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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bargains And Mysteries

You know how it is.
You find that thing that you don't really need, but golly-gee, it's just such a great bargain that you can't pass it up.
And then, what do you do with it?
Well, if you have a blog, you show it to your blogging friends, and they understand.

Ready for a story about a Craigslist bargain that just begged
to come home with us from the wilds of Bergen County?

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Once upon a time there was a very nice man, a widower, who after 20 years of loneliness found happiness again. To make his new wife happy also, this gentleman agreed to completely redecorate and refurnish their home. All the furniture was sold.

Except one piece. So, the gentleman listed it on Craigslist.

Where I saw it.

"Where will we put it?" asked my husband, who also likes to make his wife happy.
"I don't know," said I.
"Okay," said he, philosophically.

I teased you with glimpses of it, on Monday.
Here it is, temporarily nesting in our dining room:

It's going to need just a little TLC.


It's in generally excellent condition, but after more than 20 years the frame needs a good cleaning.

I am tempted to paint it, but the original paint is in mostly excellent condition,
and is much better than any paint job I could do!

The caning is in perfect shape, and is double; very sturdy and comfortable.
This is a well made piece.


With the caning and the lines of the frame, I see this settee settling in nicely in a French or Swedish interior.

It's from a decent manufacturer.


The fabric is in very good condition, and it's lovely, but it is dated. That never stops me from using anything,
as I believe in decorating with what you love, not with what fashion tells you to love.
However, the fabric doesn't work in any room at That Old House.

Well, it could work in the pink bedroom, but I've already got a love seat in there.

Uh-oh. I am getting perilously close to having more furniture than brains.


Anyway, wouldn't it look great in a toile? Or ticking? Or linen? How about black and white?
Imagine the frame painted that pale, pale Gustavian gray, with beautiful new upholstery.


Who thinks I could recover it myself? Hands up. Anyone? Anyone? No one?

Who believes we spent $30.00 for it? Not bad, eh?

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Now, for another weekend Craigslist score . . .

About 25 years ago, this was someone's wedding gift:

But someone is redecorating.
Lucky for me, because my favorite lamps are Asian-inspired porcelain, and good ones are hard to find.


It reminds me of Imari patterned china. One of my faves.


A nice brass base.

And a custom-made enormous silk lampshade. I mean, really.
I know the 80s are famous for Big Hair, but Big Lampshades?
How come I don't remember that part of it?
Maybe because 25 years ago I was buying my lamps at Bradlee's?

I am not sure where this lamp is going to live, but it will live somewhere in
That Old House, because I absolutely love it. But it may get a new lampshade!

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(And now, a drum roll please . . . . )

It is time for the big reveal of Monday's mysterious brown case.


Did you guess what is inside? Some of you did.

It's a traveling, or portable, bar.

And it has never been used. The tags are still on it, and the little envelope
that holds the key is still attached. Only the key is missing!

Now why would I buy a pristine decades-old portable bar?
I once went to a college party with a guy who brought his dad's bar packed with 25 year old Scotch,
but that is not a sentimental memory!

But my daughter Anne went to bartending school during college, thinking that as an Art and Theater major, it might be smart to have a back up skill. And when she moved out last summer for grad school, she took our Prohibition-era coffee table with her, the one with the hidden bars in the ends.

(What? You've never seen that Art Deco treasure? Look here! You'll have to scroll down past a lot of other vintage thrift stuff that Anne liberated from our home, and took to her own.)


Anyway, Anne gets a kick out of old bar equipment; last month we found an old cocktail shaker at Goodwill. So, when I saw this old bar on Craigslist a few weeks ago, we got it, and gave it to Anne for her birthday.

Does that make us odd parents? Don't ask our daughters; I know what they'll say.


Join Linda at Coastal Charm for
her Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays!

She is helping her daughter decorate, too!





Tam at The Gypsy's Corner hosts
Three Or More Tuesday, and it's one of my faves
because you never know what you will find, in triples!


You MUST visit her today and see what she has made
for her expected grandbaby. It's simply amazing!


Whew! What a long post! I promise brevity tomorrow! -- Cass

26 comments:

  1. What wonderful additions to your decor! Love the retro bar. Makes you wonder why people needed a portable one??? LOL!!
    Have a Great Day!
    Marilyn

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  2. Th settee is amazing! Love it just like it is, but the black and white really sets your mind to thinking.

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  3. I knew it -- it was a liquor case!!!!

    Love the settee and I think, recovered it would fit into That Old House! And I think maybe you could do it.

    I found a settee for Linderhof -- different style -- more French I think but it had been recovered in a pink butterfly silk type fabric -- it was perfect but I paid way more than $35 for it! It looks great in the Master bedroom!

    And the lamp -- I have a lamp fetish (don't tell) -- and I love that lamp -- there are many places I think it would go at That Old House -- perhaps the lamp shade needs replaced with something a bit more classic?

    I thought of your china immediately when I saw that lamp!

    Good buys all -- sigh -- our Craigs List doesn't have anywhere stuff that neat listed!

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  4. Oh Cass, you sound like a wonderful mother! I have never seen an old bar like this one! That's really neat! I am totally in love with that settee though! OMG! I love everything about it! It would look perfect in my loft upstairs. LOL! I would have a hard time recovering something in such good condition, and so well made. Do you have an area in kitchen that could use a pop of color? I am sure you will find just the right spot for it, but it really does fit nicely there in your dining room. Great find!

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  5. Cass, I thought that was a bench when I looked last night, but was interrupted when I was going to comment and then forgot to. That would look great covered with linen or a grain sack type fabric. I am sure you will find the perfect look.

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  6. Cass, I am convinced we were separated at birth! The settee is just FABULOUS and I have the sme love for those old asian lamps- I actually rather like the shade though I'm thinking it may look different in person. Great scores!!
    xoxo Pattie

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  7. What a great settee! Of course you had to get it. Now I am going to have to read Craigs list for Bergen County as well as the Hudson Valley!

    xo
    Claudia

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  8. love the love seat, any of the fabrics you mentioned would look wonderful.

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  9. I guess I was wrong on all counts. Great gift for your daughter.

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  10. I love that settee. Linen would be a wonderful choice or toile. You really scored big time on this. Hope you can find a place for it.

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  11. Oh my, Cass! You know I am in love with that setee...so frenchy! I can't wait to see what you do with it. I also have an "new" old frenchy chair and am debating what to do...which may take a while for me! lol Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  12. I told you..I told you! LOL...I got both items right! I vote no painting just cleaning and a redo with new fabric. Wow...$35 for an Ethan Allen piece was a great buy. The traveling bar is an awesome find, too.
    Great post and thanks for sharing with us all.
    ´*•.¸(´*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
    ♥•.*.Thank you.*.•♥
    ♥•.*.from Vicki.*.•♥
    ¸.•*´(¸.•*´♥´*•.¸)´*•.¸

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  13. I wouldn't have been able to resist that settee either - or the lamp! Now, the bar-in-a-bag might have been left behind, but you had good reason to buy it - what a great mum you are!

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  14. .......and meant to say - I'd be covering the settee with something vaguely stripy and Swedish.

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  15. Nice settee - looking forward to seeing what you do with it also. Got the portable bar right. :)

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  16. Dear Rooster Party Participant,

    Just a reminder that this coming Friday, August 6th is the Rooster Party. I am so looking forward to seeing your post.

    Thanks for joining and I hope you have a wonderful time.

    Hugs, Barb

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  17. It's such a pretty piece and actually, I think it looks beautiful as is right where it is.

    LeAnn

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  18. Hey Again! Congratulations! You have won the $40.00 CSN Stores gift certificate from my giveaway! Please send me your email address and I will send info on how to claim your prize. Thanks for entering and again congrats!

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  19. Love your great finds! The settee is wonderful. I bet you could cover it yourself ~ toile would be perfect.

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  20. I'm gonna go with linen for the settee, but really it would look gorgeous with anything. And for 30 bucks, why not try to cover it yourself? You can't lose.

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  21. Love that settee - - - and it looks GREAT in that location.

    Traveling bar - - - well, my guess was way off, wasn't it!?!

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  22. Oh no, now I want your settee too. I'm working on dishcloths right now. Can you deliver it when you bring the little desk?

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  23. Great finds.
    Love the settee!
    No you are not weird parents--we all have things we like to collect some a little different than others and that's the spice of life.

    Melinda

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  24. What a great find on that chair! I'm so with you! It would look great painted white or black with black n white toile upholstery!

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  25. Mom, the verdict is in: giving your daughter a liquor case for her birthday (provided she is of-age, which she is!) makes you a great parent.

    If you gave it to her packed with 25 year old Scotch . . . that would make you Guiness Book of Records great parent ;)

    (you can keep this in mind for my birthday if you like)

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  26. Nope that sounds exactly what I would do and buy. I love it. My daughter is getting her degree in Art and I told her that she needed a back up plan as well. She by the way, would love the bar set.

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