For much of our lives, we’ve heard the following about love:
If you love something, set it free;
If it comes back, it’s yours;
If it doesn’t, it never was.
– Author Disputed
But, when we are talking about something much less human, such as a great piece of thrifted furniture, I generally follow my own advice:
If you love something, snatch it up;
If you come back, it could be gone;
And you will spend months obsessing about what never was.
– Lindsay
Y’all can quote me on that, if you’d like. I know it’s really deep.
Recently, a new furniture consignment store opened in my little town. We had a consignment store here previously, but it was more like 5% consignments and 95% new furniture that the owner bragged to me just came in from Thailand. Nothing against Thailand or new furniture, but that’s not really what I go into a consignment store looking to find.
I had my doubts about our newest shop, but stopped in a few weeks ago when my son had an appointment in the medical building next door. I was initially disappointed because inside the front doors I basically saw nothing but new pieces. But, the owner told me that he had two warehouses full of consignments in the back. What looked like a small store was really about 8,000 square feet of space.
There was nothing that I particularly needed, but I was like a kid in a candy store. I viewed each piece with the same amount of delight…until I saw two pieces that stopped me in my tracks. One was a long, deep stereo cabinet and the other was a matching hutch and console. I immediately recognized them as being pieces from the 1960s (too much Mad Men watching?), and my brain went into hyperdrive trying to find a place to put them. I didn’t really have the space. I then tried to figure out where to put them in friends’ homes. It’s a bad sign when you try to mentally decorate your own friends’ homes without them asking you to do so!
Did I mention that each piece was only $80? Yeah, you’d have been searching for a place, too.
That day, I couldn’t justify buying either of the pieces since I couldn’t find a place for them, so I had to walk away. It was hard. I obsessed about where I could put them or how I could refinish them. I told Tom about them. I told my best friend about them. I told all of the mothers in the waiting room at Zack’s appointment about them. I was a woman possessed by the thought of owning one of those pieces.
As the week went on, I decided that I did in fact have the perfect place for the stereo cabinet. I had a piece I was already planning on refinishing for that space, but I loved this one so much more. I told myself that if it was still there 7 days later, it was destined to be mine. I had dreams (literally) about what color I would paint it. I was all prepared to store my kids’ wooden puzzles in its wooden slats that originally held records. I didn’t follow my “if you love it, snatch it up immediately” advice, and I knew that I was taking a risk.
Those seven days crawled by, but eventually the day arrived. Emma and I went into the store and made a beeline back to the warehouse where it originally was. Would it still be there? Would it have a ‘sold’ tag on it just to taunt me? If I ran (even though no one else was in the store), would that help my chances of finding it?
Yes. No. And probably not, but it didn’t hurt to try.
She was there. The owner told me that the consignor’s dad had purchased it new in 1964. The daughter-in-law hated it and wanted it out of her house. Obviously, she didn’t see it for all of it’s awesome potential. Do you?
This piece is currently in my dining room, drawers out and doors off. She underwent a major transformation this weekend, and I have a few finishing touches to put on her before I can show her off. Any guesses as to what color her faded, green-tinted self is now? She’s now a little Don Draper meets Living With Lindsay.
Which of the thrift store love tenets do you follow – Set It Free or Snatch it Up Immediately?
Amanda Rose says
That quote is so funny! And true! I passed up a wonderful thrifted pair of shoes and came back an hour later to get them again and they were gone!
Amanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com
Jessica @ Sunny Tuesday says
I love that! The consignor must’ve been crazy! I am definitely a snatcher. 🙂 Then my husband gets on to me for the amount of furniture waiting for a makeover in the garage, so I have to start passing stuff up till I make more room.
Sonya @ So Simple says
Definitely a snatcher! Great (hilarious) quote! Great furniture piece! Can’t wait to see what you did with it.
Laurie says
Hey Lindsay, I am in Austin, too, and would LOVE to know where this shop is, and of course any other great places here you like to go to find deals. And I promise to always ask if “Living with Lindsay has been there and drooling over it” before I buy it!
Christina says
Ha! I try so hard not to be a snatcher. I pick things up (that I can pick up) and walk around the store over and over. I’ll put it back, then pick it up again. I’m a mess. If it’s furniture, I stare. And lean on it and give a “Don’t be looking at my dresser” look to anyone else who might try to look at it.
Just found your blog for the first time today, btw, I’m in love. Can’t wait to read more, you have so many great ideas!
Jenny says
Love the cabinet even before the transformation – I’m seriously swooning over those pulls, fabulous!!
Sarah says
Hey Lindsey,
That is a beautiful piece. I’m currently on a Yellow kick with my projects lately so thats what I’m thinking would look good on this piece, or maybe an off white. Is it going in the same room it is pictured in above?
I am definitely a snatcher. Too many times have I come back the next day to see the furniture I have been dreaming and talking about , have an ugly SOLD sign on it. Heart-wrenching !
Great find!
Ninfa DePalma says
I’m a snatcher, I was so lucky one time, when we lived in DC I would go to the “antique stores in Maryland and dreamed of one day finding a hidden gem. One Saturday morning I went out seeking and I fund a great rocking chair that someone had pained Glossy Black, it was okay but the chair was still tacky to the touch. However the price tag on it was $15.00!! I asked if the price was $15.00 and the man minding the store said yes it is I just need to get rid of it, I had noticed that it had a branding on the bottom of the seat and the year 1897, so score either way it was a real antique and it was mine. I put it in the trunk of the car over a trap. I took it home and immediately started the refinishing process! It turned out better than I ever expected! Now it waits for my first Great-grandchild to be born some day in the distant future. Moral of the story is be a SNATCHER or loss the great pieces!
Venetta says
Oh how what you say is so true. I will forever remember this and quote it each time I walk into a goodwill 🙂 A few days ago I went to one of our local goodwill’s and a lady was looking at gorgeous chest of drawers that I had to have. I stood there gazing upon this beauty as the woman was pulling the drawers out and showing her husband. After a few minutes of watching inconspicuously, I finally decided she was going to get it and told myself to leave. Yep, I just left. Why didn’t I stay and see if she got it? What was wrong with me? I have thought about it so much I feel I might need to go to therapy. I have learned from that mistake. Now I will stalk the item of my hearts desire until someone has a reciept in hand. Love your blog by the way!
Venetta says
I forgot to mention, I am excited to see what you did with this piece. It is a beauty. My first thought was to paint it black and paint the beatiful lattice design a different color. Can’t wait to see what you’ve done.
amanda @ mommy is coocoo says
Um, hello! Snatch it up. I’m also a fan of the “buzz thru.” When you get to a large consignment place, goodwill, estate sale, etc… DON’T linger on the first go around. “Buzz thru” snatch up everything you MAY want and then go thru again slowly.
julie says
Ohhh.. I cant wait to see what you do with this. I think I would have left this behind just because its large but it sure has great bones. Waiting to see how she comes out. Im guessing she is going to be gray?
Sharon says
Lindsay,
I live in Round Rock. Would you mind sharing the name of the new consignment store that you found? I know…..when you find a good one, it’s hard to share with others ;>)
Linda says
This is a cool piece of furniture that my husband would hate! I once dumpster dived for a cool vintage pair of chairs, but I had too many projects. So one day when my husband was making a dump run, he asked me if he could take the old chairs. I, thinking he meant the old wood garden chairs stashed on the side of the house, said “yes”. He meant mine prize chairs I was someday going to reupholster! I think about them all the time and how they would fit perfect in the master bedroom of my new house! Snatch it up! Can hardly wait to see what you did with it! Linda 🙂
Lindsay says
How dare he! LOL
Maureen Baker says
I love this cabinet! I would have bought it too! If I love something at a shop, thrift store, the dump (anywhere) I don’t even look at it close just in case someone is watching and THEY notice it too! I just decide and buy, that’s it. You’d be surprised how many people don’t even see something until YOU DO, have fun, can’t wait to see it 😉