This is a DIY crime scene. If you are sensitive to graphic images consider yourself warned.

Last year when I was gearing up for The Hoard Sale I found a listing on Craigslist for 2 card catalogs. The pictures were bad, and the listing was super vague. But I mean, OF COURSE I had to contact the seller.

I found out that they were about 40 minutes away and were in rough shape…like they had lived in a barn outside for the last 35+ years. I cant remember what the original asking price was, I think well over $1000 but I ended up getting them both for $550 and they were able to deliver. Which was wonderful considering this thing weighs so much.

The pictures looked pretty bad, but MAAAAAAAN. It was worse than I thought.

The previous owner had used the pull out shelves to spray paint. (screen shot from the ad)

WHYYYYYYYYYY?

It was EVERYWHERE.

Not to mention that it had been living outside in the heat of Arizona. As you can imagine the veneer was toast. I’ve never seen anything like it, it was the consistency of shredded corn flakes. Luckily the drawer fronts were solid wood and were salvageable.

So I did what any normal person would do, I got to work saving the dang thing.

I needed to take the paint off of the hardware that had overspray, but I didn’t want it to look new. After testing a few different things I settled on Acetone. I put it in a large bowl and let the hardware soak for about 3 minutes. The spray paint melted off without altering the age of the brass.

Every single one of the 58 (2 were missing) drawer fronts were sanded completely. The ones that didn’t have paint had a flakey topcoat that needed to be out of both of our lives.

I LOVE how many different tones of wood are in it.

There were exactly 1 & 1/2 drawer fronts missing, as well as a few trim pieces (like the long one right under the bottom row of drawers)  So I went to Home Depot and matched the wood grain as much as I could. I feel like I remember ending up with oak.

I used my saw to cut the drawer fronts and the trim pieces and attached them to the catalog directly

You can see in the picture above that it came with a pretty giant base complete with it’s own shredded corn flakes.

I debated on using Danish oil on it and tested a few drawers (the ones on the left) but decided that I liked the raw wood on the right better.

When it came time to sell it at The Hoard Sale I was having very mixed feelings about parting with it. Because dang these things are hard to find.

So I priced it higher (around $800 I think) and said if it sells, then its just not meant to be.

Much to my delight (and Court’s distain) it didn’t sell so for the last 9 months it’s been sitting in the back of the garage.

Lotioning, Oiling. Oiling. Lotioning

Until I couldn’t take it anymore!

When we moved the entire thing inside (base and all) I wasn’t convinced. The problem wasn’t the card catalog, it was the base. The base needed to go. But the catalog on the floor looked super weird too. It just needed a little something.

I went to Home Depot (seriously you guys, multiple times a day.) and bought a hefty 4×4.

We cut it down into legs that are about 5” each. Then we bolted them to the thick base inside.

It lifts it up just enough.

Turned out pretty great!

UPDATE:  You have got to see how it looks in my living room reveal!  It turned out SO good!!!

The post Rescuing A Craigslist Card Catalog appeared first on Vintage Revivals.

You guys. Have I got a story for you!

I’ve been on the hunt for a vintage leather couch for what seems like my whole dang life. The search was kicked into overdrive when the orange couch was moved into the storage unit. 2 weeks ago an ad popped up in the nearby area section of Craigslist (you guys have seen that right? When you have a specific search typed in it will pull things from the Craigslist in surrounding areas)

This was the listing:

It was one of those running around the living room screaming moments because I have not found another colored vintage leather chesterfield since this horrible tragedy in ‘12.

The problem was that it was located in Bullhead City AZ (about 4 hours south from where I live). I contacted the seller and told him that we would be in Vegas in 2 weeks and asked him if he would be willing to hold them for me. (It never hurts to ask!)  He said that he couldn’t, and the reality was that I couldn’t make it down there to get them, so I had to have a broken heart about it.

THEN last Friday I sent him a text (because the time had come for our Vegas trip) and asked if they were still available.

THEY WERE!!

What??!? WHY?!? EEEEEEE! (That was what I was thinking). I asked him if he would be willing to go down on the price (because you always do that) and he said to make an offer. So I was like “How about $250?” and he said yes! HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPY AND JOYFUL AND FULL OF JOYFULLNESS!!!

So Court and I ventured out in the wee morning hours to take the trip for the couches.

You guys. They are so good.

The only issue that they have is that the big couch has 2 buttons that are coming out. You can bet that I will be figuring out a way to fix it (even if that means taking it to an upholsterer). And lets be honest, for $250 I wouldn’t have cared if there was a possum family living inside.

But, the story doesn’t end there…also, don’t hate me ok?

The post A Tale of 2 Couches: Part 1 Craigslist Chesterfields appeared first on Vintage Revivals.

I am a Craigslist Stalker. Not the killing kind mind you. But a stalker none the less.

So for your consideration today, I would like to submit the following Do’s and Don’ts for selling on Craigslist. Also if any of these random Craigslist ads are yours images from the internet are yours, apologies in advance.

10 Do’s and Don’ts for Selling on Craiglist

1. This will always be first. Don’t WRITE IN ALL CAPS!  It is super annoying.

2. Do use the creative writing class that you took in middle school!

Yes, it is pretty annoying that this ad was listed 3 times, but those are some catchy titles. Especially the 3rd one. Don’t worry,  I clicked it. It was a just a regular memory foam mattress.

3. Do Describe things the way that you would to your best friend.

Let’s just pretend for a minute that you are on the phone with your bff while thrifting. You stumble upon an item,  how would you describe it? Does it have really amazing lines? Does it need a lot of work? Does it just need a good scrub, or does it require a Hazmat suit? When people are buying things from you give them as much detail as possible. It is never fun to show up for your dream chair, only to discover that the back is shredded and it smells like cat pee.

4. Do include a picture!

You guys. Honestly. Do people thing that they are going to sell something described as Brown Sofa? I never understand the “pictures available upon request” line either. It would be so much easier to upload it once, than to text it to 27 people individually. Right?

This listing is awesome. The pictures are clear, you know what you are getting when you call:

5. Do take the time to make something presentable.

Presentable doesn’t always mean staged beautifully. Of course if you are selling a desk, clear all of the papers off of it. If you are selling a couch, think about moving the pillows so that we can see it. Anytime something is covered up it makes me suspicious that you are hiding something horrible underneath.

6. Do list things that you think people may not want.

I came across an ad for this center sectional piece. I mean, yes by itself it is not a good idea, but what if someone is looking for that EXACT thing?! Craigslist scores are made up of love stories like this!

7. Don’t Overprice Things!

Don’t think that because your 17 year old puffy sofa is worth $100 less than what it was when you bought it.  When you are figuring out the price ask yourself this simple question. How much would YOU pay for it? I love finding deals, so I tend to price my items lower because deal karma is the best kind.

8. Do leave your contact info!

ARGH is there anything more frustrating than not being able to contact someone when they are selling something you want? It is THE most important Do on the list.

9. Do Make Some Money!!

What would you do in this situation?

You have listed a table for $100. You get a call from a lady that wants it, but wont be able to come and look at it until the next day. Right after you hang up with her you get a phone call from a crazy lady named Mandi (hypothetically of course,  not all Mandi’s are crazy.) that is in love with the table. You tell her someone is interested in it but they wont be coming to pick it up until the next day. Mandi says that she will pay you $125 and pick it up right then. What would you do??

You are selling your piece for profit. If you have a better offer, that is solid,  TAKE IT. Who knows if lady #1 is actually going to come and get it. Of course you can be courteous and let her know asap. The saying one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush describes Craigslist selling PERFECTLY.

Don’t be a Craigslist Sucker!

10. Don’t Be Scared of Negotiations.

If you are set on a price don’t waver, but if you are itching to get something moved out,  don’t be nervous to negotiate with the seller! Negotiations are my favorite,  so if I show up at your front door be ready!

Do you guys have any other tips to add? Leave them in the comments and we will all love you forever!

The post 10 Do’s and Don’ts For Selling on Craigslist appeared first on Vintage Revivals.

This is a very sensitive subject for me to talk about.

Craigslist.

I love Craigslist most of the time. But sometimes I hate it. Particularly when you get a crappy seller (ok, we aren’t really going to blame the seller because she might not know how to use gmail.)

See this couch?

Yes I know you are DYING right now. As was I.

$50.00

I KNOW.

I emailed the seller Sunday evening and was told that she wouldn’t be available to sell me the couch until Thursday. So I emailed her every other day letting her know that I was still interested and begging her to call me so that we could get a pick up arranged while I waited. Thursday rolls around and I still hadn’t heard anything. So I emailed her again this time a brand new email.

I got a reply saying that she received a higher offer and wanted to know if I wanted to counter. Let me make this CRYSTAL CLEAR. I have ZERO problem with people offering a higher amount for an item. I told her that I would gladly pay twice what she was asking.

Guess what?

I didn’t hear back from her.

So on Saturday Morning I sent her another email only to find out that she did not receive my last one (or any of the other ones that I sent by hitting Reply) and the couch had just been picked up.

Tears. Sobs. Wailing. And so much pain that I couldn’t get on CL for a week.

So. If you are the awesome person that lives in St. George that bought this couch, you are luckier than a duck. And I will buy it from you. Or trade for a furnishing of your choice from my house. Or my first born. Or a year of FREE Durangos.

Some of you who hate the way that I Craigslist will say that this is Karma, and I am not denying that. But I will say that its not going to change my approach, I will just have to make sure to send a new email and not just hit reply. (wink)

AND.

If you spot a couch similar I would love a heads up, there might be something fabulous in it for you…
Have you ever had a Craigslist heartbreak? Tell us all about it! And how do you feel about offering more for something?

Love  Your  Guts,  Mandi

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