You guys, it’s been a long time since I did some serious Craigslist shopping.
In fact, if you’re new here at The Gathered Home, you might not even realize the extent of my Craigslist addiction, since I manage to keep it heavily in control during the fall through spring semesters when I just don’t have enough hours in the day to devote to it. But come summertime, my work hours as a piano teacher change drastically, which gives me much more time to sit glued to my computer screen, scrolling through endless thumbnails, looking for Craigslist gold.
Now, the downside to this extra “free time” in the summer is that less work equals less pay… but the silver lining is that by chaining myself to Craigslist on my laptop or smart phone, I do my best to turn my “free time” into a profitable vintage-furniture-flipping spree. Do you see that tab up top labeled “Found”? That’s the archive of my past vintage furniture finds, many of which are linked to fun background info (okay – I think it’s fun) and details on refinishing/restoring. Check it out!
Step 1: Buy beat-up or simply under-priced vintage furniture. Step 2: Put in some hours hauling, cleaning, and restoring. Step 3: Take some killer product photos and relist on Craigslist. Step 4: Resell for a profit.
Well Craigslist season is upon us, so last week I shared my vintage brass stacked coffee table score with you guys (which I am totally keeping!) and today I’m sharing this fab little mid-century sofa I picked up recently and actually sold before I had a chance to blog about it!
Isn’t it swanky? The tufted vinyl cushions were in great shape besides the seat’s sagging issue. I’ve actually heard that this is something that can be fixed from beneath the sofa without disturbing the upholstery, but I didn’t want to mess with it. I tend to go for quick flips, so I sold it as-is. Quite honestly, the dip creates the perfect contour for slouching!
The wood frame on the other hand, needed some elbow-grease and my magic elixir good-for-what-ails-your-wood-grain: Howard’s Restor-A-Finish. I love that stuff. So much. One of these days they need to appoint me an official spokesperson and let me make commercials for them, because I get dementedly excited when I’m using it and make Bryan come over and watch the magic every time.
There’s just something so insanely special to me about seeing a “dead” finish come to life before your eyes… It sounds ridiculously overdramatic when I try to express it, but I’m at my happiest reviving an old and storied piece of furniture!
See how scratched, dull and dingy the “before” is? I used Restor-A-Finish in golden oak with a soft cotton rag and extra fine synthetic steel wool to buff off the streaks of white paint from where the sofa had apparently banged up against walls and the like in its long lifetime.
Check out the after:
How sexy is that?! Delicious.
Of course, now that the sofa has been sold there is a mid-century-shaped hole in my heart and I am manically scouring Craigslist for my next vintage “fix”… to fix. So throughout the summer, expect to see some more of these “Found” posts highlighting my vintage treasure-seeking and restoring, because I just love sharing them with you guys!
I’ll also be able to devote more time to DIY projects (do I feel a kitchen makeover coming on?!), so I’m truly psyched about my summer prospects.
How about you? Do you suffer from a Craigslist addiction as well? What’s in store for you this summer?
Caroline Nolazco says
May 26, 2014 at 1:20 pmOh wow. It's absolutely gorgeous!! You have such strength being able to resell!
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:01 amIt was hard at first, but now I'm an old pro at letting go… Just kidding: it's always hard for me to let them slip through my fingers 😉
Jess rey says
May 26, 2014 at 7:50 pmAbsolutely gorgeous….so masculine, but oh do sleek, love it!
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:02 amThank you Jess 🙂 It was a pretty sweet piece!
Sammi @ Every Home is a Castle says
May 26, 2014 at 8:38 pmThis is beautiful Brynne! That wood restorer is incredible. I want a sofa like this now – beats my £800 Ikea ones any day!
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:03 amI'm always amazed at what cool vintage pieces exist for around the same price as retail pieces! Vintage always wins in my book 🙂
Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says
May 26, 2014 at 11:12 pmWhat a score. I can't believe you sold it 🙂
You will have to give me some CL tips. I always chicken out when it comes to CL and giving strangers my address. I am a worry wart 🙂
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:05 amI've had 96% good experiences on Craigslist, and 100% good experiences with people coming to my house! That being said, sometimes I move things to the garage so they don't actually come inside the house. But usually, the most valuable thing in sight is the vintage piece I'm selling them 😛
Amber Wills says
May 27, 2014 at 1:39 amOkay at first I was jealous and now I'm just mad you sold it and it wasn't to me!! I 100% would have taken that off your hands at WHATEVER price you named! 🙂
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:05 amSOLD to Amber for $10,000 + a lifetime supply of friendship 😉
Angela Santaniello says
May 27, 2014 at 1:51 amYou are strong. Seriously would have hugged that couch and not let it go. Business or no business sometimes I just have to keep all the goodness to myself. 😉
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 27, 2014 at 4:08 amHehe. My vintage couch quota is already full with my chesterfield & dragon couch. I am a [mostly] reformed couch floozy.
Ashley Mayes says
May 27, 2014 at 8:11 pmWow! Totally jealous and I can't believe you sold it!
michelle@decorandthedog says
May 28, 2014 at 2:01 amOh, man. I'd have a hard time giving that one up!
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 29, 2014 at 6:49 pmIt was!!!
Kristin@bliss-athome.com says
May 28, 2014 at 1:43 pmGreat find!!! That is a sofa that Don Draper would do naughty things on! OH, gosh I just typed what is in my head…xo
Julia Konya says
May 28, 2014 at 8:09 pmI saw it on IG when I was on vacation. I'm smitten with it and I can't believe you sold it! It's so good! And the before and after is just amazing
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 29, 2014 at 5:35 pmI was tempted to keep it, but it just didn't jive with the chesterfield, which is where my first loyalty lies… Plus, money. I'm such a sucker for that stuff 😉
Kayla Louise says
May 29, 2014 at 5:31 pmAlright girlfriend.
You gotta do a series on furniture flipping on cl. You will be my yoda and I will be your skywalker.
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 29, 2014 at 5:33 pm^ Comment of the year! This has been on my to-do list for sooo long! I'll bump it up to high-priority 🙂
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
May 29, 2014 at 6:49 pmBahaha. Made me laugh!!!
reFresh reStyle says
May 31, 2014 at 8:01 pmToo awesome!! Love it!
Kimberly Hughes says
June 3, 2014 at 8:15 pmOh my god, I would have a seriously HARD time parting with that beauty!! What will power you have (and such a keen eye, please take me Craigslist shopping with you.) xxx
brynne@thegatheredhome.com says
June 4, 2014 at 2:12 amThere have definitely been some pieces it was like pulling teeth to let go, but it gets easier 🙂 Girl, visit anytime and we'll Craigslist our little hearts out!
Stephanie SandpaperAndGlue says
June 4, 2014 at 7:32 pmOh I loveeeee it- so impressed you let it go! 🙂