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 @ 10:05 am
Disorganized hoarders unite, I say! And Happy New Year!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:06 am
I’ve seen them made into way-cool sofa tables – you know, the ones that hide the back of your sofa when you’re lucky enough to have a room large enough that your sofa isn’t shoved up against the wall?
January 6, 2015 @ 10:07 am
Fabulous find…I love Craigslist, but the size of my house does not…found you through Preppy Empty Nester …keep up the good work…going to read your other posts now.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:08 am
You can use this magnificent piece in the dining room to store silverware, napkins, napkin rings, candles, candle holders … there is no end to it’s usefulness.
January 1, 2017 @ 11:34 pm
Yours was the best idea!!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:08 am
Love your new jewelry box, although a tad too large?
January 6, 2015 @ 11:44 am
Kate, what a great idea! Not too big for me! Since I “make” jewelry, emphasis on the quotation marks, (few and far between, but stunning [stretching to pat self on back] when I finally sit down and actually create), I could use every drawer for bead and finding storage!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:09 am
It’s so fun hearing from my kindred sisters out there in blog land. Good going!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:09 am
Wow, cool. I’m going over to craigslist right now. bye.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:11 am
I hate AND love you at the same time for this excellent find. This is one large piece of furniture my wife would not mind in our home. All the other large furniture pieces I’ve drug in and out…those are another story.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:11 am
I say maybe a jewelry (or other accessory) center?
January 6, 2015 @ 10:12 am
Congrats on a great find ! Happy New Year.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’d put it in my sewing/craft room. PERFECT for every kind of notion & doodad you’ve got.
It’s fabulous. I would have snatched this up too!
P.S. Have you checked Pinterest for card catalog DIY’s God knows they’d have something.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:15 am
It’s perfect for storing craft supplies (like glitter). Seeds and small bulbs. Spices and teas. Socks.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:15 am
First. That is amazing. Second. It will indeed be revealed in its glory one day, of that we are all sure. Third. You can tell yourself (and your spouse) that is probably maybe possibly really is ash (which resembles oak in grain and hardness to some degree) if it makes you feel any better. 🙂
January 6, 2015 @ 10:16 am
WOW! Great find, unlimited potential. Particularly like the modularness! 2 short sections, side by side + legs = make-up table (after all you have mirrors). You will find a use, O Lucky One!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:17 am
So sad that someone removed the legs off of the card catalog. The weirdness in the stacking is possible the loss of the sliding shelf. Did I mention that I’m a librarian?
World’s largest advent calendar? Or pick your own adventure for Halloween treats? Great for address cards or recipe cards. Mine have become warrens for loose change, missing buttons, and old mixed tapes.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:17 am
I work in a Library and have only run across a few card catalogs. they were all way over priced. But I often thought what I would do is take one to a cabinet maker and have them remove the front and make large drawers and put the front on exactly as it was to look like little drawers. Useable yet somewhat original. Good luck with the cabinet. It could be a work of art!
January 6, 2015 @ 10:22 am
I saw an example of this done on HGTV or DIY with a much smaller Catalog Cabinet, they made a chair that when scooted up matched the cabinet perfectly.
July 5, 2023 @ 4:52 pm
I could not count the number of times I’ve rushed to a piece of furniture in a store with the “appearance” of lots of little drawers, only to find that they were only rows of big drawers with a deceptive phizod. My husband would agree that this is much more practical but imo it defeats the purpose.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:18 am
I’d use it in a kitchen or craft area, it would be freakin’ awesome to file bits and bobbles, so probably the craft room. oh oh oh or for socks and small items of such. Nice find.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:19 am
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I think it would be perfect for jewelry, scarves, belts, socks, etc. I would love to have this in my home, oh, wait – I don’t have any place to put it – I envy you, to have 55 drawers to put stuff into (as long as it is not too big) is fabulous. I have so much other furniture family inherited, that if I can find places for all of them in my 1500 sf house I will be doing just fine. Love your blog & look forward to it. Thanks for the pick me up…
January 6, 2015 @ 10:19 am
I’ve seen these redone to hold wine bottles. But if you’re into crafting/sewing… awesome storage.
January 6, 2015 @ 10:20 am
I would have grabbed this thing so quickly you would’ve heard the sonic boom from Alaska! I LOVE things with little drawers. I have one that I got at an auction (Dutch Auction, in fact, and I spent a lot more than $50!) that I use both to store my rather large stash of yarn and also to hold the TV at the end of our bed. I have several smaller ones scattered around the house that hold all kinds of odds and ends, and several are stacked to make an end table.