The Van that Led to the Buffet that Led to the Shopping Spree...

So we found the perfect buffet for the dining room. Wait, let me back up. In February, in the dead of winter, when we thought the longest winter would never, ever, EVER end, we started browsing Craigslist looking for vans. We've debated owning a van for years, basically since owning Wendhurst Castle. Our constant DIY projects, and occasional large furniture purchases were always unecessarily complicated by the annoying "but how do we get it home?" question. And then we would have the endless debate - do we ask again to borrow a friend's large vehicle? Rent a truck? Tie it precariously to the top of the Saturn?



Anyways, since no one else was willing to brave to cold to look at this van, we got a killer deal on a used Grand Caravan. And although I still hate a little the fact that I drive a van, since February we have driven over 4,500 miles, hauled home mattresses, dressers, a couch, plywood, countless 2x4s, a 20ft ladder, borrowed folding tables... In summary, we are getting every  penny's worth out of our van.



OK, back on subject. One sunny, and cold day in April, I was browsing Craigslist, and saw this beauty.



We've gone back and forth for years on what would work best for this skinny little part of the dining room. It needed to have lots of storage and an ample top (that's what he said) that would be used for all our entertaining. I wanted something that wouldn't require a ton of work, since my life is not terribly conducive to taking on new projects these days. Not that I'm usually stopped by that reality, but on this particular day, I was slightly saner.

Anyways, I showed Lover, he loved it too, and at $125, the price was right. I emailed, and a very nice guy named Adam called me back almost immediately. He said we could come see it whenever. Then I was struck by what I've deemed "Craigslist Panic" Have you ever experienced it? It's when you've found something so awesome that you must immediately go to purchase it, driven by the fear that someone else will beat you to it. So we loaded the kids in the van, and hightailed our way out to Hilton.



Luckily, no one else beat us out there, and the very friendly Adam told us that he had received this dresser from his in-laws who, apparently, live to makeover furniture found on the side of the road. Sadly for them, this dresser didn't fit in either of their houses. Happily for me, he was willing to sell it to us! I asked him if he was flexible on the price (knowing that I'd pay full price if he wasn't) I offered $120 and he agreed, and then proceeded to help Lover load it in the van.



When I went to pay him, he said, oh what the heck, how about just $115? Why sure, I'll pay you less! :) Oh, and by the way, the base is painted with Miss Mustard Seed chalk paint, how great is that? The color is fantastic. Anyways, we paid him, grabbed the kids and made our way out to our very full van. As we loaded the kids in their carseats he came out to us again and said "I'm a terrible negotiator. Here's another $5 back" :) So for $110 this practically perfect dresser was ours.



There are so many little details on here that I love. There is so much character! How darling are those little rosettes? The handles are spraypainted and are wearing off pretty quickly on the drawers we use a lot, so at some point they'll need to be redone. Hurray for more spraypainting! :)

Anyways, it works much better storage and size wise than the little dresser we had there before. And it looks a lot better in the background of pictures too.



Oh and the drawers! HaveI mentioned how much I love drawers?? It has EIGHT drawers. #itsabeautifulthing And two of them are completely empty, and two others are not even half full. Sounds like this girl needs to go shopping! :) How lucky for me that I am writing this from New York City, shopping mecca of the world?? Homegoods, here I come!