dresser problems

[holli]

So, we've established that clothing storage is an issue. My current dresser is really not sufficient to my needs, so it maybe be a good idea to get a new one. Craigslist, as always, provides (and confirms that I am drawn to shabby chic shit like it's made of goddamn candy). These are the frontrunners:



$100, in Columbia Heights, just kind of okay.



$180, in Hyattsville, not that much additional storage space but really cute.



$250, in Gaithersburg with $20 delivery. Also, GIGANTIC. The clear frontrunner in terms of how much I like it, but also the most expensive. DILEMMA.

Thoughts?

Comments

[meara]

Uh, my taste is quite clearly not your taste (though my mom and her TWO Hoosier cabinets might have a chat with you...) but I don't see from the picture how the last one is much bigger than the others? With its two doors it looks like, it is set up rather differently than the others--how would that work? Are there shelves in there, or would you need baskets or?

I like the middle one best, but as I said, I suspect I am not the target audience. He'll, I don't even own a dresser--I hate putting things in drawers because I tend to then not wear them at all. I need them on display. I have a cabinet from ikea with shelves, that I keep most stuff in, but even then end up mostly wearing stuff from the clean laundry that hasn't been put away because its right there.

Re: Playing devil's advocate

[holli]

They give the dimensions of the third piece in the ad, and it's 56x17x37.

And, actually, I just got an email from the owner of the #2-- it's 47x24x36. Which means it *is* a good bit bigger than my current dresser, and might have become the frontrunner because she's also willing to take $160.

[veejane]

#3 appears to be a sideboard. Have you searched specifically on sideboards/buffets? The ones that aren't already painted in shabby-chic fashion are often unwanted, and thus often cheap. Wicked difficult to move given the size, but cheap.

I say this as someone handy with polyurethane and inclined toward elderly hardwood pieces, so if it's the already-done paint color that you're liking, this is not useful advice. But. The number of low-cost, high-quality sideboards I have seen! I bought one (technically a desk, Hepplewhite style, probably 1940s) for $125, with water damage, and refinished the top and front. It's the most beautiful piece of furniture I own. AND I got to go shopping for vintage drawer-handles! It was a craphound's delight.

[holli]

Yeah, DIYing it is a good idea but I'm a little nervous about taking on that big a project when I've never done something of that sort before.

I already have two chairs that came with the enamel-top table that need to be stripped, repainted, and reupholstered-- if I can manage to do that in a timely fashion, I'll maybe think about trying a bigger piece.

Playing devil's advocate

[untonuggan]

If cost is a dilemma: You could always get a can of Annie Sloan chalk paint and a really cheap but cute looking dresser and DIY?

[arliss]

Reposted from LJ--I read your post there first today--I don't know what your storage habits are, but I really like lots of smaller drawers. Things get buried in deeper drawers, lost and never see the light of day again. Unless I was storing bulky sweaters, blankets, or towels, the pieces with deep drawers would be my last pick. The first one doesn't have the character of the others, but is better for organizing undies, socks, hair and headgear, plus fairly deep drawers for folded t-shirts, sweats, etc. You could also paint it, change out the drawer pulls and practice your stenciling or detail painting to make it your own masterpiece.