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 13, 2015 @ 1:55 pm
It looks like a great find to me, even if it is sitting there getting in the way! It looks pretty nice from where I’m sitting. 🙂
January 13, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
Shoes! You cradle shoes in it, wrapped if needed so they don’t scuff. With a mini-pic or label on the front tag. I want this when you tire of it.
January 13, 2015 @ 7:32 pm
Oh how fun! I have not had good luck with Craiglist. It could be because what I am looking for is hard to find (currently an old iron drafting table to use as a floating kitchen island). Probably a good thing that I am not lucky on Craigslist …we won’t have much room in our Boston civil war-era house for awesome finds like a card catalogue!
January 18, 2015 @ 2:17 pm
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes,
You are my hero.
January 20, 2015 @ 6:49 am
What a fantastic find! I’m new to your website and have loved seeing all the wonderful things you scouted out on Craigslist, and all the restoration work you’ve done to your home. My husband and I need to furnish our 1880s Victorian, and I have a feeling that Craigslist will become our go-to place for furniture, as well. So glad I found your blog — looking forward to reading through all your archives!
January 20, 2015 @ 11:10 pm
I think you are right Victoria this will just be a useless big piece of furniture taking up a lot of space in your beautiful home. I would love it. I can catch the next flight and pick it up tomorrow. Is 6am too early?
So jealous I love your great deals. Congratulations!!! Happy New Year to you.
January 23, 2015 @ 10:46 pm
Wow! What an incredible find. Even if it’s not perfect, it gorgeous and is a real keeper.
January 31, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
omg. I AM SO JEALOUS.
I have always wanted a card catalog, and I can’t believe you found one for that cheap!!!
February 3, 2015 @ 12:14 pm
OMG! That is the find of the century! I would have pooped my pants! I have always wanted a card catalog and for my birthday in December my husband searched far and wide to surprise me with one. It is gorgeous and I adore it. What will I use it for? Probably nothing. but it is beautiful in my dining room! And he probably spent a fortune on it. He won’t tell me. Regardless, I didn’t get a master’s in library science so I could be card catalog-less, right?
February 26, 2015 @ 11:47 am
Wait…why can this not go in the kitchen?? It is the perfect antidote for the fury-inducing junk drawer!! Scotch tape in its OWN drawer. 3 pairs of scissors? They have their OWN drawer. Random pens? OWN drawer. Twine scraps? OWN drawer. Super glue? You guessed it…OWN drawer. And everyone’s junk drawer is in the kitchen, hence this MUST go in the kitchen. You’re welcome.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:51 am
Spice cabinet–OMG.
September 29, 2015 @ 11:51 am
Now, this might be a crazy idea, but you *could* turn all those little drawers into several large drawers, and it could become a dresser 😀 for clothes or linens. That would be a project though.
Alternatively, you could use it in the kitchen area for pastas, herbs, all sorts of things, with labels on the front so you know what’s where of course.
You could keep a great many small accessories in it.
You could use it to store seasonal decorations in
You could use it in a garden shed or wherever you keep your garden stuff for organizing tools and seeds and all sorts of things.
October 5, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
I can’t believe I have not come across your blog til now! I started with the post about the card catalog, which led me to another post, and another, and another… And I was laughing out loud the entire time! You are so funny, and I feel like I finally have someone who shares my love of Craigslist, who gets giddy when they see something awesome(for cheap), and who gets downright apoplectic when you are chosen to get that awesome thing. Not to mention your description of your husband’s less than enthusiastic reaction to your excitement being oh so familiar to me. I am so excited to have found you, and can’t wait to start getting your posts.
December 31, 2016 @ 10:08 am
This made my day!
December 31, 2016 @ 10:17 am
Don’t pigeon-hole yourself to a category. Use it to store all bity things in the house – all the things from junk drawers, tool boxes, crafting things, office supplies, even spices. You already have a great system set up for finding them – the alphabet. You’ll be so organized…… 😉
December 31, 2016 @ 10:28 am
I seriously LOVE your posts.
December 31, 2016 @ 11:29 am
You are living my other life! I’m sooo jealous!
I alternate between drooling and laughing at every blog post.
That card catalog would be full of sewing accessories at my house!
Thanks for the escape!
December 31, 2016 @ 12:22 pm
You could use it in a bathroom for the things! Lots of things in bathrooms!
December 31, 2016 @ 1:18 pm
It could win the Guinness Book of World Records’ award for largest spice rack in America…
December 31, 2016 @ 3:06 pm
You said the previous owners had it in two pieces and had a top on it? You could do the same but spread the parts out to make a desk and store office supplies in it?