Let’s start the year out right – giant antique card catalog.
I like my New Year’s resolutions to avoid any whiff of self-evaluation. I am already the best at what I do: irritable, controlling, whimsical, hoarding, weird grammatical choices… there is no room for improvement.
As validation that I am doing life extra right, the universe has sent me yet another giant piece of furniture that I do not need… practically for free.
Thanks, universe!
Paul and I were both home… We had an out-of-town event and were planning to leave around noon.
By 11 o’clock, I still hadn’t taken a shower. Or packed. Or generally done any of the things I needed to; but because there is never a time when procrastination is not appropriate, I decided I should look on craigslist.
And? This is why you always, always, always, always check craigslist.
No. Matter. What.
I already said this in the Victorian Wardrobe post but it bears repeating:
When there is something on Craigslist that you really want, and it is listed for a ridiculously low price, you must contact them correctly.
To stand out from the 400 emails the seller is going to get, you must be the one person who requires nothing. You must be a beacon of simplicity and straightforwardness:
Hi,
I want that.
I can come anytime.
I can move it myself.
I don’t need your help.
Here is my phone number.
My social security number.
My bank account number.
Then I went and said to Paul– small detour ahead.
Paul said – you know, we need to leave pretty soon.
And I was like – yes. I know. THIS IS WHY I NEED A CREW.
He looked at the pictures and said – I thought you didn’t like oak?
I said – true. I do not like oak. However? For $50? I REALLY LIKE OAK.
It was not even 10 minutes away— in the loading dock of an office park.
It’s not in perfect shape, but for $50? It’s in FANTASTIC condition.
In the craigslist photos, I could kind of see that something was off about the stacking… if you look above, you can see that there is a thin, chipped board sticking out; but it turned out to be no big deal– at some point they had split up the sections and made a makeshift top.
It’s missing two strips of the decorative molding… one of which we found in a drawer. We’ll hold off on reattaching it until we figure out what side needs to be the “good” side.
**random transition**
This post has been sitting, (unfinished) for over a month now…
I have tried to end it a couple of ways: speculating on what I might use a 55 drawer card catalog for. Gibberish about repurposing it for the kitchen. Trying to think of new and ridiculous ways to stage it.
But what does it really matter? I’ve acquired it, it is awesome, eventually its purpose will be revealed.
The End.
OR
It will serve no purpose, and it will just take up a giant chunk of space and become yet another unusable area of the house.
Based on my research conducted over the last weeks, this is the likely outcome.
I’ve moved it from room to room to room to room to room… stood back and thought – that does not look right… then after a few days, I start stacking other unused furniture bits on top.
If I reach the ceiling, I win some kind of disorganized/hoarding prize.
see all my favorite Craigslist finds
January 6, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
I have been stalking Craigslist for 2 years in search of something like this! I want to use it as a liquor cabinet. Yep…just like me in college; all studious looking on the outside, all boozy goodness on the inside.
January 6, 2015 @ 5:37 pm
Lady. I can’t begin to tell you how insanely jealous I am that you found that for that price. I sew, and I have been searching for a piece like that for actual decades at a price I could afford, and have never ever seen one under $500.
January 6, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Are you quite sure you have no room for a library in the house? You could be Madame Librarian, tell us to shhhhhsh, and recommend good reads. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
January 6, 2015 @ 5:44 pm
I’m sorry, but you have to give it to Paul. For his screws, and screw drivers, and nuts and bolts, and biscuits.
January 6, 2015 @ 5:50 pm
It’s friggin awesome! Of course you should own it. Although I might suggest not keeping anything in the drawers that you want to find again down the road, as you’ll never remember where you put it. Or at least, I wouldn’t ever remember….
January 6, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
Definitely the best purchase so far.
January 6, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Fantastic get! Congrats. Are the drawers big enough to hold a bottle of wine? Just sayin!
January 6, 2015 @ 9:05 pm
These are so awesome. It matches a cabinet that I picked up about 2 years ago. If you need to get rid of a few, let me know. My little cabinet could use a bit of company.
January 6, 2015 @ 9:59 pm
As a former library manager, I can tell you that old card catalogs are WONDERFUL. They can hold myriad (or if you prefer “a myriad of”) cool little items. My favorite is craft items…beads, wire, etc. Depending on the style of catalog, you might have to line the drawers to things don’t fall thru.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
Use it for a jewelry box! You can sort it by material (i.e.: pearls), color, etc. I use two map cases with the wide flat drawers for my jewelry – it’s great.
January 6, 2015 @ 11:17 pm
I see a jewelry box in your bedroom.
January 6, 2015 @ 11:51 pm
Awesome score! My head is full of ideas for this. Aside from ideas like storing craft supplies, accessories, or wine, I can imagine the sections mounted on a base to become your kitchen’s new ISLAND! If there aren’t quite enough to make a level surface, Paul could build boxes/shelves to hold baskets. Not only would it be beautiful, it would also be very practical!
January 6, 2015 @ 11:53 pm
I could easily fill this with sewing/crafting/snack supplies ! What a great find ! ~I am referring to both this antique and your husband 🙂 Don’t tell him, but he needs to stop trying to stop you. He’s already guilty by association/your partner in grime.
January 7, 2015 @ 12:25 am
You know…. I was just looking for one of those. I make my own homemade products. Naturally this means I happen to have a broad variety of herbs and oils and all sorts of goodies. I’m thinking storage for make up and beauty care stuff. And I would let you let me have one of those if it’s any help 😛 … Just saying
January 7, 2015 @ 2:02 am
That’s a great find. I wish my small house had enough wall space for big pieces.
January 7, 2015 @ 8:25 am
What a great find! Happy New Year to you and what a great start.
I’m thinking I’d have 55 drawers to store things that I really didn’t need. Then my wife couldn’t say I wasn’t organized. I’d be able to prove that I was. Sort of.
January 7, 2015 @ 11:02 am
Wouldn’t this be a fun thing as ones children grew up. It could contain little surprises for being quiet or helping with chores, or not injuring ones siblings’. Notes from a mystery friend with clues to treasures around the house and yard. Small toys or a special sweet treat. I think kids could find this fascinating-as they got older and taller they would be allowed to access higher and higher drawers. Till they finally find the keys to their first jalopy. With finds of the portal to Narnia and a magical mystery chest you definitely have some sort of otherworldly connection to Craigslist. Wonder what’s next?
January 7, 2015 @ 11:53 am
Will you be taking those cards out of the random drawer fronts? It would drive me insane that they are in some of them but not all of them and really the fact that they are there at all…lol
January 7, 2015 @ 12:10 pm
Always look forward to your posts! Thank you! 🙂
January 7, 2015 @ 1:57 pm
Hi, just discovered you! Love the craigslist Card catalog find for $50! My husband and I have purchased several catalogs off Craigslist. Best find was a 108 drawer (54 drawers back to back). Made half of if into kitchen island/buffet. It holds everything, from silverware, spices, utensils, to wine and a drawer for each of my kids’ keys/wallets/chargers/junk.
January 7, 2015 @ 11:04 pm
That was my suggestions, too! Please post a photo of your island!