Thank you for finding That Old House amidst the chaos of the Internet. We are delighted that you are here.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Rescuing A Sideboard

Sometimes you get lucky.

I got lucky almost two years ago, when I found an old marble-topped buffet for sale online. The pictures showed an abused piece of furniture, about 23 minutes away from the scrap heap.

I dragged Howard to a rundown apartment complex about an hour from here, where the buffet was in a storage garage. It was in rough -- very rough -- shape. But the marble top was intact and beautiful, so I offered $100, and it was ours.


We struggled to get it into the car, with the help of a mercifully well-muscled acquaintance of the seller, and headed home. That's when we noticed . . . our newly acquired problem child smelled.

And not in a good way.

Oops.

I had planned to refinish this baby myself, but better judgment overcame idiocy (that would be Howard's better judgment, my idiocy) and we turned it over to the antiques refinisher down the street from That Old House.

It was like turning our homely, dirty, smelly child over to Elizabeth Arden.

The sideboard was thoroughly pampered at the spa -- rebuilt, cleaned, de-smelled, the missing carvings replicated, the brasses polished (but not too much!), the beautiful mahogany carefully stained and finished, and the insides were made as beautiful as the outside. The only thing not touched was the marble.

I have to admit, the pro did a much better job than anything I could have done.
This sideboard is one of my very favorite pieces of furniture.
It's big and useful and beautiful; what more could one ask of anything?

When it was returned and I had enough courage to look inside, I saw its label; it was made by Maslow-Freen in New York, probably more than 60 years ago; Maslow-Freen was a high end manufacturer, catering to decorators; its existing pieces are collectable.

I'm joining the Favorite Things Saturday blog party, at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie. It's my first time! Go visit for more favorites; just click on the logo or highlighted words.

Now I'm going to do a little hunting of my own this weekend, involving some small things and a bit of Vintage Va-Voom. -- Cass

31 comments:

  1. Oh the sideboard is just stunning. Such a gorgeous piece, the marble is so lovely and the curved lines of the cabinet is beautiful. Such a wonderful find. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know how much you love this sideboard, Cass, and I can see why. The marble top is gorgeous and it has such pretty lines. You really pampered your baby and it proved to be worth it. I love it!

    Hope you are enjoying your weekend. It's beautiful today in Chicago! :-)

    xoxo
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is such a beautiful piece of furniture to go along with a beautiful house! Have a great weekend! ~andrea

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is a beautiful piece of furniture.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a gorgeous sideboard Cass! I'm so glad you rescued it! I'm sure it was worth having it restored professionally. It will become a family heirloom.
    Hugs,
    Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cass, beyond beautiful- that piece is a treasure. Absolutely beautiful and worthy of that old house
    xoxo Pattie

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely piece of furniture. And, I like the way it "pops" against the red wall.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The sideboard is just lovely!! I am glad it was rescued and you had someone who could treat it right. My husband I were looking for a sideboard and had just talked about finding one in that kind of condition. I didn't know it could be desmelled. So glad you saved it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. She's a beauty, Cass. We've had those issues before & yes! a refinisher is a savior for these lovely vintage pieces. Does it have a stamp on the back or on the inside of the drawers?

    Have a lovely weekend.
    TTFN ~Hugs, Marydon

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is a beautiful piece. What a great price, too for something so nice.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful piece - no wonder it's your favorite.
    We've brought a smelly wooden piece home from time to time too. Professional help is what's needed when the problem is too great - glad it worked out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It would be a favorite piece in my home too. I just love it! Your heading is Sooooo beautiful...is it your home?
    Stop by to enter my giveaway...ends tomorrow and is for a $100 gift certificate to my online store!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh Cass, that would be one of my favorite things if I had it too. It's so hard to believe that it was in such bad shape when you got it. it is a masterpiece now. You were so smart to see the beauty in this piece. I'm so glad you linked this beautiful post with Favorite Things. laurie

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh I love that sideboard Cass, I'm still looking for one at a great bargain..you got a beauty and what a steal..Such a gorgeous piece of furniture ..I can see why it's your favorite!

    Miss Bloomers

    ReplyDelete
  15. THE buffet is just fabulous. I am sure you are glad you only paid $100 for it because the renovations had to be expensive. You have a classic piece.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The sideboard is definitely a gorgeous piece of furniture that I know you are very proud of. It looks beautiful! Love & blessings from NC!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh my...that is one gorgeous piece of furniture! I day at the spa is always a good thing :)
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a beautiful sideboard. And sometimes, you just have to turn things over to a professional!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very nice! Your dh is a good sport..
    I wouldn't have had a prayer!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a beautiful piece of furniture!
    It looks great in your home.

    Melinda

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a beauty! I am glad you salvaged it.I love the marble and all the carved wood...Christine

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh my word, what a wonderful piece of furniture-it is divine! It was obviously meant to be yours all along!

    Best wishes and thank you so much for visiting the blog I share with my sisters.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is such a beautiful piece that I have admired when reading your blog. Beautiful, practical and useful - and a highlight piece in your already lovely dining room.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such a gorgeous piece, Cass! Love the curvy lines. What a fabulous find! They did an wonderful job restoring it. Fabulous find!

    Cheers!
    Tina

    ReplyDelete
  25. What was the smell and how did it get out? I bought a wicker dresser once and on the way home realized that it smelled like cat urine - I spray painted it and it still smelled. Ugh. What a mistake.!!
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Cass!

    What a great find! It looks stunning. I can totally understand why this piece is a favorite, it would be a favorite if I had it as well. It really looks like a truly fine piece of furiture.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank God you did not paint it White! Why people do this I shall never know.
    That would be murder to that wonderful sideboard. Just Love the wood and my you did a wonderful job restoring it!!
    Looks devine in your house!
    Bravo!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nice piece and they did a great job with it... love the marble top !

    I so enjoy your posts, it's fun to see what someone in "my neck of the woods" is up to !

    gena..... from the wilds of Bergen County !!!

    www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Just beautiful Cass and that marble alone is worth more than $100.00 last time I seen a piece this fine it was $4800.00 at a shop here...GREAT and awesome girl...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting That Old House; it's always exciting to find new comments -- they are treasured! Because of increasing spam, I have reluctantly eliminated "Anonymous" commenting. Legitimate anonymous commenters, please forgive me! You might try using "Open ID" instead. Blogger's spam software worked for a good long time, but, sadly, no longer.