The Bare Necessities. *video*
I am aware that I am a person whose inner Self appears to skew towards frivolous lunatic… Today’s post will do nothing to alter that perception.
Sometimes people wonder how Paul does not find this deeply aggravating, but that is the miracle of Self’s existence: Self is not contingent on anyone’s approval.
Also, Self would like to remind everyone: you cannot relax your vigilance in training your nearest and dearest to always expect the worst.
First, allow me to correct your understandable assumption that this is the Giant Fancy Thing I have been ranting about… It is not.
This is an entirely unrelated GFT.
I am still working on the other GFT… I have yet to be able to sell my soul, despite its fairly usable condition and uncommon shininess.
In the meantime, my decision-making process goes like this: when you have plenty of bookcases, why not get more bookcases?
This is something I hope to fix about myself one day… although, much like St. Augustine – not yet.
Besides, would I deny Paul the opportunity to be photographed at his most flattering angle? I would not!
Back when I got the Eastlake bookcase, a few of you were like— er, hello? Your kitchen pantry? But I was already trying to wear this guy down.
This empire style is simpler and I think it is a better choice for the kitchen, considering both the piano and lady mirror have a lot of ornate detail… plus, I think the decorative elements on this cabinet are sort of evocative of the piano’s legs.
We may try it on the opposite wall at some point— to the right of the low window/possible bench seat… where it is now was my original plan for a pantry, but we’ll see what looks better.
I also bought a Globe Wernicke barrister from the guy… I paid $100 for two stacks, a top and base, and I knew I could sell it and make a few hundred dollars (already sold).
This brought my actual price for the empire cabinet down to $250… my favorite kind of math!
Plus, everyone knows you are not finished until the van is full.
The video switches layout halfway through, because the temporary kitchen arrangement made it hard to get the whole bookcase in with a horizontal shot.
We left off the very top shelf to make room for the super tall containers I use for bulk ingredient purchases… but otherwise spaced the shelves evenly, and it’s working great for storage and SEEING everything! Not rummaging and moving stuff is phenomenal! (I will post a photo on Instagram once I finish getting this post up.)
Svietka
March 8, 2016 @ 3:00 pm
girly, u r the only blogger i follow and it’s not because of your immaculate taste but because u crack me up with your writing (ok, and your huge fancy thingies u get). whatever happened to that other thing u got instead of therapy, where i told u to get rid of plants? did u ever post an update of the room, cause i didnt see it
Kimberly
March 8, 2016 @ 3:13 pm
Your obsession with GFT’s is my favorite. Just like your entire blog/rants. And do hurry along with this amazing GFT that you’ve been telling us about! Start a gofundme page or something 🙂
judy
March 8, 2016 @ 3:26 pm
This is great. I have been cleaning all day and feel kinda proud at my progress. Your home always inspires me with its imaculate state. Do you drive each other bonkers with the cleanliness gene or are you both happy to be married to someone as neat,clean and organized?
It is so nice that you are making such progress on the kitchen. It seems to me we should all try more to enjoy the actual experience of accomplishment,step by step and not rush toward the curtain opening and the “TA Da! moment cause once that moment has passed everything seems anti-climatic and kinda boring. And then we get to critique what we have done in haste and now get to repent at leisure. Slow and steady does the job.
Don’t some old people go on and on and sound all lecturey…..boring….Love to her Nibs and Veb and Paul.
Michele Adams
March 8, 2016 @ 4:52 pm
I may just have to stop getting your posts because every time I read it, my envy goes over the allowable limit . You are just too cute for words, and you seem to have a truly interesting life of hunting and gathering GFT. Your house is lovely in all its stages and your husband can really do “stuff” other than just look pretty. On top of all of that, you’re a cat person, so that means you must be really bright.
Thanks for showing me what my life could look like! Keep it coming.
MA
Kathleen
March 8, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
STOP! STOP! Stop showing me the GFT you found for ridiculous prices that I cannot even find in newer aged Seattle West Coast! I’m green that you even find these pieces, let alone the price!
D'Arcy H
March 8, 2016 @ 8:58 pm
Hey, this looks like my Kleiderschrank, except fancier! Looks like it goes together with joinery, not screws, right? Check out “Der Kleiderschrank” on my blog … (I can’t get it to link) https://ourbungalows2ndcentury.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/100-year-old-german-wardrobe/. Mine is a family heirloom. Love yours, and yes, it’s a cat magnet. Hi, Elvis!
Brittany
March 8, 2016 @ 10:47 pm
How the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks do you find this kind of stuff on your Craiglist, and I can only find some college kids’ peed on busted couch vintage 1996???
The GFT fairies have favored you. And I’m jelly.
elderwitty
March 9, 2016 @ 1:06 am
At 10:06pm on March 6, 2016, I commented on a FB post about the Kingdom mirror that your writing style is so delightful that I was now required to read your blog from the beginning.
Two days and two hours later – here I am. It was everything I hoped it would be. Thrills, chills, suspense, kitty!, and the most innovative and minimalist furniture elevator I ever hope to see. Is Paul an aerospace engineer? Alternately, did he apprentice with Norm at The New Yankee Workshop?
Along the way, I recommended you to my whole family (surname Witte), as well as those who are Witte-adjacent, who will appreciate your mania for THE item, or commiserate with your magical unicorn of a long-suffering, ramp-building, treasure of a husband, respectively.
I freely admit to rising anxiety levels as the entry dates climbed to meet the present. “What if I scroll down and there’s no ‘Next Entry’ arrows/circle? How will I survive if I catch her up and the kitchen is still undone?” I’ll tell you truly – my heart rate rose.
Then it happened. My fears came to pass. There is no more and there’s no sink and I can’t even hold you responsible. (Unless, of course, it *is* your fault that time runs only in the one direction.) I will have to wait for the rest of the adventure in real time. It’s nearly too much to bear. (Cue dramatic back-of-hand-to-forehead.)
Or.
I could start over and read ALL the comments this time. I fear I mostly leapt headlong from the bottom of the first page in my eagerness to hear about the next GFT.
I think this idea has merit.
(On a quite impertinent tangent, I feel that Elvis will be disappointed if you don’t announce her translation to the big lounging sofa in the sky with the post title “Elvis has left the building”.)
Mignon Hamlin
March 10, 2016 @ 9:37 pm
My favorite detail? The fringe on the rug is smoothly raked. Be still my heart. Fantasy life, achieved.
Tammi
March 11, 2016 @ 3:06 am
How did I even stumble across you??? I don’t know why but after I read your blog the first time. I lost $356 to 4 FFT (Fabulous Fancy things). Dining room chairs I perused Craigslist for just because your post inspired me. I really did need those chairs …no really. Only now you are doing it again to me. I have to get a GFT bookcase I have to that things is AMAZING. That is all. I have to go now.
Chris
March 11, 2016 @ 12:33 pm
Gorgeous. I am living vicariously through your purchases.
Yvonne Angus
March 11, 2016 @ 12:58 pm
I am, once again, in awe. I frequently re-purpose, and I can’t believe it never dawned on me to use a giant bookcase as a pantry! Thank you, once again, for the photos (and video) of Paul’s most photographic side. We live vicariously through you. Plus, the end of the video was heart in throat touching of Elvis jumping out of the bookcase.
Also, I would be remiss if I did not mention that in, I believe, the first episode of Boardwalk Empire, they have Elvis’ sofa in the living room of one of the characters. It even looks to be upholstered in the same color. My heart soared.
Yvonne Angus
March 11, 2016 @ 2:05 pm
P.S. I think I found it, and they only want a little under $10,000. for it. Beautiful! Don’t worry. It’s all yours! I could never afford it, and I definitely don’t have room for it!
Olive
March 12, 2016 @ 9:54 pm
I too am a FRIVOLOUS LUNATIC. which is why I am a fan of yours. Maybe we are really cool somehow. I just haven’ figured out in what way. I buy too much stuff. It stresses me out. So to relieve stress, I go buy more. Luckily, I like cheap stuff.
Kate
March 14, 2016 @ 10:47 pm
I had read your “how to” post about bows a while back & was very entertained. Your luxury kitchen post made the Facebook rounds to my timeline & I whole-heartedly agree. My husband & I default to HGTV and all of the kitchen remodels are looking the same: sterile, gleaming white. Of course, those people never have children or cook things that are not white or beige. I love how unique your kitchen (and entire home for that matter) is, and how you are having pretty good luck ultimately finding & acquiring the perfect pieces for each room. Your blog is very fun to read & I did follow your instructions to follow you on Facebook. Good luck with your Arkansas GFT acquisition & enjoy every moment you can with your precious Elvis. I know it was hard to describe but we all felt how special & loved she is as a part of your family.
Merryjo Agnel
March 21, 2016 @ 1:24 am
This is great. It will be a great pantry or storage for whatever you need to store in your new kitchen! It’s also just what I imagined you SHOULD have for a pantry! It’s perfect.
Missy Ann
March 21, 2016 @ 6:56 am
Love your blog, your GFT, and your style of writing!!!
Monica W
March 23, 2016 @ 3:52 pm
Look what you have wrought, just look. 🙂 Waaay too far from work, but just in case you need a Summer Home in Virginia.
http://www.oldhouses.com/25178
Julie K-S
March 28, 2016 @ 2:27 pm
Ok lady. You might be crazy. You might not understand spatial relations. You might live in an alternate universe. BUT! I love every word. Not sure I could pull this off at my house but I’m sure enjoying reading about you doing. With style. Keep up the great work.
Kathryn Richmond
April 28, 2020 @ 3:53 pm
I KNEW the “Arkansas” GFT was a hoax. 1. It was not your wood color. 2. you actually “shared” it with us. lol I love, love, love, love the bookcase to surpass all bookcases. Why can’t IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII find those things???? ME, ME, ME, ME??????????