oak credenza

[CohenCottage]

Ok ladies, I need some decorating help! We have been looking for a credenza or storage console to put in our living room to put the tv on (with lamps) and store stuff in. We would like something with clean lines in a lighter wood. I found a midcentury modern piece imported from Denmark It's unusual in that the wood is cross sawn, giving it a radiant appearance, rather than a traditional oak grain look. The linen fold detail added to the sliding doors is also unusual for a modern piece. It's very sturdy and in excellent condition.

What do you think a reasonable price would be for something like this (photos attached) from a midcentury mod furniture dealer (not a mom/pop antique mall). So far everyone but my mom likes it (she says it looks like oak school furniture), but it's way more than we wanted to spend.

[WannaBHomemaker]

I have no idea on a reasonable price, but I would suggest waiting unless you absolutely love it and it doesn't sound like you do. Surely Ikea has something like this.

[CohenCottage]

I do love it, but I think it's too much $$. Ikea has a lot of similarly styled things, but we are looking for something that isn't brand new or painted...

[Breezy]

I have no idea what furniture is worth but to me what's more important than the cost is whether or not you really love it. If it's really what you want and you feel you would be very disappointed/regretful if you didn't buy it (assuming you can handle the cost) then there's your answer ~ grab it before someone else does.
ps ~ maybe you could bargain with the dealer? Sometimes they will come down a bit. Best wishes. :)

[Gigi]

Charming piece- price??? 225-475---okay I have no idea???? Could be 2,000 dollars too ;). I'm not good with prices unless they are so cheap it's too good to resist.

[cheapdiva]

I'm thinking around $250 tops. BUT if you have been looking for a long time and it's what you REALLY want, you should ask yourself - how long will we own this? So let's say they want $1,000 (can you hear the diva's heart stopping:D) and you know you will use it for at least 10 years. That's $100 per year - divide that by 365 and you'll discover it costs you about .27 a day. Is it worth that to you? This is how I come to really big spending decisions.

Our mattress was about $1200 ten years ago. My husband nearly had a coronary! But when I pointed out that you are suppose to live with a mattress for 10 years and that meant it cost $120 a year and we sleep on it every night and MY back was worth it - he finally got it. Of course, we need a new mattress now but it will have to wait until the kitchen, bath, laundry remodel.

[CohenCottage]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think it is too much, and she was only willing to drop the price 10%. My new plan is to take those photos to a furniture maker and use them as an example. Also, the big Scott Antique Market is in Atlanta this weekend, and I can't go b/c the inlaws will be here, but the owner of the antique store next to my office said he would tell his dealers that were going to keep an eye out for a piece like that...

[Gigi]

Were any of us close??? :confused: :rolleyes:

Really NO matter what the price-it's worth the value of what's in your heart about the piece. ;)

[CohenCottage]

Hell no! It's listed for $2100 and she offered me 10% off (around 1890). C.R.A.Z.Y!!

[cheapdiva]

Get out! My curator at the museums used to deal in mid-century furniture like this. I am going to ask her what she thinks!

Nuts - I'd find out how long she/he has had this piece. At that price they are going to have it for a looooonngggg time.

[Gigi]

Gulp- I suppose the piece has history, a name, etc....

[ChapterTwo]

Since there's been some discussion here about whether and how to do it, there are some tips in regard to bargaining at various venues...there's also a good article on cleaning and polishing antique silver, on the lower right...
http://antiques.about.com/od/thewisebuyarticles1/a/aa021109.htm?nl=1

[chyna]

That is an insane amount of money, there better be a really famous furniture designer attached to that thing or it came out of the Swedish palace! Bet you can find something very similar elsewhere and for alot less money. maybe check out eBay, I hear people get great things there. I've not tried that step yet but who knows.

[cellardoor]

It is fabulous, the wood grain really makes it special. However, I see mid century credenzas in consignment and used furniture stores often. I have never seen one in quarter sawn oak, but if that does not matter, you should be able to find something similar for a few hundred or less.

[cheapdiva]

Oh look, a newbie! Welcome Cellar!

[Breezy]

Hiya cellardoor ~ nice to see you join in!:)

[CohenCottage]

Welcome cellar!! Glad you joined us. I've been searching small stores and antique malls with no luck yet. We also met with a couple of furniture makers to see if we could have something made. That will be way more than the credenza we are learning. One of the furniture makers gave us a recommendation for a local cabinet maker that does Danish Modern work (his name is Bjorn), so we are going to check that out this week. It may turn out that this credenza is the best value for what we are looking for :( It is imported and stamped and stuff, so I think that's why its so expensive. I'll keep you posted. Also, my goal is to put the new drop cloth slipcovers on tomorrow and take photos to post!

[CohenCottage]

So y'all are probably going to think I'm crazy, but I bit the bullet and am buying the oak credenza. After searching high and low for 2 months, I couldn't find anything (new or old) that was the right size or offered the right kind of storage for our space. The pieces that I found that were sort of ok were EVEN MORE $$$. We had actually been looking for something since January, and had even gotten some quotes for having a piece made. In the end, I got her down $500 on the price and set up a layaway plan, so I think I got a pretty good deal. It's our second piece of real "grownup" furniture...

[Gigi]

So it yours! Congrats! Since you've shopped for a bit- I'd say it going to be an excellent fit. I'm sure you can't wait to get the piece home.

[CohenCottage]

Yes, Gigi, I can't wait to get it home! Yesterday I sold 3 board and train packages, so I might actually be able to pay for it in full by the end of July!!

[annielinz]

Congrat's on your purchase. Sometimes its worth the money when its what you really want. You would of been unhappy with anything else. Enjoy your new cabinet, its a beaut!

[Breezy]

Way to go Cohen!!!:)

[Lisa S]

My daddy used to say, "Buy the best and only cry once". Congratulations on a piece that you'll love forever.

[annielinz]

Lisa, your daddy was a wise man, love that saying:D

[vintage girl]

Beautiful cabinet. Sometimes when you find exactly what you are looking for, you just need to get it!!! It is a beautiful piece of furniture and I am sure you will get many years of pleasure out of it. Personally for something that unusual and with that quality of wood, I do not feel the price was bad at all. Good find.

[Heather]

You know what, CC? I saw a credenza JUST LIKE that on our used website here in town but for like, 50 bucks! I wouldda bought it for you and popped it in the mail! It's gone now....

Are you buying the one in the pic and the beginning of the thread?

[RoseMary]

You'll always love it, Cohen~it's what you really wanted and you'll always be proud of it and enjoy it.

[CohenCottage]

Heather, you just killed me by telling me that, but I'm going to tell myself that the shipping from BC would be as much as I paid, right? Yes, it's the one at the beginning of the thread. Size was one of the other biggest roadblocks we found in our search. Everything was either too big, too small, or too deep. It's really, really, really long ... 92.5" longx 34.5 tall x 19" deep so it fits our 120" wall just perfectly with door clearance.

[Gigi]

CC- I'm sure shipping would have been OVER what you paid- and it would have broken up in transit, and it would have been BIGGER than your door way, and and and.... SO in other words--- you are lucky to have the piece!!!!!

[Rory Bremner]

Some mighty fine oak you have there......If you love it, price is sooooo unimportant.

[G Howard]

Beautiful piece of furniture! However, did you find such a piece? I am a huge fan of shopping for quality furniture online! I love not having to spend the time going from store to store, wearing myself out. Particularly, I enjoy amish furniture made of solid woods.