It’s been a pretty good week for finds and I thought I’d share a few. We are always on the hunt for things big and small and usually find at least one or two things worth keeping. Sometimes we find stuff that we don’t need but know we can sell. We’re not crazy hoarders or anything but I’ve learned over the years to NOT say “no” and walk away too fast. Sometimes you regret leaving things behind.
There was a silent auction at the University where I work and I’ve bought a few things in the past but usually it’s just crap. This week I thought I’d go by on my way home for lunch and just check it out. As I wondered around it was mostly old metal desks and crappy office chairs, used electronics, etc. Then my eye spied a bunch of desks pushed together all in a row and sandwiched between them was this!
A Florence Knoll Credenza
I could feel my heart start to flutter and I looked around to see if anyone was watching me, careful to keep my poker face. HA! I swear you have to do that because everyone is watching like a hawk… taking notes… talking on their cell phones, etc. You look up at someone standing a few feet away and you catch them look away really quickly because they’re eye-balling you. It’s like being followed by the CIA or something. Silent Auctions are weird.
So we put a bid on a couple of things and ended up winning. We picked them up yesterday and here it sits in my driveway and I have no clue what I’m going to do with it. I’m planning, but not sure. Maybe under the TV and use it for storage, etc. It was just one of those things you don’t let get away, ya know.
This credenza was mostly used in office settings so they had locks in the front of the doors. Many people end up taking the locks out which is how this one came to us. There’s a hole in two of the sliders but I just put little finger pulls in each of them and it’s no big deal. They’re slightly bigger but I just roll some putty around the edge and stick them in. I think it looks just fine.
The finish is surprisingly good and I have no problem with it AT ALL. A little wear and a few chunks out of the veneer doesn’t scare me anymore. It’s all fixable. I might replace two of the leather pulls.. but who knows. The last Knoll credenza we got was in much worse shape and it fixed up like new. Here it is in our dining room. I’m really happy with how it turned out!
That red wall is GOING! I have several regrets about things we did after we moved in and that’s one of them. As soon as I get some time, it’s GONE.
Anyway, I’m super happy about the credenza. Here’s a few I found online. Some of them have metal legs, which I really love. I’m definitely glad I didn’t pass this up!
The top and bottom pix from here.
As I was taking pictures I got approval from a visitor. He was quite interested in the piece!
My husband bid on a stainless steel table which I new nothing about until he drove up with it yesterday. I still can’t figure out why he wanted this..maybe for his workshop if we ever get that built. He goes nuts for industrial stuff. It just looked all rusted and gross to me but he assured me it would clean up. After a little soap and water to the top it looked much better.
The last thing he found was this..
Does anyone even know what this is? Okay, if you do, then you’re super awesome and I bow to your greatness! He called me out of the house to see this and I just stood there with a “what the hell is it” look on my face. He was so excited! It’s a car jack.
Okay, it turns out that he’s been looking for one of these for almost a year now. Apparently he has a plan to use this old car jack to pull up fence posts that are concreted in the ground. He says he’s seen it done and you wrap a rope around the post or something and pump this jack and it pulls the post up. Well, I guess that’s pretty cool… whatever you say, dear. We plan on replacing the fence this summer so I’m anxious to see if this really works. Trust me, there will be video! Really the big bad wolf could just huff and puff and blow the damn fence down …. but then there’s poles left, and I guess this is what is going to “save the day”. He’s a tricky one!
I LOVE THAT CREDENZA!! What an incredible piece, and the fact that it’s a Knoll makes it even better! Oh, and Mr. Lizard is adorable. :)
There was no way I was going to let that sit there! The lizard made my day. HA! Thanks for the excitement… it makes me even more excited!
That credenza rocks. And I think that dohickey jacks up the back of a car.
Okay, you’re awesome! Yes, it does jack up the car. I hope it jacks up those fence posts too! HAHA!
What a cute lizzy! Hooray for your finds. That stainless steel table would be awesome as a kitchen island.
Good idea! I’m not sure what he’s going to do with it. But for $20 bucks and being stainless… we’ll figure out something. That lizard cracks me up! What great timing that was.
so lucky! what an awesome find!
Thanks for the thumbs up, Brandy! It’s been so long since I’ve found anything like this I was starting to think we were tapped out around here. Hidden treasures!
Great find, Stacey!! I’m glad you told us what that contraption was. I would have never guessed car jack!
What is it about the red wall you do not like?
My husband was so excited to find that jack. I have no idea how that’s going to work but I can’t wait to see it.
The red wall? I don’t know, I think I was missing the house we had just sold and painted the room the same as my last dining room not really thinking about what would actually look good for this house. It’s fine, but I think the credenza might show up better on a lighter wall. It seems to get lost. Maybe I’m being silly. Like I don’t have ten million things to do and think about. WOMEN! You’re so sweet to ask. I love making connections with people going through similar “home” stuff. Thank you so much.
I can’t believe you found such a great credenza. And the top of the stainless steel table is beautiful !
We have been out shopping for a mid- century modern credenza. From what we have seen, your credenza seems to be in great shape. It is a pretty piece. I can just imagine the price if you had bought it at Metro Retro!!
We found some reported- to- be Saarinen executive chairs at a very good price. They were part of a large group of chairs,and like your credenza, came from an old office. They will go in our living room, since we need smallish furniture for our smallish condo.
Aren’t those lizards the cutest things? If you walk down the sidewalks of my condo complex in the summertime, you must be very careful not to annihilate any of the little fellows! It was a relief to see that they survived the drought last year.
Happy week – end project work!!
( they seem to be authentic, but we don’t know for sure).
Congrats on your Saarinen chair purchase! I have always loved those and we found an entire dining set with the table, marble top, and 6 chairs. It was fabulous but we didn’t need it… so we sold it. (never walk away from those!) They always look so pretty and perfect in a setting like yours will be. Okay Polly, you have to snap a picture and let me see! I’m so excited for you.
I am a bad typer . It is the Saarinen chairs which are ” supposed to be authentic” , not the lizards. They ARE very authentic !
HA HA! I knew what you meant. He is too cute! It’s like he was posing for me… with his little “hand” on the top of the credenza. I couldn’t resist.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I’m not sure if it was the pictures or how well you wrote about this, but your post would almost convince me to get about my vintage 1920s home for a mid century modern home! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
Agreed. It is so nice to read a well- written piece.
Thank you both so much. You both are a perfect example of why I’m enjoying this whole blogging thing. When I started the blog it was for ME and my desire to keep up with this big undertaking. As I got into it I decided that I did not want to continue and be “an island”, if you will. I wanted to connect with interesting, like-minded people who were willing to chat, and exchange ideas.. and share their adventures and lives. It’s sweet that you enjoy the written part of these silly posts, but I apologize in advance because I certainly don’t think I write well. I write like I talk and I have a potty mouth … and just say whatever. I can’t thank you and so many other bloggers and followers enough for being so open, friendly and kind. I feel certain that much of what I post really isn’t all that interesting, but you have made me feel like it was in some way. Every comment, like, and response means so much to me and if I could hug you both I would. I know I’m getting sappy here… but you have no idea what your comments meant to me today. I never want this experience to just be about me. (BORING!) I love making connections and seeing/hearing stories about the things that excite and motivate other people. I think you are all so awesome!
Looks lovely- here’s another idea using wallpaper: http://beautifulkitchens.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/arteco-pistachio.jpg
You’re going to thing I’m kidding… but I’m being totally truthful. When I saw that picture I got goosebumps and the hair on my arms stood straight up. It was like that feeling when you fall in love with someone. Your tummy has butterflies. HA HA! I’m must be “in love” with this idea. THIS IS SO FREAKIN’ BEAUTIFUL! Thank you so much for sending… now my head is spinning with the idea of doing this or something like it. I have to include the picture because it’s fabulous. I’m going to be lining my cabinet drawers with some but nobody will see it. This would be worth seeing!
Blog entry found here.
THANK YOU.
I’m not a “crazy” hoarder either. But only because I don’t find a sufficient volume of treasures. There is nothing better than an unexpected, perfect find…
I looked at your bath rehab link… since that’s what I’m up against. It’s fantastic. And, seriously? Who doesn’t love carpet in the bathroom? It would solve all my tile woes. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
Your home and blog are lovely… exactly what I love to discover.
HA HA! Yes, it just makes perfect sense to put carpet in the wettest room in the house, doesn’t it. If I could do this bathroom over I would do it in a heartbeat! We made some not-so-great choices while we were in a hurry to “get things done”. (sigh) But it’s the master bedroom bath that we are gearing up to tear out and I hope I can get something right in there. I have to use tile in the shower stall so I’m hoping to find something beautiful and BIG. Tiny grout lines will not be welcome in this project. Although tiny grout lines and beautiful coin, hex, and glass tiles are what my eyes always go to! I might need medication for this one. Too many decisions… and once you put in expensive tile YOU BETTER BE HAPPY! (laughing) Thank you for visiting my craziness.
I LOVE the credenza! Great find!
I get such a thrill out of finding things, especially when I’ve seen this exact same credenza laying in pieces in junk piles and ditches. It’s such a shame. I had to take it home. I have a friend who repairs furniture for a living and I’m hoping he’ll help us make a few repairs. Thank you for looking, Chelsi.
That’s awesome! My father-in-law is a carpenter and he refinishes wood furniture, so I know the feeling of a good find that you KNOW can be made even better! I got a credenza from a garage sale once. I didn’t have a way to get it home, as it was an out of town sale, and I was going to sadly leave it. The owner wanted to get rid of it so badly that he gave it to me for $3 and delivered it lol! It’s not in the BEST condition, and I hope to find one like yours one day, but for now, it’s doing the trick lol!
Great find!! And I am the same way- always finding unique pieces, but now am at the point where I am going to set up a website with a girlfriend to sell some of the treasures we have no space for. And I love mixing up glamourous romantic finds with rustic & industrial pieces. Its so eclectic and unexpected!
Hello! Thanks for looking. Wow, that would be great to sell your finds and make a few dollars. I would love to have an actual “physical shop” (totally impractical, though). I think it would be so cool to meet and visit with people. My husband and I day dream about that. I love your idea of mixing. I like WAY too many styles and I think mixing those industrial signs and rusty stuff with clean lines, etc makes a room look so cool and special. A home full of collected and unique pieces is always more interesting to me. Thank you so much for commenting. I’m glad you stopped by.
I love what you are doing here. I am going to follow this blog with pleasure. I am so very much in love with what people do to make a house into a home that adopts and becomes the personalities that live in it.
Thank you so much! That is one of the nicest compliments you can give someone, in my opinion. Our home is definitely funky and totally “us”. I appreciate your thoughts on that… especially since you are someone who has studied and pursued your passion for design. The pleasure will be all mine!
Love that piece, I’ve been looking for something similar for my entryway but have a small space problem. If you’re worried about furniture getting lost against the red wall maybe just a different red, like a poppy red with a tiny tinge of orange in it.
That’s a great suggestion. Maybe I’m just in the wrong range or something. Looking at paint chips is maddening. I really appreciate this. I get tired of always being the one to make decisions like this.. sometimes I just need some darn help! THANK YOU for that. :-)
Love the credenza!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it.
Hey Danielle. I think I’m liking it more and more and wanting to keep it more and more and my husband has the darn thing sold in his mind! AHHHHH! NOOO!
Hopefully I can talk him out of it. I have no idea what we’ll do … so I can’t wait either. Right now I need to get it off my driveway! You’re so sweet for looking.
hi stacey…thanks for sharing …am very envious….of both your credenza and richie’s stainless table…..we unfortunately don’t really come across special finds ( at special prices ) like that here very often….the mid century furniture that you liked in my post on hunters and collectors is mostly imported from north america…so you guys must have quite a collection over there x danielle
I never really thought about that being difficult for you. I guess there is a pretty decent amount of it here. Unfortunately it’s getting more and more difficult to find… so I can related to your position more and more.
Besides, who cares, Australian design is one of my favorite and I swoon over something every day. You are the lucky one. Ahhh…the grass is always greener, isn’t it. Thanks Danielle.
That credenza is AH-mazing!
Thanks Lindsey. I love the way you write. I can almost hear you say it. It made me giggle! :-)
haha! Thanks! I try to make it personal ;-)
Hi there. Just browsing your blog and I came across this post. What an amazing find! Curious what you ended up doing with it. I enjoyed looking at your blog. Have a lovely weekend!