This lovely little chest of drawers came from Aunties house. It had marks on the top where hot cups had been placed on it. It's solid wood, no chips or scratches.
I took this to my friend, she said she would have a go at restoring it. I went back the next day and bingo, it looks lovely now. She said it only took ten minutes of sanding and polishing. She is dead chuffed with it.
So there you are, a charity shop reject. They missed out on a lovely set of drawers.
ilona
Just a little tlc to reveal the beauty of wood, no paint needed!
ReplyDeleteCharity shops are often very picky with what they will accept. Have had similar happen to me with a small chest of drawers. Like you, afriend had it and waxed and polished it up beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI know some large charity shops are very choosy what they take and are expensive. Your chest of drawers looked very good.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
Have had similar experience with "charity shops"...Frankly it cheeses me off. They have been quite snotty at times. This from myself and friend's experiences. ….
ReplyDeleteSuzy I know what you mean; a slightly different story to charity shops but years ago I worked at a place that used vinyl for stickers and we had rolls of cut-offs in different colours (a bit like sticky back plastic), so I rang a local primary school to ask if they wanted them for the children's art classes and said 'all free and I'll deliver as well'. The woman who answered the telephone replied, 'we wouldn't accept 'seconds' stuff'. I did find someone else who was grateful.
DeleteAmanda....yes , very similar. Oddly, I too have had a similar experience to you re schools, back when mine was in school. I remember then as now I was a super shopper, and if I saw some clearance thing dirt cheap, pennies on dollar, might purchase. There were several times I picked up things latterly for pennies on dollar, took them to teacher, and got very snotty replies. These were to be gifted (not asking them to pay)...one time it was tiny gift bags got for couple cents each (am in Canada), other times it was craft items, and other suitable things. Out of half a dozen "gifts" from me I think they only "ACCEPTED" two. And one of those times I never did see the item come back home with my child as a school project etc... As you said "we wouldn't accept seconds".. I too recall phrases like "OH...discount/clearance...really???|...too weird...
DeleteThat is a lovely chest of drawers I don't understand the attitude of the charity shop especially as they have a lot of competition! People are in need of all sorts of things at a reasonable price nowadays. I would have jumped at the chance to own it as I am on a very low income at the moment and could do with a few bits of furniture. Again thanks for your inspiration. I really appreciate you donating as much of your aunt's things as you can. Its people who think like you that have benefitted me. We have Emmaus in Coventry which is brilliant all the stuff is donated and can be bought at a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad as there are a lot of people who would have had that as an upcycling project, me included! Bit of a rub down with some sandpaper, couple of coats of chalk paint, new handles and a great place to keep toiletries, make-up etc. Savannah.
ReplyDeleteWhen my father died they wouldn't take anything over a certain size or age. After no success trying to give it away on a local sellinf page We ended up breaking up one large unit to take it to the dump.
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy! We have a charity called " The Benjamin Foundation " that openly encourage people to donate their used furniture. They have knowledgeable volunteers that restore, repair or upcycle pieces and sell them on in their shop for very good prices. It's a win win for them. They have a quick turnover and I much prefer something second hand myself so have bought a couple of things.As I said crazy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift for your friend.Ive got a set the same as those.I have had them for years and they have served a purpose in every one of my rooms.At the moment my set are in the kitchen holding all my cutlery as a few year ago,the cutlery draw in my fitted kitchen just fell apart and couldnt be fixed.My cutlery tray was to big to fit in the drawers,so Ive got 3 ice cream tubs in them for knives,forks and spoons.I hope that your mate finds them as useful as I have,xx
ReplyDeleteThey look really super. How short-sighted of the charity shop man.
ReplyDeletePut a damp white cloth over the marks, iron and they disappear Ilona.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame a little TLC is all that would have been needed.
ReplyDeleteBarnardo’s wouldn’t take a fully workable push chair I offered them “for health and safety reasons” yet British Heart Foundation were very happy to have it. I got the impression I’d hit a day when the man on the till at Barnardo’s just couldn’t be bothered!
ReplyDeleteWhen I started as a charity shop volunteer I was amazed at some of the donations that were not deemed good enough quality to sell in the shop - clothes, blankets, furniture, books - but then customers would demand refunds for barely visible marks etc, even if items were <£1. A lot of items went to be recycled so the charity still got some money for these.
ReplyDeletemaddening isnt it , theres so little that i actually would want in the main chain charity shops . Yesterday i bought 5 mens shirts for a £1 in the church one they were having a sale , they were for my son he kept one gave me back four, one i like the material so will keep and the other 3 have gone in the car boot bag
ReplyDeletebeautiful piece of furniture i have a similar one in my bedroom i bought many years in a closing down sale. Your friend did a lovely job x
ReplyDeleteHere in the U.S. the Goodwill shop will take anything. They have programs teaching disabled how to repair items to sell. Also a local mission thrift shop will take most anything. They have a mission to serve people just released from prison and the homeless. It's an amazing programs. The men run the wearhouse, fixing washers & dryers, lamps & other electrical items get a cleaning & check out. They also sell inexpensive new sofas, chairs & mattresses. I have donated excess eggs, and processed pork from my freezer. It's really great to see a good community program in action.
ReplyDeleteHere in the U.S. the Goodwill shop will take anything. They have programs teaching disabled how to repair items to sell. Also a local mission thrift shop will take most anything. They have a mission to serve people just released from prison and the homeless. It's an amazing programs. The men run the wearhouse, fixing washers & dryers, lamps & other electrical items get a cleaning & check out. They also sell inexpensive new sofas, chairs & mattresses. I have donated excess eggs, and processed pork from my freezer. It's really great to see a good community program in action.
ReplyDelete