Jul 7, 2009

I Found The One!

Ever since I moved into my house a year and a half ago, I have been looking for a cabinet to store my craft and stitchy supplies in. Not just any cabinet, mind you, but the "perfect" cabinet that looked like a "nice" (both relative terms, mind you) piece of furniture. I've looked at thrift stores, consignment shops, Menards, furniture stores, and antique shops. I even checked craigslist in my area. Pieces I liked were prohibitively over-budget for what I wanted to use it for, and the ones that were within budget were made of pressboard... which I try to avoid as they really don't last. I was getting discouraged and started to think I'd have to "settle" for a piece of crap something I really didn't like if I wanted to get my stitchy and craft stuff unpacked. (Yes, everything is *still* in boxes!)

When JT and I were on our way to my parents' picnic on the 4th, we passed by the Salvation Army store where they were having a 50% off sale on clothing. Since we had time to kill, he turned the car around and we went in to look. Didn't have luck on clothing, but I did find this:

The tag said it had just come into the store on July 1st. Can you imagine someone *just* donating such a marvelous armoire??? This beautiful piece of furniture measures 42W x 19D x 62H and is made of SOLID WOOD. There were a couple of light scratches and rub marks... nothing some Old English didn't take care of. It's also missing the handles on one of the drawers at the bottom, but I'll figure something out. Or, can anyone can point me to a place to get similar replacements??

I found out this morning that the partitions in the top section are removeable, which is really nice. I've already had thoughts of making adjustable partitions for the drawers in order to make organization easier.

Close Up Details


CONTEST: Take a guess as to how much I paid for this armoire? (Btw, Has anyone noticed how much more expensive Goodwill and SA stores have gotten in the past several years?) Leave a comment that you'd like to be included in the contest along with your guess. If you comment anonymously, be sure to put your email addy so I can contact you. The person who guesses the closest will receive something from my stitchy stash. Contest ends July 17th, winner announced in the following MM update.

57 comments:

Shelley - ILCS said...

What a gorgeous piece of furniture!! And what an unusual find at the salvation army. I am gonig to guess $136 (I know that sounds wierd, but this is me we're takin' about, lol!) s.tompkins76@yahoo.com

Faith N said...

It is beautiful Meari!

I will guess $25.00 :)

Anonymous said...

It is beautiful...very lovely piece and wonderful details.
My boy said it cost $200.00 and my daughter said $400.00. I am thinking $175.00 just because it was salvation army and they sell low from time to time. But price at other store would be well over $500.00. (Think I priced it too low)
~Mary in TX

Barb said...

What a nice piece. I'm looking for something like that for my craft supplies. Maybe I'll go to the Salvation Army Store. There is one right down the street from me. My guess is $100.00.

Anonymous said...

Hey Meari; first of all, its simply gorgeous!

I am guessing $75

Hugs,
Sue V.

Emily in NC said...

That is a great find. As to finding handles, the salvation store here has a place in back with old hardware stuff like that or an antiques show. I am going to guess 50.00$. It is really great.

Nic said...

What a nice piece of furniture! I love hunting for stuff in charity shops - the 'perfect' piece always turns up ... eventually!

I would say ... $65

Ranae said...

What a great find. My guess is 39.99

Cynimin said...

Great find! I'm guessing $125.00.

Carolyn NC said...

This is gorgeous - what a find - I'll guess $50, but if you really paid that and got this beautiful cabinet, then I'm going to be so jealous! LOL

Unknown said...

What a fabulous bit of furniture!

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous Meari!!! I'm going to guess $150, but it looks like it's worth much more than that!
Pam K.
pjkoontz@aol.com

Marjorie said...

That is really beautiful. You are so lucky to have found it! I'll say $85.00.

CJ said...

Hey Meari -

I know how frugal you are and I don't blame you one bit. My guess is $75.00 and it is a great looking piece. All good things come to those who wait--you know what I mean??

See ya.

CJ

Anonymous said...

Nice Find. Lucky You!
Looks similar to mine. I love the cubbys and xtra drawers that help with organizaton.
I'm guessing $85.00.
Karen @
sunshine-14@charter.net

Kristin said...

What a gorgeous piece! I'm going to guess $90

Rene la Frog said...

WOW...that is a real find and no matter what you paid you got a beautiful piece of furniture. Since my guess was takeen already I'll say $99.99

Rachel S-H said...

That is really pretty!

I would say $79.

rspory 1976 @ yahoo. com.

CJ in OK ;-) said...

First let me say that it is a beautiful piece and perfect for storing your stash, congrats on the great find. I guess $89, just for fun, no prize needed. CJ ok;-)

Threads and thoughts said...

What a beautiful piece of furniture. I would love to have it myself (I know, I'm greedy when it comes to stitching related items).
My guess is 125$
Edith

craftypatty2 said...

I am guessing 199. and by the way that is one gorgeous cabinet you lucky lucky girl!!!!
HUGS
Patty
craftypatty2@yahoo.ca

Shari said...

wow Meari!!!! What a treasure you found!!!!! It is beautiful!!!! Congrats on the find. Yes, I have noticed goodwill's prices being higher lately as well!

Maggie said...

What a great find, you were meant to go there that day :-)
I'm guessing $45 for no other reason other than no one else has said that amount, lol

shutterbug (Elaine) said...

Wow what a beautiful cabinet! I'm with you in that I can't believe that someone donated that to SA. All the different compartments will be great for your stash organization. Every price I was thinking of has already been guessed so I will just wait to see the answer. Not like I need more stash anyway. :op
Hugs, Elaine

EvalinaMaria said...

Hmm, first I thought 100 bucks but later it hit me: you paid nothing! JT bought it for you. (Smile)

Either way, congratulations on your "new" piece of furniture. It is just lovely.

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

OMG Meari.... I am so jealous.... I would just be absolutely in love to get something like this.

Congrats on the great find.
I was thinking something like 100 but something is telling me 50.00.

Anne Sans Tete said...

that is beautiful! i'm going to go with $100- a nice even number :) congrats on finding the perfect piece!!! i have to admit that i'm a bit jealous- it's so lovely!

Sharon said...

Dang girl, you have some luck! It's gorgeous! I would say about 50
bucks!

Courtney Short said...

what a wonderful find.. and yes - prices went drastically up here.. especially at salvation army... I was really disappointed.. stuff that was 25 cents months back got marked up to FIVE DOLLARS!! I am a big time second hand shopper, but even that is getting expensive.. I haven't done a yard sale in a while.. I need to start looking for those too.

My guess on the price $50..

cowgirlfromhanna said...

WOW..what a find! It's amazing what you can find at those places sometimes! Congrats Miss Meari!!

Debra said...

Great find! Just for fun I will guess 82.50. There is a place in Osceola Indiana that is just handles, hinges, etc. Not sure if they have a wedsite.

Terri said...

That is beautiful.
I'll say 55

Anonymous said...

This is a nice cabinet Meari. I can just see lots of stash and room for books and kits in it.
I would guess you paid $75.00 for it. Looks worth a whole lot more though, looks worth at least $500.00, esp. being real wood, but I am guessing $75.00.

Debbie
craftygal43@yahoo.com

htimcj said...

What a beautiful piece of furniture! You just never know what you will find in those types of stores!
Heidi-ILCS

Patricia Cecilia said...

Meari, I bought an armoire almost exactly like that at the Habitat ReStore last year for $45--but only the bottom drawer is stash. Second drawer up is church-music-planning stuff, the three smaller drawers and the partitions are filled with CDs! Mine is Italian Renaissance Revival, dark cherry. Fun contest :-)

Beth said...

Meari,
I'm sorta thinking that whoever said you paid nothing, that JT bought it for you, may be right. But I will guess the price at $62.50. Something also makes me want to say $105, but you already have my guess.

Hugs,
Beth

mbroider said...

Wow, it is a nice piece of furniture. I have got to have a stitchy cabinet too.

Since you are saying it was simply donated by the, well, donor, I would say 20 $, twenty dollars

Sharmila

5 Foot Runt said...

That's such a great find. It will be great to see after you have finished upacking those boxes.

Anonymous said...

Really nice looking piece of furniture there, just needs a bit of touching up. My guess is $49 if the person pricing it didn't value it as you do!
Robyn (ILCS)
jorja89@yahoo.com.au

Coral said...

$30.00 - and it is gorgeous! I can see fabric in the top seciton, on bolts - yes I have an imagination!

And I am sure it is worth a whole lot more, do you have any idea of the origins of it? I feel it is a real antique worth plenty.

Chiloe said...

It's really nice. I'll say $55. I'm so curious to know !!! lol

Anonymous said...

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so jealous! that is beautiful! I am guessing 313.00

huggles and enjoy
Marta

jdnrob said...

I'd say $65 dollars and what a wonderful find!!!! I've been looking for something just like that in my area, but everyone wants two or three hundred!

Please enjoy your find, you lucky girl!

Joanie R.
jdnrob@roadrunner.com

Donna said...

Absolutely perfect. I say $32.50

Nancy M said...

Great piece, how about 79.33?

tricia said...

Beautiful piece! I am so happy you found what you were looking for.

Vikki Gable said...

Hmmmm, it just got there and all wood. I know their prices have gone up a bit. I will guess at about $130

Beth said...

My guess is $75. It's beautiful!!!

Beth (ILCS) bethpsu2002@yahoo.com

Mel said...

Meari - this is just beautiful! I'm so glad you found it. ;)

I will guess that you paid $33.00 for it.

Anonymous said...

Gosh Meari, what a beautiful piece of furniture and a just wonderful place to store stash. I am just simply jealous. And I like the idea of JT buying it for you -- I just bet he did, giggles. But I will guess that the price for it was -- $90.

Love in Stitches,

Coleen

Anonymous said...

Gosh Meari, what a beautiful piece of furniture and an absolute perfect place to store your stash. I am just so jealous. And I agree and just bet that JT bought it for you, but I bet the price was -- $69. Enjoy your new stash cabinet.

Love in Stitches,

Coleen

Myra said...

Gorgeous piece! I am guessing $120. The secondhand prices here at Goodwill have gone up too.

Alberta said...

Meari...this was destiny!!! So happy for you. No guess on cost...all my guesses have already been taken.

Unknown said...

Very nice! I will guess $69.00!

Kim Reid said...

Beautiful and so wonderful for stash!! My guess is $40.00.
kimberlybreid@hotmail.com

Joy said...

What a find!! I never find really good bargins for neat stuff. I agree about their pricing. My youngest DD & I were in the Goodwill Saturday and they had a pack of small Post-its for $1.25...same price in the store. They have gone up on books and CDs as well. I am guessing your lucky find was $75.

glenda said...

wow! that is absolutely fabulous! Nice shopping ;)