Our New (Old) Dining Room Hutch

About a month ago I spotted an antique china hutch on Facebook Marketplace (as one often does) that I fell in love with and thought would be perfect for our little dining room. (Who can resist turned legs and scalloped aprons?) The proportions were right and the time-worn walnut finish – not too orange, not too yellow – was exactly what I wanted for the space and tied in really well with the highboy in our living room (another Facebook Marketplace find!). 

However, it was a rather expensive piece and I had my worries about how to get it delivered all the way from Connecticut during a pandemic. Ivan and I carefully considered whether or not to make an offer and it took us about a week to decide. But I couldn’t take my mind off of it and found myself thinking of several distinct locations in our home where it could go… Long story short, we decided to put in an offer and, to our surprise, the owner accepted it right away and was incredibly kind about it. Her husband had some business in Amherst the following week so he even offered to deliver it in his truck all the way from Hartford, CT. Talk about kind people and kismet… When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!

This really old and really pretty new addition to our household arrived two weeks ago and after quarantining in our garage for about a week, I gave it a good cleaning and a light sanding to remove all the grime that accumulated probably during decades of use. To bring out the beauty of old wood and its patina, I reached for a can of Restore-a-finish. Are you familiar with this product? It was left in our basement by the previous owners and I have now used it on several pieces around the house. It is so amazing that I am getting slightly obsessed with it. Anyway, over the weekend we brought our new old hutch inside and I shopped around our kitchen cabinets and foraged our backyard for goldenrod to style it a bit, and this is how it looks right now!

I’ll probably be rotating things in and out as we grow our dinnerware collection but for now I am really pleased that it all worked out. How about you? Have you purchased anything interesting on Facebook Marketplace recently? It does require patience to find the right things at the right price, doesn’t it? But every now and then perseverance pays off nicely…

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great start to your week! 

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24 Comments

  1. Stephanie
    September 21, 2020 / 2:18 pm

    What a great find!!! Happy for you to have such great kismet:-)

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:08 am

      Thank you, Stephanie!!! xo, Eva

  2. September 21, 2020 / 4:19 pm

    I love this… score!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:08 am

      Thanks a lot, Gina!! xo, Eva

  3. Linda
    September 21, 2020 / 5:43 pm

    Oh Eva, it is perfect! I know how hard it is to find the right proportions – on TOP of the look and feel you want. You will have such fun switching things up for the seasons. What a great addition to your lovely home.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:12 am

      Thank you, Linda! You said it right, it takes so much effort and patience to wait for “the one” piece that will check all the boxes, but it is also the most fun part of decorating… xo, Eva

  4. Diana Bier
    September 21, 2020 / 7:08 pm

    Love this piece, and you did a great job refinishing it!
    It’s nice to see that young homeowners like you and your husband appreciate traditional old pieces. Many of the items in my home were bought second-hand. Not on FB marketplace, but many at tag sales through the years. We even bought at auction once! These pieces mean a lot more than the ones we just bought brand-new at a retail store.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:17 am

      Thank you so much, Diana! I spent most of my childhood years with my maternal grandmother who used to be an antiques dealer so old furniture feels like “home” to me and I am lucky that my husband doesn’t mind… And you’re absolutely right about the meaning behind pieces that come together slowly vs the one-stop-shop approach. It’s those layers and stories that make a home truly lived-in and personal. xo, Eva

  5. Jane
    September 22, 2020 / 5:18 am

    Just GORGEOUS, LOVE it!!!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:18 am

      Thank you so much, Jane!! xo, Eva

  6. Ladybirdjo.ann
    September 22, 2020 / 4:36 pm

    Storage, display shelves, serving area, and great style. It’s perfect!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:18 am

      Thank you so much, you’re so kind!! xo, Eva

  7. Cameo
    September 22, 2020 / 8:04 pm

    ……this is a lovely piece! Especially after you enriched it with your touch!!!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:19 am

      So kind, thank you so much!! xo, Eva

  8. Judy
    September 23, 2020 / 8:33 am

    Wow! Beautiful piece, beautiful refinishing work. It is so much fun to have acquired things in our homes, each with their little story. I think this piece now has incredible color and just plain looks lovely.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:23 am

      Aww, thanks so much Judy! You are so kind! I absolutely agree with the fun part of buying things slowly and having them be conversation starters… It’s those little layers that make decorating interesting. xo, Eva

  9. Maureen
    September 23, 2020 / 6:59 pm

    It looks beautiful.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:23 am

      Thank you, Maureen! You so kind! xo, Eva

  10. Mary
    September 24, 2020 / 5:50 am

    I love it!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:24 am

      Thank you so much, Mary! xo, Eva

  11. Paula Moreshead
    September 26, 2020 / 11:29 am

    Beautiful find and great looking in your home!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      September 27, 2020 / 10:24 am

      Thank you so much, Paula! Glad you like it! xo, Eva

  12. October 19, 2020 / 4:17 am

    Hi Eva. What a great find! I agree with the other ladies about acquiring older pieces for your home. They make a house a home! You displayed it beautifully. I’m so happy for you!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      October 19, 2020 / 7:37 am

      Aww, thank you so much Catherine!! You are so kind! xo, Eva