
I’m on the look out for some old furniture that I can mix with my other modern pieces (think I might have a bit of a crush on your new buffet table, love it!). I like furniture with a history and it makes your home a little more unique. Not sure where I’ll shoe horn in my hypothetical cool new purchases, but I’ll worry about that later!
Mailbox Journey says
Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous!
Shannon says
WOW! That sideboard looks great in there! I think it really looks good with those curtains. How does it look with the color in the built-ins?
YoungHouseLove says
It looks awesome! I’ll have to share further out pics. Since both colors are in the curtains it seems like they work well in the light gray room together.
xo,
s
Reenie says
Love it….and the color.
I’ve found you have to be patient in searching on CL, and search daily (even a few times a day) ~ and soon you will find what you’ve been looking for =)
andrea says
You got an even better steal after doing the conversion! That other sideboard is 695 U.K.! Which is around about 1100 bucks U.S.!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow! I knew it was more in the UK, but that’s a ton more!!
xo,
s
Meredith says
Love this piece! Such a great find guys.
JebberA says
“Though shalt not covet thy neighbour’s credenza”. Shoot, i’m headed straight for the fiery inferno.
Awesome piece! Saaahhweet.
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahaha, I hope our sideboard’s twin finds you soon!
xo,
s
Mamaw says
GORGEOUS!
Robin says
It’s a super great find when you can just sit the piece in the desired spot and have it work so perfectly! Don’t even have to paint {although that wouldn’t be an issue for your talented paintbrush}.
I’m getting ready to list a couple of pieces for sale on Craigslist {in Richmond} for the first time so your tips, even from a buyer’s perspective, were really timely and helpful. Thanks.
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
I love looking at old furniture and just imagining the stories it could tell.
Your piece is beautiful and really compliments the room. Nice find!
Catherine says
SWEEEEET! Nothing gets me as excited as a great CL find, and that is an excellent find! $155 is a killer deal for that piece, and it looks awesome in your space. Congratulations!
I’m curious if the seller recognized you… It seems like someone in the Fan who owned that piece would totally read your blog. :)
~Catherine @ DC-CL (Yes, the CL stands for Craigslist. I’m a fanatic.)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes she did! We didn’t know it until we got there and she shyly said she read our blog. Very sweet girl!
xo,
s
Catherine says
Hahaha, I knew it!
Kate says
I was wondering the same thing!? If I saw that Sherry wanted my piece, you’d better believe she’d be first in line. :)
Jill says
Ooh, I was thinking. These long prints in your bedroom that used to be over your bed…would those work as art over the new sideboard? The colors in the prints might pick up the colors in the curtians and built ins without be over powering? However those prints might be to long. Maybe the wong shape..hmmm.
Ok, now I am going back to work! I swear!
Kisses!
Jill
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I’ll have to try those!
xo,
s
April says
I am green with envy of your awesome sideboard!! One tip if I may; you might consider putting a trailer hitch on your car and buying a small trailer for items like this?? I know it’s not the coolest looking thing but with all the bigger home items you guys buy it might be more convenient. Just an idea. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip!
xo,
s
Jen says
Love that your soundtrack was exactly the right length to be the soundtrack to the post!
CL is great – we made our whole patio for $150, including a pathway with stepping stones and river rocks and borders. Pretty much the only thing we bought was bags of sand so we could work at our own pace.
Kirsten says
It’s almost painful how perfect it is in that very spot! You have an amazing eye … one of the many reasons I ogle your blog every chance I get. Beautiful! I’m so happy for you and your find! :)