Happy Wednesday!
It's been a few weeks since I've been able to join Stephanie @ Junker Newbie for "Would You Buy It Wednesday" so I'm happy to have something to link this week.
While out thrifting last weekend I came across this oak library card cabinet that needs a little TLC.
The cabinet has good bones. It is sturdy and intact. The finish on it is shot and the hardware needs a good cleaning.
Although this cabinet needs some work, I have always wanted one and so I bought it.....for $20.00.
I'm going to work on it this weekend and see how it cleans up. I'm hoping I can sand it down and re-stain. But if that doesn't work I will be painting and distressing.
Would you have bought this piece? And what do you think....stain or paint?
Thanks as always for stopping by!
Jane
Yes, yes, yes. I love it. The only thing I would do is clean the hardware.
ReplyDeleteWould I have bought it? Do women love shoes?
ReplyDeleteDeb
P.S. Please give tips later for how to clean the hardware...inquiring minds want to know.
Yes, most definitely would have bought at that price!! I have been looking for one around here for a long time and can't find them.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Briwax girl so I would clean the hardware and Briwax it with one of their medium browns. That's all I would do. I love to distress and paint pieces but something like this, I try to leave original.
Awesome piece! Can't wait to see what you end up doing with it.
Yep, they would have me with all those little drawers. Great find!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Tami
Yes, for $20 I would have bought it. For some reason I've always wanted one of those old library catalog cabinets, but I never see them. I have no idea what I'd do with it. I just know I want one. Can't wait to see what you do.
ReplyDeleteOh my...yes, yes, yes...love it! Love how the harware looks...as is :) Laurel
ReplyDeletePAINT!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I'm sure it will look great whether you paint or stain it!
ReplyDeleteOh my yes! I love these cabinets but they are always so pricy so for $20 it seems like a great deal to me. I would not paint it unless it just doesn't clean up well. I hope you will show it to us after you work on it.
ReplyDelete~~Linda
Yes, I would have bought it in a second. My first choice would be to try to stain it and salvage the original look. But it may be too far gone..then I would paint and distress. Very neat piece!
ReplyDeleteI would paint it...great price you got on it. Stop by and link her up to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday...still up and going strong.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
In a heartbeat,
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted one!
Lucky girl.
Amy
Yep, that's a beauty...well, it will be in your hands!
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a no brainer - definitely would have bought it! To me, a library card cabinet just begs to be refinished in wood tones though. So I would probably try to refinish it first and if that fails then go to the paint.
ReplyDeleteI am leaning much more toward the natural look of wood these days, especially in smaller items. Briwax would most likely be my choice also.
ReplyDeletexx
z
I would have RUN to the check-out with that fabulous piece! I have always wanted one! Really great find! I would probably vote for painting this one.
ReplyDeleteOh Yeah Girl! What a find can't wait to see what you decide to do with it.
ReplyDelete~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
Yep! Wouldn't have had to think twice! I'd sand and stain it, I think!
ReplyDeleteIn a heartbeat! Yes!
ReplyDeleteI'm a paint girl. I have one of those that's painted a pretty cream color with a light stain over it and I love it.
What a great find. I have looked for one of these for ages with no luck. I am thinking wine rack?
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great piece, Jane, and I would have bought it for sure! I have never stained anything, so I would paint it, but I'm sure it's going to look great whatever you decide to do!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Yes! and, my 2 cents... stain if needed and/or a number of coats of paste wax. Beautifully patina-ed wood is AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteGreat find! I used to be all about painting, but not so much anymore! I've been turned on by wood lately!
ReplyDeletetot
Oh....yes, I would of bought it!! I love anything with drawers. Briwax would be my choice on the wood too.
ReplyDeleteI have my hubby's grandfather's old jewelers cupboard and I keep all my jewelry making supplies in it.
What a great find!! I just love old drawers and I think your library card cabinet is awesome!!
hugs,
Cindy
Probably not, but I know you'll make it look marvellous and then I'd wish that I had!
ReplyDeleteHope to see the finished article soon.
You can bet I would have bought it! I have no doubt it will be gorgeous no matter the finish you decide on, Jane.
ReplyDeleteOh it is wonderful. I would only clean the hardware and leave as is. Too me something this old doesn't need paint. It has a beauty of its own.
ReplyDeleteJane, I love the old oak library card catalogs! Yes, I would have bought it. Sanding and staining sounds like the best idea to me. But paint could make it stand out. Hmmm, it depends on how and where you are going to use it. Can't wait to see what you do. I hope you will share how you clean up old hardware like this.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely would buy it!! I like it just the way it is, looks like it has a story to tell. If you must redo it I would stain it first if that don't work then paint will. That comes from someone who paints everything. Can't wait to see what you decide.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Melissa
Yes, definitely. I'd stain first - and if that doesn't work, then I'd have to paint.
ReplyDeleteI saw the picture and the title and yelled "yes!" before even reading the post. I like it just the way it is but I would try stain first before painting (although it would look really cute in a creamy white :)
ReplyDeleteI would have bought that in a heartbeat! I'd do what the other ladies suggested (stain or just wax) with one exception. Even if you paint the cabinet part please leave those drawers original, they would look stunning with a worn paint finish on the cabinet!
ReplyDeleteOh PLEASE don't paint it. Look at that gorgeous quarter-sawn oak peeking through!!! Try sanding and staining it first!!!! BTW, I would have bought it, too!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I too, have wanted one of these for a while now. I never find one that is within my price range. I would have definitely bought it for $20!!! I think you should try to sand/stain it...maybe a natural stain instead of dark?
ReplyDeletePaint it Jane! I have the same one and it's white! :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteSusan
1,000,000 times yes! I have been looking for one of those forever. Maybe I should visit your neck of the woods...you seem to find the best stuff!
ReplyDeleteIt would pain me to pay 20 dollars when it needs so much work - but I would buy it in a heartbeat. Love this. I would definitely try to stain it. I love paint but not for this guy. And I wouldn't clean the hardware too much. In the photos, the patina looks pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteyes...yes....yes...I adore it!
ReplyDeleteI would have paid $20 and I am usually really cheap, but that is fabulous...I say stain!
ReplyDeleteCarol
I would have no given it a second thought, $20 seems a great price. I would clean it, stain it and then sit with it on my lap and rubbed my hands over the wood. Does anything feel as good as a smooth wood finish?
ReplyDeleteI covet this...so YES, I would have bought it. I also love the crusty, gnarly look of it just the way it is!!
ReplyDeleteYou better believe I would have! I'd paint it cream and distress it and love it forever!!
ReplyDeleteI want one too but couldn't find one yet. So, yes, yes, yes, I would have bought it and would probably paint it. Great find, Jane!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Julia
Ok this one is a no brainer, who wouldn't have bought t
ReplyDeleteI wouldnt buy it on just Wednesday id buy it every day of the week lol Seriously tho I love it!!
ReplyDeleteWow what a lucky find I would have snatched it up for sure cant wait to see what you do with it!
ReplyDeleteIn a heartbeat I would have bought it. Oh I can't wait to see what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteEither would be great. But I wouldn't paint over the hardware. I love the look of the weathered metal.
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteThere's no way I could have passed that up! Love it! Even though I love painted furniture, it's really hard for me to paint wood but I think it would look fabulous white or cream and distressed! But, like Anita said I would leave the hardware as is.
Rebecca
YES,YES, I certainly would have bought it...and I would paint and distress - anxious to see what you do with it - I have faith and know it will turn out perfectly! They are so hard to find!! Lucky you
ReplyDeleteObviously you got a lot more for your $20 than I did! Great piece!
ReplyDeleteyes! i would have bought it. i would keep the patina'ed hardware as it is and probably paint the cabinet/distress too
ReplyDeleteI know I'm possibly too late and that the project may be finished, but here is my two cents. I love the mismatched drawer fronts and even the pantina of the hardware. I would clean the wood and maybe steel wool the hardware (to prevent further corrosion). Then, seal both (minwax? and/or polyurethane). For the case/body part I would sand it and stain evenly, perhaps a medium-dark stain and seal...
ReplyDeleteIn short: Yes, I think I would buy it. =)
I would have bought that beauty in an instant! Good thing I didn't have to fight you for it:-)
ReplyDeleteOoh what a beauty! I'd probably just put some wax on it...and yes I would have bought it, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would've bought it, and would probably just clean it up.
ReplyDeleteWish that libraries still used them, too. I can find my way around a card catalog a lot faster than with their search systems.
Depending on the price, Yes I would buy it. Stain it!
ReplyDeleteOh YES Jane....I would have bought it for sure....I think I'd just match up the stain a little on the paler drawers though....!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you end up doing....!!
Cheers,
Tamarah :o)
You bet I would have bought it! I'm like a broken record, but you find such way cool stuff for so darn cheap. Our thrift store has picked up on the whole vintage vibe, and has priced their "older" items kinda on the high side. I've been stupid enough to walk away from some things because they weren't $10, or what I thought they should be priced. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that a lot of women love older things like this?
ReplyDeleteMy husband would ask me "so what are you going to do with something like this?" I usually answer him, I have a good feel for the things that I remember from my childhood which don't exist any more that is unless Ikea decides to come out with a new line of them.
I would clean it up and stain the top and sides but not paint it. Good luck with the piece...and what a deal for $20.00. Can't wait to see what you have done with it. Barb