2.03.2012

We get our furniture from Craigslist…and the curb.

Okay. Please raise your hand if, when you see a pile of garbage on the side of the road, you scrutinize it for one of the following:

A) furniture

B) a cat

C) a signed portrait of Ernest Hemingway

D) all of the above.

Anyone? Or is it just me? Either way, I found one of the following on the side of the road over the weekend. It wasn’t a portrait of Ernest Hemingway. I don’t even like Ernest Hemingway. (Bad English teacher.) No, it was actually this little dresser, cast off just up the road for the garbage collectors. It isn’t solid wood, but can definitely be spray painted for an updated finish that will stick. Worst case scenario involves me Rick hauling it back out to the curb if I decide I don’t want it.

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In furniture acquisitions that we actually paid for, we bought this chunky-top dining room table for cheap on Craigslist over the weekend. It extends to 8’ with the addition of leaves. I’m toying with the idea of getting different, chunkier legs and using the base for something else. We’ll see. (I hope nobody reading this despises the word “chunk” in all its various forms, because I just used it a lot. Chunky chunkier chunk. There I go again.)

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We also bought this non-chunky buffet. I’m not sure where this is going to live yet, but it was too good a deal to pass up. For now, it’s in our so-far-untouched front hallway.

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The seller kindly threw in this seen-better-days chair free with purchase. We didn’t even know it existed until we went to check out the other pieces.

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So that’s how we do furniture around here. If you could find anything on the side of the road, what would it be? (Rick would like a baby grand piano, if anyone finds one.) And speaking of husbands, have you trained your husband to look at piles of garbage on the side of the road like I have? ;)

Pssst…in the interest of not bombarding everyone on my friends list with blog updates, I made a blog Facebook page for my personal FB friends who wanted to follow along. If you’d like to follow along that way, too, go here.

24 comments :

  1. Ohh, a baby grand would be a nice find! Lately, we have been trying to find the perfect sectional couch to replace the couch we have. That would be awesome to see show up on the curb!

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  2. that is awesome!!!! i have not found much on the curb, but when i see piles of trash, oh yes, i slow down and look!!!

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  3. Haha! We do this all the time, however, my scores have not been as fabulous as yours. Beautiful!
    Btw, your untouched front hallway is gorgeous! All that molding! I'm officially jealous.

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  4. How do you FIND all this stuff?! WOW. The only furniture I ever find on the side of the road is ugly couches cast off by graduating college students. I'd LOVE to go shopping with you. Road trip to upstate NY!

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    1. College student couches...don't know why you wouldn't snatch those up? Ew.

      And you can come shop my NY curbs any time.

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  5. Those are great finds and purchases! I want to say I love your entry way. That wall and original style board and batten and the rail! The wood!!! Very nice.

    Also, if you read, check out The Paris Wife, it's about Ernest Hemingway's first wife when they live in Paris. Very interesting read. While fiction, part of the details are true. Might change your mind on Hemingway.

    Have fun redoing those chunk and not so chunky pieces!!

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  6. I love your finds. I constantly slow down to look at what's on the curb and try to assess if it is salvageable. I can never find great stuff on Craigslist in our area. I guess we have too many college kids with IKEA furniture, and that's all they sell. Makes me want to go a garage sale this wknd. lol.

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  7. Great finds, but I really love that buffet and your entryway! Gorgeous!

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  8. I love that buffet you got! Seriously- LOVE. The other finds are pretty amazing too! Now I want to go garage saling!

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  9. I have serious furniture envy...TX roads must not be as hospitable as NY. All I seem to spy are old rusty patio furniture or rolls of chain length fence. Classy. I vote bloggy roadtrip!

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    1. yes! Bloggy roadtrip! Is Texas within roadtrip distance of NY?

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  10. Wow! I look at garbage piles and on Craigslist, but I havent gotten this lucky yet! Way to go! Oh and I love your front hall! It looks so awesome!

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  11. You must never, ever give me a hint as to where you live because if you do I will be bringing a truck and ransacking your house while you sleep! I LOVE it all. I wouldn't change the table. I think it's perfect the way it is. My BFF has a sideboard exactly the same and I am always trying to get her to give it to me but no luck:(

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  12. I have actually trained my husband to keep an eye out for salvageable wood pieces on the side of the road that I can use to paint signs on! Unfortunately he has "selective vision" and often misses the big pieces of beautiful furniture. :(

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  13. Good eyes. Good eyes.

    Chunk is such a fun word.

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  14. ~raises hand~

    Seriously, we've grabbed several things out of ditches and people's driveways. Some we've restored, others are still just sitting around... but I have good intentions!

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  15. I pilfer furniture from family members. ;)

    Those are some great finds - I can't wait to see what you do with them!

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  16. I've been watching craigslist FOREVs to find a buffet like that. I mean, JUST like that. Yours is beautiful!

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  17. You've really scored big. I could totally see the base of the dining table working as the base for a console-and the buffet is a-mazing!

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  18. Nice scores! I always slow down to check for furniture, dogs, and cats! I don't find much around here ever. Our Craigslist is pretty horrible too. My dream is a set of mid-century solid wood pieces sitting on the side of the road. I'm sure I could get all superwoman-like and throw them in my car in seconds!

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  19. I love that table.... okay I love all of it!! Also I don't think I've ever seen your entry before. I totally gasped out loud. That woodwork is stunning!!

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  20. I really like the buffet! I'm always envious of people that "find" furniture although I guess I can't expect to find something I don't look for...

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  21. that buffet table is to die for! and i second everyone on gasping at your entrance- the stairs, the woodwork, the floors! stunning!

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  22. AGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!! That is me....screaming....(can you hear me yet?)...because those pieces are amazing...and you found them, not me. ;)

    I always, always look in people's piles. Sometimes I drive by multiple times, very s-l-o-w-l-y just to get a 2nd or 8th look. One of my fave little pieces was sitting upside down in the wet grass.

    Just so you know...my hub is not on board with this "free" furniture idea. But, he's become a bit fonder of Craigslist finds and we have quite a few of those around here that I've redone.

    You have a gorgeous home and beautiful pieces to work with. Can't wait to see it all spiffied up. Yes, I just said spiffied. :)

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