A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the happy privilege of moving my parents into their new home in Indiana…a move that places them about ten hours closer to us. Yay! Although I will greatly miss the annual visits to the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, I think it is pretty groove that we can get together so easily now. In fact, I am hoping to go see them this weekend, health permitting now that I am weathering a cold (a weirdo cold that can’t seem to make up its mind whether to fully explode out of my head or gracefully recede and admit defeat to my arduous regimen of liquids, namely Hot Green Cinnamon tea (Harney and Sons) with honey by the gallons and excessive loads of Vitamin C). I digress…
So, yes, the parental units moved back and we were there to help. They needed to buy “new” furniture for their living room and I strongly encouraged mom to give second-hand and antique stores a go before buying something new, which in my world means sub-par at best. I need character and history. Of course, that doesn’t mean they do… but they do. And thank goodness they have me for those reminders. While I was down there, mom and I tried to find where the “cool” shops were but because we were both foreigners in the land, our efforts did not produce results. After I returned home, I started emailing her links on Craigslist and I searched online for antique/vintage stores in her neck of the woods. She also had her sister helping her out and through her, mom was able to snag a fabulous deal on some furniture in a store called “Lucky You” in Elkhart, Indiana. Mom was so excited about her find that she insisted I check out this store too–somehow knowing that I “would just love it”.
As it turned out, we made arrangements to meet my parents at “Lucky You” on the day of their delivery. We thought maybe we could assist in loading or even hauling something if needed. We arrived to the store before mom and dad so before we knew it, Brett and I had split up, each left to his own devices in rambling through this huge store. The selection was both immense and impressive. I hadn’t ventured too far before I found what I assumed was mom’s set waiting for her. Very lovely. Soon after, I realized mom and dad had arrived. We were gabbing a bit and talking to the owner about delivery (which did not happen that day due to a broken down delivery truck) when Brett finally reappeared. I wondered where he had been for so long but didn’t ask.
OK, so we get over the initial disappointment that the delivery probably wasn’t going to happen and decide to enjoy the day anyway. I started looking around the store again, taking more time and drinking in details. As I was coming through a doorway, I looked to my right and stopped in my tracks. There was the most beautiful bedroom set I had seen in a long time. I have really had a thing for Art Deco lately and so I was drawn to these works of art. The details, inlays and lines of these pieces spoke to my vintage soul. I went off to find Brett so I could show him. When I brought him around and said, “Look, can you believe how pretty these are?” He said, “Yeah, I was looking at them earlier” (when he had disappeared). Closely, we examined the wood, the workmanship, the inlays, how the drawers pulled on their tracks, etc. Overall, we were impressed. There was a price tag on the one dresser but not the other so I went to ask the owner what she was asking for the set. That was the price for the set…the two dressers, the mirror AND the bed we didn’t even see behind the dresser (all disassembled). It was a very fair, good price. But here is the deal…a slightly big deal…we weren’t shopping for any different bedroom furniture. I was content with what I had because I have had it forever and my parents had it before me and it reminded me of my charmed childhood.
(pardon the toes, but this photo was taken during a boudoir sulk over the summer)
And yet, we were both “struck” by this set and we have never picked out bedroom furniture for “us”. So…..we got it. Are we a couple of spineless saps or what? But seriously…it is beautiful and the price was so worth it. The bed is a full size so we knew we wouldn’t use it. We asked if the owner would break up the set, she wouldn’t. However, she gave us the great idea of cutting down the bed rails and making a bench out of it. So that is the plan.
Here it is all set up in the bedroom:
(the bottom drawer on the taller dresser is cedar lined with a lid–great for sweaters)
A closer look at the details:
Was I sad to see my old set go? Not as much as I thought I would be but there is a reason for that. I decided to keep the vanity–sort of. We still needed nightstands so I suggested we saw the vanity (zip, zip!) and create two nightstands. So a part of it is staying with me!! See:
My goal is to refinish them in a darker color and change the hardware to compliment the other pieces. What a rush.
Oh my goodness. No doubt (!) you want to see my parents’ furniture too (yes, I got permission). I mean, really, they started this whole adventure:
The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?
~~Heather~~
