I agree with Yamini. Split the difference. Search Craigslist as well as thrift stores and antique shops for dressers. It might need a little TLC, but it could be fun.
Hello Chezwhick, I see you are in Lakewood - I'm in Bernardsville. I agree with everyone else. I spend each Monday and Thursday at the thrift stores - I get to the best one before they open and stand in line!! LOL - Mon. and Thurs. my favs Unique Thrift Store (Watchung, Union, Paterson, and other places in NJ google) has 25% off - I've gotten some real bargains. I mean strong, heavy, quality furniture for as low as $15 - my other fav is Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a terrific
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organization. I'd go there more often but they're an hour away in Asbury Park. Happy Hunting. Check out my facebook page to see some makeovers I've done.
You can also try some local auctions, estate sales or good olde Craigslist.org for some real bargains. Avoid pieces that are glue front drawers....look for something that is solid wood, pull a drawer out and see that it is dovertailed on all corners....better quality pieces will have a dustcover or solid panel underneath the drawers. I recently went shopping for new furniture and the prices were disgusting....and the quality God awful. I bought a gorgeous older European dresser with a
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unique trifold dressing mirror on the top of it for $400 at a local auction and it's worth about $1,800. I couldn't buy that quality new without spending $5k for it....and now I have a new family heirloom for the kids!
It lists estate sales all over the country...they'll send you out a flyer on local sales and I'm sure you will find an awesome piece at a great price! This comes from a man with 5 houses full to the rafters with all my finds. I'm an awesome contractor but a terrible packrat!
Real wood is very important if you want the furniture to last. The modern imported "composit" or resin products do not hold up and the drawer runners come off. I am personally buying an older cherry dresser from an antique shop. It is not an antique, but it is good construction and I like it.
about 10 years ago I needed a VERY cheep bedroom set for a returning college grad. I went to 1 of the stores that sells overstock items and picked-up a very cheesy plastic topped (made to look like oak) finish. I used a 220 grit paper and sanded all the pieces. Then used a Black gloss enamel paint and a 3" roller. My lord ... the stuff came out looking like Japanese black furniture. Completed the room with some Japanese decorations. It has been used for 10 years and still going strong.
If this is built with "wood" and not particle board then 250 seems like a good price. Look at the drawer fronts and how they attach to the drawer body...dovetails would be best...next up an interlocking rabbit...at the bottom would be butt joints and staples ( if that is the case ...forget it)
The Ashley furniture line that I am familiar with is not solid wood. You can go online and view their new dressers and determine if this is a good price used.
This dresser is for sale. It is a quality vintage piece built by Conant Ball in Boston. It is headed to the shop but I'm happy to show it to you before it goes. The price is much lower sold out of my garage! Give me shout on this or other pieces I have ready for custom colors.
Old, but solid furniture + elbow grease > IKEA.
http://www.facebook.com/ShabbyDazeNJ (like me if you like me)
In the long run quality always beats price.
It lists estate sales all over the country...they'll send you out a flyer on local sales and I'm sure you will find an awesome piece at a great price! This comes from a man with 5 houses full to the rafters with all my finds. I'm an awesome contractor but a terrible packrat!
37 inches tall, 66 inches wide, 17 inches deep.
is it worth that price?