Auction find! Online estate auctions are my new favorite thing- besides Facebook Marketplace- to scroll on. Aside from collecting furniture to flip, I'm also looking for good deals on vintage quilts- BECAUSE have you been influenced by the look or a repurposed quilt into a jacket yet?! While still on the look for a quilt in my price range AND that I could cut- I’ve been playing with some vintage fabric trying out jacket patterns and sizes… though I rarely finish a project, the process is fun!

Back to the bookcase- I did find this and win it for $1! On a snowy day we took off to pick it up. My parents were there the day before to pick up but said this was HUGE. I was like ok whatever the sizes were the same as a regular bookcase just low and long than tall but thanks for trying. It was lightweight and slid right into the back of my Expedition Max. Huge huh?

I liked it because it was both cheap and a useful item.

I was thinking in our basement by the train table- a little more storage there would be nice. But I am trying to keep toys minimal and am trying to sell things. So, we’ll see.

It was a handmade item from the 70’s. The lady from the auction said her Grandma had it made 30 years ago but she might be the kind of person that refuses to remember that the 90’s were 30 years ago… although I also refuse. It was just a nicely stained good plywood made on peg legs. I started off by cleaning it and giving it a good go over with 120 grit sander.

Then because I didn’t sand it all the way down I rubbed it with denatured alcohol before painting it. I went with Rustoleum London Gray- I had 2 cans, it would look good in my basement, it's a nice neutral color. Don’t over think it here, Korin… but it's so easy to do. Three coats of paint later I’m loving it and my daughter is loving it too.

I still think it looked unfinished and I like that faux look when you rub it down with stain.

So, I rubbed it with Ebony Stain, it gives a bit of a grain look to the top. 2 coats of Satin Polyurethane. After buying 2 cans of the Varethane Satin I might go ahead and learn how to use my sprayer as it is much more affordable by the quart than the can!

I’m still tempted to keep it but Sunday afternoon I had my 13-year-old help me deliver it to the showroom to list it for sale. I staged it quickly and snapped some pictures and listed to Marketplace. Of course as we were bringing it in the showroom I thought it would look great here too. I’m hopeless…

So for now it's been 5 days, no messages. If it's still here in 2 weeks we will take it back home and fix up the train table room/ area. That space currently has just a little 3’ wide bookcase painted apple green. The little green bookcase would come to the showroom and become storage for Luke’s toys here. (It's such a dumb bookcase I spent a dollar on years ago I would never make money on) Why 2 weeks- well that’s when I would have time to come get it back and possibly have the next special find done!

I enjoy the work of refinishing furniture and really enjoy making the selections along the way but I also do it to sell not for myself. I want a new kitchen worse than I want a new end table or a bookcase- that is something I remind myself often! That I’m doing these side hustles for a new kitchen not for myself!

I have it listed for $110.

One dollar for the bookcase, 4 cans of spray paint $20, 1 cans of poly $10, new feet sliders $5, stain on hand- $35 cost. I’ll mark it down a bit next week if I have to.

My daughter asked about it last night- if we still had it or not. I said, “nope it hasn’t sold”. “GOOD take it off Marketplace NOW it's been more than 3 days that's long enough”. She said I could only list it for 3 days… and honestly in my experience if its going to sell it does in 3 days. So maybe after spring break we’ll be doing that swap. But what she doesn’t know is we’re deep cleaning that room then too! AND she’s helping

The Bookshelf That Might Be Mine (If It Doesn't Sell First)

My Morning Routine as a Business Owner Mom