::zsa::

MinM

Are you here? I would really like to start a non-BR thread. I can't take the baby talk today and I don't have a lot of work to do.

zsazsa-stl

I'm here now.  I think I just made a huge mistake and applied for a mortgage refinance that won't be approved.  Then I'll be out $700 in fees just for funzies.

I'll think up a non-BR discussion.

MinM

I don't think I have any stories. I did have funyuns and McDs for breakfast. I'm thinking about making a return trip to the vending machine.

This morning on the way in, the only joggers I saw were female. I was very disappointed.

And we don't have a mortgage. We rent. I guess we like giving our money away.

Oh! I have a question for you. I see that your house is decorated mostly with mid-century modern furniture....where did you acquire all of those pieces?

alikatt17

Oh, if you're having a mid-century modern furniture discussion, I'm joining. 

I got mine mostly from Craigslist and thrift stores.  I bought a couple of pieces from actual vintage stores, but they are usually pricier.  But it really depends on the region too.  Stuff I got in Arkansas was dirt cheap, stuff from Chicago boutique?  Super expensive. 

MinM

Ali - I found a beautiful buffet at a store in the city for like, $300, which was a FANTASTIC deal, but it had already sold. I've scoured CL, but no dice.

Also, I'm glad you are here. My H is doing what your H did for so long. He is an adjunct at two different schools, plus he teaches AP psych at two local HS. So, he is carrying a full load and getting paid crap and has no benefits. WOO HOO!

alikatt17

Oh Min, I feel your pain.  Enrollment is way down at one school so he went from 4 classes to 1 there.  At least the other one is keeping him in classes.  I'm so afraid of what could happen if he doesn't have at least 3 classes over the summer.  He can get benefits now thru the adjunct union at one school, but mine are better. 

I hate when CL posters don't take crap down immediately.  $300 for a credenza is pretty good.  Did you ever see my Apartment Therapy photos? 

MinM

I did see the photos and I LOVED them.

I asked H to look into the insurance throught the union, but he got better and cheaper coverage at State Farm. It is about a frillion dollars for me to add him to mine.

One of the schools he is working for now, it's all online work. The dean has asked him to stay on, but I don't know if that is the summer or next fall. Luckily, where we live, I can support us through the summer. We've done that the past two summers, and while it isn't fun, we can make it.

The other school he is working at, they might hire someone full time. It would keep us here, but jesus, it would be heavenly to have two-full time jobs with benefits.

H also said that there were more openings this year (compared to last year), so I'm hoping he gets a bite. I really want to move, but staying here would mean I get to keep my job, which I am starting to get really good at and actually like. So, there's that...

MinM

Oh, and the credenza was in a store up in the city. We saw it in person. The same store also had Nazi paraphrenalia. It skeered me.

I think I need to start skulking around estate sales. I wonder how I could find those.

alikatt17

This might help you find estate sales in your area:
http://www.estatesales.net/

I've only ever been to one estate sale, but I found a gorgeous mid-century painting.  I it. 

We keep running into the problem of schools having open positions that are perfect for DH (like the one that was looking for a History of Africa teacher - aka DH) but since they are state schools and Illinois is a freaking joke, the budgets keep getting cut so the positions end up dead. 

alikatt17

Also, he would like to teach adjunct at the Chicago City colleges, but they have a freaking residency requirement even for adjuncts.  They may pay slightly better, but I'm not going to move into an area that would probably cost twice as much to live in and negate the raise. 

zsazsa-stl

My dining room furniture and my end tables/coffee tables/piles of dachsund figurineses came from antique stores.  My living room sofa and chairs came from a store in St. Louis that carries things from this company:  http://youngerfurniture.com/

My bedroom furniture was from Stanley but they discontinued right after we ordered ours.  I guess it was too ugly for the rest of the world.

MinM

I found this on CL. Someone ruined this cabinet by painting it.



$240. In my town.

alikatt17

I LOVE that.  Is the whole thing painted or just the accents?  That wouldn't be too hard to refinish.  I really love refinishing furniture so I can always offer some help on that route. 

MinM

This is for sale at a local estate sale. It just needs new upholstry and it could be wonderful.

No price listed.

alikatt17

Also, my couches are new.  They are the Corona sofa from Macy's and it's usually on sale.  The rest of my furniture is either vintage or Ikea. 

MinM

ali - this is the description. I think it is ALL painted.

"Very cool retro, mid-century modern buffet with original silver tone hardware and leg caps. Piece is painted in a cool black and white harlequin style. Piece features three open shelves and two drawers (one with silverware divider) in upper section. Bottom section includes three drawers with cabinet storage to either side. Left cabinet is one large open space and right cabinet has two shelves. Unit is in great condition and is quite sturdy. Lots of useful storage in this one-piece unit."

zsazsa-stl

Min : for your MCM reading pleasure, here is a blog that the St. Louis modern blog I follow once posted a link to:  http://www.oklahomamodernblog.com/

MinM

Also, you know how into exercising someone is when they list their bo-flex as furniture.

alikatt17

if you want a wood look, this might be easier than stripping and refinishing:
http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/

MinM

Thank you and thank you!

This was listed under 'four peace bedroom set.'

It looks awesome.

alikatt17

With reupholstering, you need to make sure that an item is worth recovering, especially if you aren't DIYing it and paying someone.  Upholstering isn't cheap, so you should weigh the costs of the chair vs. how much you would have to put into it.  Say you spend $100 on the chair plus $300 for the upholstery work, you may just want to buy a new chair.  So that's something to think about. 

MinM

It is. But right now I am mostly killing time looking at furniture for a house I do not have.