Sunday, June 13, 2010

Potential

I've been working hard to come out on top of a personal struggle recently.  It's not the reason why I haven't posted in over a month (I have no excuse for that, actually) but it's something I've been dealing with, nonetheless.

Probably a lot of people would not see what I've been dealing with as a serious problem... it's not like I'm trying to quit smoking, or lower my blood pressure, or reduce my blood sugar numbers for health reasons. But I know that you will understand.

I'm Laurie, and I'm a Project Collector. I'm trying to stop pulling into strangers' driveways to check out a huge pile of stuff at their curb. Odds are there really isn't anything in that pile that I could make into anything useful, right?  I'm trying to stop buying furniture at yard sales just because it's cheap and has Potential. I know, potential is a very relative term, in both projects and men. Hehehe...

But one day recently I was weak. I looked at the furniture category on Craig's List, and found these, and had to have them! I spent $30 for both, which may have been a tad high, but they have it. They have Potential!

See, I've been looking for new bedside tables for my bedroom, and although I thought I would find two that are not a pair (I don't care for matchey-matchey), these little darlings have convinced me otherwise.

They are definitely "projects". They are going to eventually be painted a glossy black with silver accents, but first they need some serious TLC. The woman I bought them from had a whole bedroom suite that went with them, and when I was taking them out to my van she said "So you like old furniture?" Immediately, it was clear that, to her, these are only "Old" not "Vintage", "Antique" or even "Classic". So sad...  and they haven't been cared for very well. Let me present the evidence:




Water rings (have they never heard of COASTERS??), bad patches of split trim, and just bad repairs in general. They are definitely more of a project than I'd hoped for, but they will be so gorgeous when they're done! I'll update you as I go along.

Anything will be better than what I have now... good grief. I wonder if it will be a good or bad thing that the new table won't hold as much crap?? I'm guessing good.

5 comments:

Amanda Steves said...

OMG, those are gorgeous! They remind me of my Ethan Allen demilune table, right down to having a little design along the edge. Sold it on eBay in 2006 after we moved--a lot of my excellent stuff looked really stupid in this house. So you paid $30 for the pair. I got $337 for the demilune... then I had to encase it in bubble wrap and lots of tape, create a trapezoidal box for it, and ship.

Way to find 'em, girl!

Bea said...

I understand your project collecting since I am guilty as well. It's good to hear that someone else out there is also trying to fight the "project hoarding" syndrome. lol Good luck! With enough perseverance you shall come through.

Bethany

MFAMB said...

those are gonna be awesome!!! i love the shape..

Wendy said...

Loveeee your blog!

Wendy said...

Looking forward to the seeing the "after"!