This flatwall cupboard is one of our favourite pieces…
Not just because it is beautiful but because of the story behind it…
Would you like to hear it?
We were newly married, probably less than six months at the time. One Saturday afternoon we decided to go for a drive, we stopped at an antique shop out in the country. It was raining and muddy and we were hurrying from the car to the shop when I spied a pickers truck loaded down beside the shop. It was packed to the brim with furniture.
That’s when I saw it…
Dripping wet…
Painted ( poorly) in three different colours…
Loaded all wonky and crooked on that old truck.
I made Kent stop and look at it. We were getting soaked but I didn’t care…
I had fallen in love. It had such… POTENTIAL!
I saw Kent roll his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking…
“No Way!”
We went in and asked how much they were asking.
$1600.00 she said…
That decided it for Kent… He was out and assumed I would feel the same way, after all, $1600.00 was a lot of money and we were just starting out. Food and shelter were his main focus.
I on the other hand had fallen in love. Did I mention that already? Well, It bears repeating because logic did not come into play for me…
Now, we had a problem!
Pathetic pouting as depressing as that muddy rainy day filled the car on the way home. Kent had put his foot down. Well, actually he just pointed out we didn’t have the money in the bank and couldn’t buy it even if we wanted to.
We left.
I pouted.
He drove us home.
He thought it was over.
Silly man!
I couldn’t let it go… and that evening we had our first official fight!
Turns out the money wasn’t the only hurdle for my handsome husband. He did like the cupboard but he also knew how much work it would be to refinish it. It had been painted many times. It also had very unique moldings and tongue and groove construction so paint had gotten in every little crack. He was imagining hour after hour of work… at the time chippy painted furniture wasn’t quite in vogue yet… everyone wanted things stripped. Bottom line… He wanted no part of it!
I don’t remember too much about the argument. It has faded with the years and left behind a great story.
Suffice it to say, he gave in. 🙂
We ended up selling some shares (basically our only asset at the time ) to buy the cupboard. I know! It was a ridiculous decision. I still can’t believe we did it. I have actually felt quite guilty about how irresponsible it was.
Until today when I started writing this post. I checked the stock price …
At the time we had 200 shares to sell and when we paid fees etc. we walked away with $2100.00 enough to buy the cupboard and have a bit left over. If we had kept those 200 shares and sold them now…
Today they are worth $1200.00 that is all!
What would you guess the cupboard is worth today?
Our last evaluation had it at around $4500.00 if memory serves.
We have had the pleasure of owning and enjoying this beautiful cupboard for 23 years now. It has had a place of honour in every home we have lived in. I use it every day and love it more now than ever because now it is a part of our family’s history.
It really is a very unique piece… Some of the drawer bottoms are made from shipping crates stamped with the mark E.B. Eddy Man’fg Co. Hull, Canada.
We did end up refinishing it and yes… it was a beast of a job then several years ago we whitewashed it and although it may not be everyone’s taste…
I adore it!
Do you have a piece of furniture with a great back story? I would love to hear it… leave a comment below so we can all enjoy it!
BTW, If you like the beachy buoys sitting on the cupboard you can find our DIY post on how to make them here.
They are a fun and easy project.
