I've been looking for a nice second-hand vintage cabinet for our office for quite some time now. I have decided that the white office cabinets should make way for some more (old) cosiness. Old cosiness in a new jacket perhaps. And so it is that last weekend we set course for Berghem to buy a new (old) vintage cabinet.
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In the context of giving second-hand items a second life and a little more living room feeling in our office, I have therefore decided that I would like a second-hand vintage cabinet in our office. Just to give you an idea:our office is located at home and can also be reached from the inside. In fact, the office is actually our 'domain' for the whole day. From me, but also from the children as soon as they get home. And of course also for Frank if he works at home on Thursday and Friday during the day.
Through our office you also enter the chill room for the youth and from our kitchen you can also look into the office. I also like it when that office looks a bit cozy. That's why I got it into my head to buy a vintage cabinet, second-hand via marktplaats. And then pimp it.
However, the approach is not to spend too much money for the cabinet. If you are looking for a vintage cabinet, you can go to the internet, but also, of course, at the thrift shop. And shopping at the latter in particular is good for the environment and for your wallet. So I was there not so long ago, but unfortunately they didn't have the type of cabinet I was looking for.
And there are almost no private providers on the marketplace. Except for a few, of which we went to one to score our vintage cabinet. In retrospect, you can of course wonder why this retro cabinet was still available. I now know the reason 😉 . And if you read on, you will too!
Searching for a vintage highboard cabinet turns out to be more difficult than you think. Not only because there are not that many of those vintage cabinets in circulation, but also because the retro cabinets are bought up quite quickly by traders. They spend almost the whole day on the Marktplaats to score the best combinations. And so you are soon too late when it comes to the great bargains. And if they offer their cabinets again, you really pay the top prize. Prices over €1,000 are really no exception.
Anyway, I thought I had found 'my' vintage retro cabinet second hand. One that is not too expensive (€ 175.00) and a super nice model. In fact… we even picked it up last weekend! All super fun of course, only at home a surprise was waiting for me. A surprise that I could have discovered on the spot. But unfortunately… we didn't look closely enough. And secretly, very secretly I feel a little bit ripped off. Strange really, because I just looked at this cabinet - together with Frank - before the sale is closed. All doors opened, all drawers opened and all scratches examined. I thought.
The cabinet comes from the fifties, sixties or seventies. I actually have no idea. All I know is that he looks super cute from the front. And that's what I eventually fell for. This second-hand vintage cabinet has such a display case that somewhat corresponds to the TVs of the past.
When the cupboard was picked up, it was outside under a dark roof, under a tarpaulin. You would think… reasonably well protected. The seller took off the tarp and Frank and I looked at the cabinet while the seller stood on one side of the vintage cabinet. I looked up the damage on top of the cabinet that was also visible in the photos on marktplaats to see how serious the damage was. Fortunately that worked out. I opened all the doors and drawers. One opened and closed better than the other, but I think that can be fixed with a little sanding.
In the end we decided to take the cupboard with us. Completely happy.
The seller also very neatly helped to lift the cabinet and put it in the trailer. It fit right in on the back. We came home in a hallelujah mood. Or well, especially me, because I really wanted to have a second-hand cabinet with a vintage look. Well, we have that one . Have you seen what the back of the cabinet looks like:
From the moment we put the cupboard upright in the trailer at home, it turned out that it is completely rotten on one side and there at the rear. The wood has become twice as thick there due to the enormous amount of moisture. And there's quite a bit of mold in the corner.
So stupid that we didn't look at that on the spot! And now I remember that that salesman kept standing there on the corner every time. Would he have done that consciously? So I feel a bit ripped off, but also very stupid 😉 . Well, one thing is for sure. This is really a second-hand vintage cabinet!
In any case, I now know for sure that I can pimp this closet without shame. I don't have to think that it might be a shame to paint such a retro cabinet and that it might lose its vintage value as a result. This cabinet does not have much value anymore, haha. So it will be quite a project to make this cabinet a bit beautiful again, but I'm going to do my best. We're not in a rush, so I'm going to work with this cabinet at my leisure. And I have one piece of luck…. on the side and the front you see absolutely nothing of this misery.
Otherwise I would have seen it when I bought it 🙂 .
What would you do? Keep the vintage cabinet or climb into the telephone on high legs? And ps… if you have an idea how I can possibly solve this damage, I would of course also like to hear it.
