Apartment 2024

Growing up, I was something of an unusual kid. From an early age, I spent considerable time wandering thrift stores and antique malls with my mom, and so by the time I was nine years old, I could tell the difference between a pie safe and an old ice box. I could spot an oak veneer from five feet away and aspired to one day own a Mission-style hall tree.

When I graduated from high school, I had a list of furniture pieces that I longed to own. Included in that list were an old iron bedstead, an antique wash stand and a Hoosier cabinet. Tonight, after long last, I crossed the Hoosier cabinet off the list. I’ve been antsy for a better storage in my dining room lately and I haven’t used the corner writing desk since I finished grad school last December. I mentioned my dissatisfaction to Scott and he suggested we buy a new piece of furniture (he has the ability to instantly simplify the things I create mountainous issues from).

So yesterday afternoon, I took a glimpse at Craigslist and found a Hoosier cabinet for sale for $100. I responded to the ad, made a phone call and in the space of aa couple of minutes had committed to buying a cabinet, sight-unseen.

Scott rode out to Hatboro with me tonight to pick up the cabinet and we managed to fit it into the back of my very handy Subaru wagon. Driving back into the city, I was a little giddy with the excitement of finally having something I had wished for since 1997. As we unloaded in back of the building, a neighbor stopped us to exclaim over the cabinet. He commented that it was in great shape and said that many years ago he had had one in his own kitchen.

I’m planning on painting it white (I’d love to strip it down to the original pine, but I don’t have the space or proper ventilation for that project) and will probably get a few new drawer pulls. The enamel counter, which slides in and out, needs a little WD-40. But essentially, it’s a very solid piece of furniture, especially for one that’s more than 80 years old (it is dated September 24, 1925 on the back). I am delighted and will post pictures of the finished product as soon as it’s done.