Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

4 Things From the Weekend

Over the weekend, we met with our contractor to finalize details and plan for the near future – aka, when can we expect to get a ceiling over our heads? The great news is that they’re working on it right now, as another job on their schedule had to take a backseat for a few days. This was cause for celebration (a ceiling! We’re getting a ceiling!), which had us planning even further ahead – we could start mapping out ideas for a new media wall and a larger desk for the studio. (We left our last home’s semi built-in media wall in the condo for our tenants, since it was tailored perfectly for that space.) In addition, we had bits and pieces to shop for, such as extra food/pantry/glassware shelving, a toilet paper holder (exciting, ha!) and a bathroom medicine cabinet. We’d been putting a lot of these tasks off as a side-effect to living in our mostly demo-ed home.

We need a toilet paper holder? Pfft! Save that for when we have a ceiling!

Lucky for us, we did get the bathroom necessities from Ikea, but for kitchen shelving, media needs and a studio desk, we hit the road for Jubilee – an absolute Chicago gem that is filled to the brim with donated furniture (you might remember us talking about it a few times, right?). But because you can’t really plan for purchases at resale shops, we left the house with an open mind and a slip of paper listing our would-like-to-finds.

Needless to say, we loaded our trusty wagon to the brim; some things were on our wish list, others were not. (As the story goes!) Here’s what ended up coming home with us:

ONE: A CREDENZA. While finding something to house our television was high on the wishes, we weren’t planning on finding anything right away (we’ve been using this side table as a placeholder, which besides being comically small, also came from Jubilee). But when Scott spotted this credenza – there were actually 3 or 4 of them; they appeared to be old office desks – we both started excitedly talking over each other. We can paint this part, then leave this wood! We can add shelving around it, making this the base for a future built-in! We can stash our receiver right here, and use this drawer to hide the remotes!

TWO: AN OLD MEDIA CART. This solid metal cart was probably used to wheel around projectors from members of the A.V. Club (we all remember those days, yeah?), but how adorable is this guy for the kitchen island? We’ll need to piece together new pipes from the hardware store to give it more height (we’ll see if we can make that happen), and we’d also like to add a larger top (maybe a slab remnant? Butcher block? More leftover studs from the entryway?). It needs some TLC, but it’s way more sturdy than the rolling carts we saw in Ikea and for half the price; we picked it up for $40.

THREE: A LARGE BUFFET. This was absolutely not on our list, but I saw it and fell in love. The brass hardware, the curved front, the tapered legs – it was all to much! The wood is in rough shape (not to mention, it’s only a veneer), and it looks as though it was refinished and stained poorly. While we prefer to salvage wood when we can, we’re seeing this more with a coat of paint. There are a few dings, scratches and gouges that need to be filled, but she’ll be beautiful when done. It’ll live in the studio, and I’m thinking the deep drawers will contain extra prints and Shop supplies.

FOUR: ANOTHER (GIGANTIC) MIRROR. The last thing we need is another mirror, but this mirror. This mirror! It’s huge. I made sure to take the photo with me included (the cute noodle at my feet is just a bonus), so you can get a sense of scale. I’m standing farther back, but if I were right next to it, it comes up to my eyes. The wood frame is actually a very pretty color, so we’re thinking it will probably stay as-is. This guy has a future in light-bouncing, don’t you think?

I’m still on the hunt for a great studio desk, and we’re being incredibly picky about shelving for the makeshift food and/or dishes/glassware storage, since it’ll likely be sitting in plain view in the kitchen. We think the solution will be temporary, but at the same time, we know it’ll be a little while before we can fully renovate. So perhaps we need to buck up and look for something on the nicer side? That, combined with fresh paint, the new island and a colorful mat/rug will bring the kitchen from blech to ooh, very nice.

But that’s another post for another day. (Admittedly, our minds are a little all over the place.)

In any case! We fit all four of the above items in and on top of the car, plus this bathroom cabinet, the TP holder (very important), a set of new dishes and a mini trashcan for our second bathroom. While the helpful crew at Jubilee showed their doubts on fitting all that in our trusty wagon, we assured them, it’ll fit! And it did.

We’d call that a successful day.

PS… In the mirror photo, do you see that wall beyond the arch behind me? This weekend, it’s coming down to open up the second floor landing. Yes!

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • Cait @ Hernando House8.7.13 - 6:59 AM

    I was just thinking about your media console the other day! Love that piece; I’m sure the tenants appreciate it!

    Absolutely love all your finds!ReplyCancel

  • Jodi8.7.13 - 7:21 AM

    omg, the credenza!! LOVE. and that mirror is pretty fab.ReplyCancel

  • Mary Kate8.7.13 - 8:02 AM

    Okay, I have to ask – what kind of wagon do y’all have?! I have an old Subaru Forester and while I always preach about how it’s bigger on the inside – I still can’t believe all that amazing furniture fit in a wagon!ReplyCancel

  • Kim8.7.13 - 8:07 AM

    Mary Kate – ours is a Forester too! We love that girl. We fit the credenza inside in full, then took the legs off the media cart and put the mirror on top (still inside)… THEN we strapped the buffet to the roof and shoved all our Ikea finds in the nooks and crannies! Go Team Subaru!ReplyCancel

  • Laura at Rather Square8.7.13 - 8:54 AM

    That is a beautiful credenza. We haven’t been to Jubilee, but we’ll have to check it out sometime!ReplyCancel

  • Kim8.7.13 - 9:40 AM

    Laura, it’s a 30 minute drive from the city, but WORTH IT.ReplyCancel

  • That credenza!! How amazing is it?! Looks perfect to house your media and then be built around. So excited to see everything come together. And even more excited you’re getting a (straight) ceiling back!!ReplyCancel

  • So sorry I missed you and Scott – but so happy you found such amazing pieces! Love ’em all! Good eye (as usual!).

    Excited to be along for the ride as you transform your “new” home!

    Take care!ReplyCancel

  • Emma8.7.13 - 11:39 AM

    Oohhh, nice things. I am blown over by that mirror!ReplyCancel

  • Kati from so happy home8.7.13 - 12:59 PM

    Your thrifting always leaves me in awe. The character and personality in those pieces – plus all the other finds you’ve shared – well, let’s just say that I’M just as excited to see your home renovation finished as you are. Ok, that’s an overstatement, but you get the idea (having lived through a renovation I know that you guys are the MOST excited). Anyway, well done.

    And now I miss my Forester. Sigh.ReplyCancel

  • Kim8.7.13 - 1:05 PM

    Amanda, YAY for straight ceilings and floors!

    Susan, it’s a bummer you’re not there on Saturdays anymore!

    Kati, thank you! Our Forester has seen a washing machine, stove, and everything listed above – all in the last 3 weeks. It’s a trusty ol’ girl.ReplyCancel

  • Kalli8.7.13 - 2:10 PM

    Love the credenza and big mirror. I think I recently bought the exact same camera strap (guy who makes a lot of guitar straps on Etsy?) as you, ha : )ReplyCancel

  • I really like your idea for the media cart… can’t wait to see what you do with it!ReplyCancel

  • Phoebe8.7.13 - 4:38 PM

    Wow that credenza!!!

    If I had a car here in the city, I’d book it to Jubilee…now.ReplyCancel

  • Shannon8.8.13 - 7:35 AM

    Love LOVE LOVEEEEEEE the credenza and mirror! Seriously fabulous finds! And totally impressed you squeezed it all into the car! GO TEAM!ReplyCancel

  • julia @cuckoo4design8.9.13 - 3:17 AM

    Love that credenza!
    (I want a jubilee in my area ;)ReplyCancel

  • Michelle8.9.13 - 2:21 PM

    My parents had/still have that exact same buffet…and a matching china cabinet! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. It never was my favorite piece of furniture but maybe you’ll make me want to arm wrestle my siblings for it if my parents ever decide to give it awaty. ;-)ReplyCancel

  • Karen A.8.12.13 - 3:06 PM

    The credenza is my favorite. It seems so perfect for fitting records in the middle compartment. Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • Ugh. I’m super jealous of the old media cart. I would buy that all day long for $40. I’m wondering if an Ikea/Jubilee/meet you guys trip to Chicago is in order sometime in November…

    We’re also inching closer to having space in the kitchen for some much needed open storage. It will be a semi temporary basis as we’re at least a year from a kitchen reno. These caught my eye in the recent Ikea catalog: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40103727/
    As did the wall shelves – all seen in this shot: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/roomset/20141_kiro02g/ReplyCancel

  • […] made a trip out to Jubilee in Carol Stream after coveting Kim and Scott's recent haul on Yellow Brick Home.  People, this place is a gold mine.  Jubilee updates their blog every […]ReplyCancel

Let's be Pen Pals

Our Pen Pals have direct access to first looks, a peek behind-the-scenes, and exclusive interviews showcasing members of the #YBHDIY community. We can’t wait to connect with you!

Kim and Scott

We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

LEt's be Pen Pals

Subscribe for first looks, behind-the-scenes, and exclusive community content

/* footer flodesk form */

This site uses affiliate links. We will always disclose sponsored posts in the text and by using the ‘sponsored' tag.

© 2024 Yellow Brick Home. | All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY