We might be one of the few families who does not have a flat screen TV. We are still rockin’ the old school TV in a cabinet. We got both the TV and cabinet as hand-me-downs and it is hard to beat free.
I shared all about staining the cabinet a darker shade from the honey brown color it was originally. It has served us well but I am starting to feel the itch to upgrade. Plus the TV is at least 20 years old and its lifespan might be ending soon.
After searching Craigslist off and on for about 6 months, I was getting discouraged. There didn’t seem to be much out there under $300 that wasn’t just pressed plywood. I didn’t want to pay that much, plus still need to put in all the effort and time to refinish it. I am a big fan of painted furniture.
I looked elsewhere and even consider this beauty from Crate & Barrel. My sister-in-law snagged one when it was on sale and loves it.
As much as I wanted to have it for my very own, the 60 inch version (our first choice) topped out at $599. Too much for our tight budget. Back to craigslist.
That’s when I found the posting for this solid wood credenza for $140!
The seller was a lovely lady who was moving into a retirement home and passionately shared its life story. I reveled in every detail and promised to give it a good home. She even broke out the family tree before our visit was up! It is from the 1930’s and she remembers her mother being so excited when she purchased it. Call me crazy but it is like that excitement was being passed to me.
Even as well-loved as it was, it still shows signs of its age. It’s begging to be repainted, but I want to be sure I do it justice.
I found this color combo chart from Chairish which is like a Craigslist for real authentic vintage furniture but a lot easier to browse. I am loving the first color combo. The credenza painted bright peacock blue is really speaking to me. (Click on the image to open the pdf).
I love that bright pop of color, yet it still calming enough to go with the other cool blues, grays, and greens I have in my living room. Be careful on Chairish because you can quickly lose track of time. I already found a few accent chairs that I would love to add to our home. I think the design and hues of these could be a great fit!
Before I get carried away, here are a few blues I am loving for my vintage credenza, all Benjamin Moore paints.
1 Blue Danube | 2 Downpour Blue | 3 Van Deusen Blue | 4 Paddington Blue | 5 Oasis Blue | 6 Polo Blue
I am leaning towards #1-3 but I might just get a tester of all of them. Which blue do you like? Do you have a favorite color combination? Are you a fan of painted furniture or do you like all natural wood tones? So glad I stuck it out on Craigslist. I can’t wait to add this little piece of history to our home!
Oh I just love being the sister-in-law you shout out to. 🙂 I know whatever you come up with will be beautiful. I completely see the potential in that buffet table. Can’t wait to witness the transformation!
Aw, thanks Stacy. I can’t wait to see your media stand in person.
I vote for 1 or 6. I think either of those would look amazing against the wall color and near your brick. Plus they are versatile enough to be paired with other colors.
Such a great find! I love the idea of hearing the history of the piece! I bet she was so delighted to find out that it would be loved and cared for! And solid wood pieces make my heart happy.
Thank you Bethany for your input. I am now leaning towards #2 but #1 is my second choice! Although I am keeping an open mind until I buy a few testers, sometimes seeing it in person makes all the difference!