3.01.2011

Spilling my secret

I've got a secret to share! I've been bursting at the seams, but decided to keep it in til now.

And this is the part of the post where you have to promise not to judge.

Cmon, put your three fingers up (Girl Scout Honor) and repeat after me... 'Chelsea, I will read this post and not think any less of you for you and your famililes' actions'. Oh, and you have to promise not to tell the authorities.

A few weeks ago, I got this table....
Well actually my mom got me this table. And technically it was just the top of the table. And it was out of a dumpster. (hold your gasps in!)

It's big too... like standard dining table size (hah is there even a standard size?). And heavy! Real wood for sure. I am gonna check out Lowe's for a base! I tracked it down online and found out it retailed (no longer in stores) for $350!

Ready for me to explain? My mom's salon is in a strip mall about 4 doors down from a home goods store we will call Dock2 (because, honestly, I don't want them tracking me down!). They are bitter, nasty, snooty people who work there (honest) and when they (for whatever reason) throw perfectly good furniture and other home things out they purposely break/scratch/spray paint them. Probably so people like us don't walk out the back door of mom's salon and see all these wonderful things sticking out of the dumpster and take them. Oh, and if you get caught... they will start locking their dumpster and then you have to pout around for a year until they get a new manager who doesn't know people, like us, recover things from their trash pile!


Also pulled from the glorious waste bin of delectable home goods...

This three tiered shelf (it's a little messy right now!)

This bookshelf holding my Jamaican wood carvings and board games (two things I love!)

This lamp next to my reading chair (although my dad had to run a new wire through it -easy fix)

This big wooden patio table (that you can sorta see in this photo) on my parents deck. They had scratched it all up so my dad sanded & repainted it

And this white pedestal table that now lives at my brother & sis-in-law's kitchen. Seriously. This whole table... in a dumpster. It's got a few knicks in the side but besides that, it's fine!

Now, I'm not telling you to go jump in every dumpster you see behind any furniture or home furnishing store... I don't know if most do this? But ours does... and you better believe I'm taking advantage of it! I can live with a scratched up table knowing that it retails for $400some and I got it for free! (plus that just gives me more practice in refinishing furniture!). And if you do... don't get caught. They get mad ha!

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18 comments:

Molly said...

Um can you start snagging things for me and sending them my way? What in the world, how lucky are y'all!

Alyssa said...

That is crazy! Love the idea- is the store a chain? If so you have to email me the name so I can find new furniture for myself!

carrie1 said...

What a steal! Doesn't it urke you that even though they are throwing it out.. they still get pissy about someone scooping it up?!?

p.s. your curtains are super cute!

Mrs. D said...

Totally not judging. I would do the same thing! I'm pretty jealous that you have access to that dumpster!

Aly @ Analyze This said...

UMMMM I am jealous! I'm about to go look through the HomeGoods by me!!

Neely said...

Holy crap! THats freaking amazing!

Kerr said...

omg that is awesome! I hope they dont catch you anytime soon, you are getting some awesome dumpster deals! and why would this furniture store not donate the furniture to a charity or goodwill? how rude.

Tatiana said...

Seriously? Oh my gosh, I wish I had a dumpster like that to dig through. Trust me, my husband may pretend like he doesn't know me, but I would have no shame digging out furniture like that! Anytime you feel like sending some my way, feel free :-)

Ashley said...

Haha! That is hilarious. Great finds though!

Kristen said...

So jealous! Those are some fabulous dumpster diving treasures!

Anonymous said...

UM I wish I could find a magic dumpster like that!!! LOL

jayme said...

i'm so obsessed with that green chair. everytime. love it.

Melissa Jo said...

One man's trash is another man's treasure! There is no shame is taking stuff like that, my Mom would always come home with random furniture growing up from places like that and once painted or refinished it is fabulous and free!

I hop eyou have a good evening!

Jamie Pickle said...

Holy cow, those are some great finds. I may just have to check out a few dumpsters over the weekend!

Brooke D said...

SOOOO amazing!! so jealous!!!

Lori said...

Oh my gosh that is truly awesome. I have just started thrifting and am loving it. Now I'm onto fixing up our houme, so naturally I love your blog :)

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Annie said...

whoa....good finds....I totally would not be embarassed about this....nice work!!

Mrs. H said...

That is AMAZING! I wish I could find great deals like that. Maybe I will have to start driving behind some of my favorite stores to see if they just throw away amazing furniture like that!