When Estate Sales Break Your Heart

Last Friday, my sister-in-law and I went to an estate
sale at a very old house; we didn't buy anything. 

But on Saturday,

Howard and I went back to the sale, because I wanted these:

Picture from the estate sale ad, by Jerry's Antiques and Estate Sales.  Jerry, by the way, is great fun to chat with.

Royal Copenhagan plates.

The "Flute Half-Lace" pattern, in green.

This pattern dates back to 1775, and is still made by Royal Copenhagen,

and by many other manufacturers under other names: Finlandia, Denmark, etc.

In blue.  These were green.  Green!  For about $20 for 11 plates, I wanted them.

But as we walked up the steps to the house, a gentleman walked

down the steps, carrying those plates.  Dang.

The thing about estate sales: You snooze, you lose.

But that's not the heartbreak part of this tale.

No, the part that broke our hearts is that this house is being torn down.

The new owners want a place with lots of glass.

This house, from 1806, is too old, they say.

Too old.  After all, who could bear to live with an entry like this?

When Howard and I last saw this front parlor, that beautiful fireplace was lying on the floor.

I hope it's headed for a wonderful new home.  It's not original to the house, but it's lovely.

If I'd had an extra couple hundred dollars (stop laughing, Howard), I'd have taken that mantle.

Gorgeous old wood.  I hope someone took it.

Yes, it is heartbreaking that a gracious, beautiful home,

that has sheltered families for many generations,

will be torn down because it is old.

Don't get me wrong.

I have nothing against new houses.  Believe me, living in an old

house often makes the thought of new construction very appealing!

But surely, surely, this couple could have found some empty land

on which to build their glass and steel dream home.

And not destroy this bit of old New Jersey.

Well, now that I've depressed everyone, I need to say goodbye.

My friend Emily and I are going shopping!

She is getting a rare day on her own, without her twins;

wonderful husbands are valuable assets.

Speaking of wonderful husbands, Howard and I did buy

something from this estate sale; I'll show you tomorrow,

and share the results of yesterday's jaunt to Philadelphia's Main Line.

Enjoy your Tuesday -- Cass

Link Party!

Visit Coastal Charm for Show and Share .... Click!

Confession: Those pictures of the house are not mine; they are from a real estate listing.

A Craigslist Jaunt to Pennsylvania

As I've said before, North Jersey Craigslist
nearly always comes through for me.
But this time, it's the Philadelphia CL that

is luring me thither (good word!) with 4 chairs.

Said chairs are destined for our conservatory, 

to go 'round the old oak table.

Because it seriously needs some chair love.

I have been looking for a long time; I thought I'd found

the ones last year, but Howard hates them.

Back on the prowl.

A very nice lady who lives on Philly's Main Line

is selling two of these chairs:

And two of these chairs:

I like them.

Once again, like the coffee table we recently bought,

they are not what I was looking for.

But they leaped out from the pages of Craigslist, and, 

as my Mom used to say, they licked my hand.

I kind of hated when she used that phrase, but now I know what she meant.

I hope, when I see them, that I like them.

Because I can't wait to plop them around this table.

Keep your fingers crossed that they get the Howard seal of approval.

My sister-in-law Phyllis is joining me again today, so it's into

the Big Blue Minivan we'll go, for the wilds of Pennsylvania.

Yes, because the Main Line is so wild and wooly....

**********************

On Saturday, this past weekend, Howard and I went back to the

farmhouse estate sale Phyllis and I had gone to on Friday.  

We got something lovely, but we came

away with heavy hearts, and I am still haunted.

Full story tomorrow....

**********************

Wish us luck with today's Craigslist adventure!

There's always that exhilarating risk of ending up in

someone's basement chest freezer, but Phyllis always has her

knitting needles with her, and knows how to use them.  I think we're safe.

Cass

Estate Sale-ing And Armchair Thrifting

I'm having lunch today with my sister-in-law.

We haven't yet decided where to go to eat,

but we know where we'll go after we eat.

Thank you, Phyllis, for this most excellent idea.

There's an estate sale today in beautiful, nearby Mendham.

An 1806 farmhouse on 5 acres.

It was recently sold, just under a million,

which is a bargain for this Mendham neighborhood.

Annual taxes: $26-thousand-plus.  Gotta love New Jersey.

 Since they are selling off the fireplace mantelpieces, I very much

fear that this lovely old house is going to be pulled down.

I hope not; I'll keep an eye on it.

So, some of the items being sold,

in pictures from the estate sale listing:

 Gorgeous kidney-shaped desk, above.  Want.

Oddball coffee table?  Is that a giant ash tray in the middle?
Don't want.  Or maybe, I do ....

Oh, my.  This desk.  I've never seen one like it in "real life."

Want.  Does anyone know what style this is?  Adams?

And ... look at that flooring.

World's oldest living Christmas tree stand.

Pass.

And who does not love hairy paw feet?

And gorgeous wide plank floors?

 Then , there are pants.

(I think my Dad had those same madras patchwork that are in the middle.)

And more of the wardrobe of the 96-year old doctor who owned the house.

I'm thinking that's a genuine Burberry scarf,

and not a cheap knockoff like we bought in London.

Cobra candlesticks.  Might want.  I'm thinking, Christmas grab bag....

It's my Uncle Louie!

If you are interested, you can check out this estate sale for yourself,

in person or online ... where there are more than 400 pictures!
So many, many, many beautiful pieces of furniture.
Plus books, china, lamps ... you have to look!

Click here for the estatesales.net listing.

************************

Meanwhile, I am still armchair thrifting with North Jersey Craigslist.

This time: chairs for our oak table in the conservatory,

and more dining room chairs (Anne took some to DC).

Among the contenders for the dining room are these, below.
All of these chairs come in multiples, all are bargains:

And for the conservatory?
There are these to consider.  Also in at least sets of 4,
and ... yes, bargains.  Craigslist in North Jersey do beat all.
Seek and ye shall find.

I had to include this ... a stunning Frenchy DR table and chairs.  8 chairs.  So beautiful, but not really what I want for
That Old House.... but the whole shebang is $200.  For that table, and those chairs.  Holy smokes.

This one comes with the table.  Gorgeous table -- what patina!

Oh whose grandma didn't have some of these chairs, below?
Heck, Howard and I had some of these chairs, years ago!  (Lost in a flood.)

Well... lots to ponder, and I have not yet checked today's new listings!

Happy hunting, whatever you are looking for.
Have a splendid weekend! -- Cass

Link Parties

Miss Mustard Seed has Furniture Feature Friday -- Click here!

At My Romantic Home, it's Show And Tell Friday.  Click here!

Feathered Nest Friday makes its home at French Country Cottage.  Click here!

The Charm of Home features Home Sweet Home on Fridays.  Click here!

Hello New Craigslist Coffee Table: Get To Work!

For the past month, I've posted every Friday about
our Craigslist search for a coffee table for our study.

This past Friday ... we found it!

Yay!

Here it is, in its Craigslist ad.

I liked its sturdy bigness.  And the chubby legs.

I mean, really . . . chubby legs!  How cute.

So on yesterday's glorious Sunday afternoon,

Howard and I went to Lake Mohawk,

a short drive up Route 15 from us . . . .

And after keeping my husband from wandering off

to look at the boats, we found the sellers' house,

and Mr Coffee was loaded into the back of the minivan.

:-) 

And it came home to That Old House!

There are no good pictures today; I am laid up with a bum knee,

and there's an extra chair in the study for me to use, and this table

is just tucked in where it would fit.  It's not set in place yet.

The table is lovely, and nicely "distressed" -- restrained.

But ... white isn't right in this room.

So we are choosing another color.  Or, colors.

Howard and most of you are leaning toward green.

Me?  I am kind of leaning toward red, but that's because 

I love red.

Like this red, below, on that strip of fabric on the table.

It's the fabric for the dining room draperies, and

I have paint in that exact color.  All ready to go!

Or maybe ... red legs and base, and green top?

Or a top painted in a gold, green, red plaid?

Or a top decoupaged in paper or fabric?

While the white finish is very nice, it is not

right in this book-lined, rather dark jumble of a room.

Next Craigslist search:  More dining room chairs,

and also chairs for the round oak table in the sunroom.

Oh yes.  I've got some on the hook already.

Have a lovely Monday! -- Cass

Help Me Paint A Thrifty Craigslist Table

Howard and I are Sunday-driving to a
charming lakeside village, where we're going
to take a gander at this table, below.

And I think it's a pretty safe bet that this table, below,

will be coming home to That Old House in the back of the minivan.

For the past month, I've been assiduously cruising Craigslist

for a cheap bargain coffee table, big and sturdy, for our study.

Which has been without coffee table convenience

since Anne moved out, and took hers with her.

Anne's architect chest, AKA coffee table.

No luck with the coffee table search until Friday, when lightning struck, and that

cute, cottage-y, kitschy, scallop-y, chunky coffee table stood up and said, "Pick me!"

So we did.

 Now, what color should we paint it? 

The sturdy study upholstery is a very printed cotton tapestry,

furniture we bought in 2001 for its dog-and-teenager-proof qualities.

And it has stood up to dogs, kids, and grownups very well over the years.

Loads of colors.  Gold, brown, black, red, other red, rust,

pale green, dark green, weird blue, and a bit of a purplish color,

but I don't know what you'd call it.

Then there's the rug.  Similar colors, only paler.

"Stop looking at me!

You think I want to wear this stupid dress?"

I initially was thinking dark red (mostly because I

already have some dark red paint), but then I thought,

No, let's make it green to blend in 

with the room, which also has green walls.

And I already have green paint.

Howard, in the study in his favorite spot ... and I have leftover wall paint in a Sherwin Williams
green that I cannot remember the name of and will have to find the can and hope the label is still
legible ... because the wall color may make a nice table color, too, with a poly finish over it.

So, whatcha think?

Green?  Red?  Gold?  Plaid?

No, seriously -- what do you think would be a good color for this table?

(It's kind of a dark room.)

And ... should I decoupage the top because -- yes -- I already have some Mod Podge?

Have a gorgeous Sunday, my friends.

It is crazy, crazy windy here, and a few loose shutters keep

scaring the life out of me by banging on the house.

I'm glad it's not Halloween tonight!

The leaves are flying off the trees.  Goodbye, chlorophyll!

-- Cass