I am going to say something I rarely ever say. There are some things you can’t fix.
Or maybe a better way to say it is, there are some things you shouldn’t fix. Now. You’re looking at this picture and maybe you’re confused. Looks fine to me.
Press-board. That evil, evil stuff that grabs at moisture like a sponge and then splits, cracks and generally falls apart. There is no fixing it. Replacing it, especially for this piece would’ve meant rebuilding the entire thing and what would’ve been the point of that?
So why did I even buy it? Good question. I have asked myself that very same thing since the day I brought it home nearly 6 months ago.
Well. She has a story, like everything does and her’s goes like this.
I was trolling our local Facebook yard sale page when I came across a photo of this cabinet for sale. I had just completed this china hutch for a friend and I couldn’t wait to do another. Actually, I wanted one of my own.
I immediately messaged the lady and made an offer. Her response, which was puzzling, would you offer me a dollar more? A dollar more. Hmmm.
I thought about it for a minute and decided I didn’t need to know why. I’m not going to argue over a dollar. She needed me to come and get it immediately because she was moving and had to be out that day. I sent my husband by to give it the once over (lesson learned there!) and then the both of us went back to pick it up.
One look at it and I knew that I had not only over paid (by more than a dollar!) but that I’d never be able to use it as I had hoped. So why didn’t I back out?
When my husband went by to look at it the woman was visibly upset. It turns out she had recently lost her husband and she was having to move from their family home as a result. She was in love with her china cabinet that her husband had given her as a Mother’s Day present when their adult son was just a boy. But she had to part with it and a lot of her other possessions as a result of her move. Just before his death her husband had made a bet with her. He told her, I bet you can’t get a dollar more than such and such for that thing! But she did. She got a dollar more from me.
How could I have said, nevermind, to that story?
Even if the top looked as though it might never have been cleaned. Or dusted. Like, EVER.
And this was the drawer AFTER I scrubbed it, sanded it and given up.
So how would I use this? I couldn’t let it go to waste. I loved it’s story.
But don’t let her fool you! She’s still hiding something. Then again, aren’t we all?
![Know what I did yesterday? Spent the day making and selling cotton candy for my sonās marching band fundraiser at the county fair! Fall is for football, marching band, and Cowboy Queso Dip! When we arenāt out at a football game or a marching band competition, weāre āhomegatingā in our new backyard deck and patio space. Get the recipe for the most flavorful dip youāll ever taste (thanks to my secret ingredient!) and a sneak peek of our backyard makeover #ontheblog today. Clickable link in my profile! Sponsored by @foodlion [ad] . . . #collectivebias #sofabfood #homegatinghacks #homegating #tailgate #appetizers #bhgfood #chefmode #nom #nomnom #dip #tastethisnext #feedfeed #f52grams #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #insiderfood](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/vp/e4a044b8030a6c7ac3ec363b90674cd7/5CF05FD4/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/42893743_505350686612903_7524159831202715014_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com "Know what I did yesterday? Spent the day making and selling cotton candy for my sonās marching band fundraiser at the county fair! Fall is for football, marching band, and Cowboy Queso Dip! When we arenāt out at a football game or a marching band competition, weāre āhomegatingā in our new backyard deck and patio space. Get the recipe for the most flavorful dip youāll ever taste (thanks to my secret ingredient!) and a sneak peek of our backyard makeover #ontheblog today. Clickable link in my profile! Sponsored by @foodlion [ad] . . . #collectivebias #sofabfood #homegatinghacks #homegating #tailgate #appetizers #bhgfood #chefmode #nom #nomnom #dip #tastethisnext #feedfeed #f52grams #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #insiderfood")
![What better way to celebrate my birthday than with a sneak peek of our laundry room makeover that Iāve been promising since that @oneroomchallenge from last year?! I figured since Iāve already completed another ORC challenge, and Iām about to start on my third, it miiiiight be time to at least give you a peek at my first. Today Iām sharing this preview of our DIY #modernfarmhouse laundry room makeover along with my favorite way to keep all that laundry Iām way more happy to do these days super fresh. Clickable link in my profile. [ad] . . . . #ggathome #smmakelifebeautiful #decorcrushing #ABMatHome #myhousebeautiful #sodomino #interiorinspo #mydomaine #BHGhome #mycovetedhome #apartmenttherapy #showmeyourstyled #betterhomesandgardens #hgtvhome #simplystyleyourspace #mybhghome #Ilovegain #sparklewithgain](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/vp/2c4101e3187f38079b6ee9c3321c8341/5CE958C2/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/42002684_1078420912335418_3354643072263372049_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com "What better way to celebrate my birthday than with a sneak peek of our laundry room makeover that Iāve been promising since that @oneroomchallenge from last year?! I figured since Iāve already completed another ORC challenge, and Iām about to start on my third, it miiiiight be time to at least give you a peek at my first. Today Iām sharing this preview of our DIY #modernfarmhouse laundry room makeover along with my favorite way to keep all that laundry Iām way more happy to do these days super fresh. Clickable link in my profile. [ad] . . . . #ggathome #smmakelifebeautiful #decorcrushing #ABMatHome #myhousebeautiful #sodomino #interiorinspo #mydomaine #BHGhome #mycovetedhome #apartmenttherapy #showmeyourstyled #betterhomesandgardens #hgtvhome #simplystyleyourspace #mybhghome #Ilovegain #sparklewithgain")
Love this post! Yes, don’t we all have a story?
That’s what fun about repurposing.
It’s one of my favorite parts! I love the things you find in old furniture, too! š
I dub this piece….”The Secret Keeper”. Love the post! Love you! XOXO! Rebecca
That’s a great name for her! I think she’ll like it. Thank you Reb! Love you right back! š
Ugh.. What a heartfelt story! I totally understand why you wouldn’t want to sell this, but it came out gorgeous and looks like it is the perfect display piece! – Susan
Thank you Susan! She did turn out pretty and she deserves it since she’s always been well loved.
Wow. What an awesome story!!
Thanks Ashley!
What an awesome display! And you’re not a shabby writer, either. Laura
Well coming from you Miss English Major, that’s a real nice compliment! š Love you!
Love it all Jamie~no I’m not hiding anything…hehehehehe. She looks so much better š
Me either Debbie! LOL Thank you!
That’s an amazing story and good for her for getting that dollar more. š Just one last (inside) joke for them. It looks amazing and as I always say, everything happens for a reason. Perfect display piece. I hope she knows where she can come see it.
BeckyD
i hope that you have sent her pictures of the hutch. It is wonderful…as the memory becomes the story…the old adage of perfection….it is not what you see but how well you hide it. imperfections in today’s society is often thrown to the curb never giving a story the proper ending. with imperfections….comes character. love this.