Make Do or Do Without

At what age are you officially suppose to grow up and get real furniture? I’ve been wondering about that lately when I look at our mismatched dining chairs and hand-me-down green table. Don’t get me wrong, I love these pieces, but I’m wondering how long it’s acceptable to scavenge for chairs when we have guests over. Last time we had a dinner party we used a bench as supplemental seating.

We have bookcases from rummage sales, dressers from friends who moved cross-country, etc. The only furniture we have bought at a store is our bed and a couch. Both of those items were from massive sales at Value City furniture and we saved up for awhile before getting them.

Flannel Man and I tend to go off the assumption that if we can’t get it at a yard sale or buy it used from friends and family, then we probably don’t need it. Once we have a bigger family we’ll probably invest in a table with matching chairs (and by invest I mean find it on Craig’s List), but until then I’ll stick with the old saying “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.”

Photo by moi.

Trunk or Treat

As I might have mentioned before, I have a slight obsession with furniture that has multiple uses. To me, a perfect piece of furniture functions as it should (an end table that holds a lamp), it also has additional or secret storage (an ottoman that opens into a chest) and it looks awesome. This trifecta is hard to find, but to me, these pieces fit the bill.

I love to travel and so I love the look of these wood and leather trunks. They look awesome, they stack to act as an end table and they open up extra storage. I don't keep anything in them that I would need easy access to, but they are the perfect place for boxes and albums full of photos.

What defines a perfect piece of furniture for you?

Photos by moi.

One Man's Trash

(New dresser!)

Over the weekend I acquired a brand new, gorgeous wood dresser! By brand new I mean new to me. And by acquired I mean, found on my brother's apartment balcony.

I stopped by my brother's apartment and happened to notice this beautiful piece of furniture sitting on his back porch... in the snow. I was flabbergasted. I tried to remember that he and his roommate are male college students and furniture is only truly functional if it can quickly be turned into a beer pong table, but come on!

(Contact paper lining the drawers)

After a quick conversation he explained someone had given them the dresser and they didn't want it (hence the outdoor storage). Two days later, after I had cleaned it, rubbed it down with pledge and lined the drawers with contact paper, it was sitting in out master bedroom. It replace a little pressed particle board dresser we had been using.

(Old dresser)

I know the trend right now is to paint pieces like this, but I just can't bring myself to cover the wood. I love it just how it is, slightly nicked and scratched. One man's trash can absolutely become another (wo)man's treasure.

Photos by moi.