Shipping furniture(gasp)… can be expensive (duh)

by Annie Posted on August 10, 2011

I spent quite a bit of time contacting shipping companies to accommodate the dresser fans over 200 miles away this week. We’ve had interest from people on etsy in Connecticut, California and one person I am not sure where but she wanted to give the smaller dresser as a housewarming gift to her brother and sis-in-law. (Sweet idea.) Many of the freight/blanket wrapped options became non-options, both for cost and where we live.

After 6 calls, it was clear that we would need to expand how far we’d deliver the item ourselves or meet someone at a half-way point. So now instead of driving 100 miles, we’ll go 200 miles (from Northfield, MN) for the cost of how much gas it would require. Reminds me of that song by the Proclaimers (I’m Gonna Be) 500 miles…but I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more just to be the man who walked 1000 miles to fall down at your door…wait for it…da da da (da da da) da da da (da da da) da da da dun diddle un diddle un diddle uh da.

The point is-it can be expensive! However, UPS seems to be the best option for our location. Their quote was in line with my expectations. Other quotes went up as high as $500 something for a $350 dresser. These pieces seem like pets to me and I want to be sure they go to a good home. I wish we could afford to deliver the pieces to everyone in a “full-time business/pay the bills through this passion we share” kind of way but student debt mounted years ago and frankly,it doesn’t make sense with the efficient shipping capabilities of today. (Though it would help my dream of traveling around this great world of ours.)

Plus we began accepting Paypal on top of plain old cash so maybe that would help. What I need next is a large scale to calculate the heavier pieces. You can imagine how funny it would have been to see me weighing the small dresser on our bathroom scale with me holding it and subtracting my weight. It’s 57 lbs. thank you very much. My back hurts.

We’re heading back to our home state of Indiana for the next week for much needed family/friend time. I’m trying to fight that thrifty shopper in me…but secretly hoping we pick up a piece or two along the way. If only our Subaru were bigger. Until next time!

Playing Catch-Up and Before/After Painted Antique Dressers

by Annie Posted on August 8, 2011

Revisiting the past month (basically bringing our posts from tumblr to this new blog):

First dresser project before… (around mid-July 2011)

Shaving the dresser top down for an improved look. That’s G, my husband Greg. The condition of the back as purchased from the craigslist seller. Some tools and workspace.

Taking dresser 1 completely apart. Reinforce and clean up then put back together. Two upper drawers needed the veneer replaced (it was a hodgepodge of woods which was typical back then). New veneer to glue to the drawer fronts. After many many hours, after priming, time for paint. None of these worked for me so the final color took 3 trips to different stores. We were on hold with dresser 1 (waiting for mailed materials) for almost 2 weeks.

Dresser 1 with one coat of paint. More of our tool and limited space in the garage. Greg made his toolbox in college out of leftover wood (notice the worm wood…we think it’s neat). His degree is a mouthful-wood products manufacturing technology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He had a whopping 8 or so in his degree field. (My alma mater as well…in psychology with a business minor…boiler up!)

Side pic of our most recent dresser project below. I love the paneled sides. I think it takes away from the more feminine characteristics to make it neutral and appeal to a larger audience. Simple is better in my opinion. I’m going for the silent, take your breath away reaction. Not the one where the voice goes up a few pitches and cries out how adorable/cute/precious the piece is. No frills, nothing pointing it to the girly side just sophisticated, chic and sometimes a little different. That’s my goal. That’s what keeps me going. I do what I like and hope someone else enjoys it that much or more.

G and I started work on another dresser while waiting for our milk paint to arrive with great character and very sturdy/solid/last for another hundred years piece. Refinishing it was so much faster/easier, especially when we didn’t have to take it apart, remove the old paint, rebuild parts and prime. Nice.

The first coat of paint is on most of the dresser in the picture below. These were my color options in the picture above- the darker grey color with portions of the old cream coming through “spoke to me” more. I am digging the ombre/gradient of the paint though but that’s for another project. (The dresser style is in my mind but I have yet to come across it at a price I want to do. It will. I have faith.)

Progress: 1 coat of dark grey paint (not purple as this appears) on all parts of dresser 2.

I love how dresser 2 (aka grey dresser) turned out. A few coats of wax and poly finish. I don’t know if I can part with it. This was a glimpse from our poorly lit garage-a shot that makes it look slightly purple instead of grey (still).

Finished dresser 2. Dark French grey with antique brass and mother-of-pearl knobs. The cream paint has been left underneath the grey if distressing is desired and the drawers are painted an off-white shade. Love it. Will be hard to sell this piece but alas, it is on etsy and craigslist. Sigh.

And since I enjoy sharing my thrifty finds-my new “tulip” chairs from a craigslist seller in St. Paul who happened to be a Professor of design. The chairs were purchased from the school 10 years ago and placed in storage. Love the twist with the metal base. Finally get to eat at the table. No more coffee table dining! (The tulip table was from a young woman in Minneapolis a little over a month before finding the chairs.)

Here’s dresser 1 all dolled up and ready to go. It’s a beautiful, one-of-a-kind milk paint finish with blue/grey paint. The pulls are antique brass with ceramic cream gourds. If you live near Northfield, MN and are interested in purchasing this refinished piece, send us a comment. (The color/finish is best displayed on the close up knob picture.) It’s in our etsy shop and craigslist.

There you go, dear readers, you are basically caught up. We’ll be visiting family and friends mid to late August so we’ll be on hiatus (i.e. looking for more pieces spanning from Minnesota to Indiana with a pause in Chicago). And if you happen to be one of our supporters through this process, coming in from my food blog (the Dabble), thank you. Just a huge amount of gratitude and love coming your way. Without you, the last few years at that site would mean very little to me.

Etsy, Tumblr and the Dabble

by Annie Posted on August 2, 2011

Before starting this site, I was blogging on our old tumblr blog (also food blogging at the Dabble).  I had several posts under my belt including the before, during and after part of our venture so check out that link for more info.  Most regarding our progress on the two dresser projects with pictures. Oh, and I put our finished painted, antique dressers on etsy yesterday and it now resides on our sidebar right over there. (Throwing a glance in the right direction.)

Who are the Wits?

by admin Posted on August 1, 2011

Greg (my husband) and I (Annie) seek pieces with potential or quality furniture in modern, mid-century, vintage and antique styles/condition to lovingly and skillfully overhaul them for your buying pleasure. One with an eye for décor and the other a professional woodworker, together we are crazy about refinishing, salvaging and bringing the purpose/beauty back to neglected or unattractive furniture.

This is our space to document our progress, meet new friends, and share something we’re passionate about with you.