Once upon a time. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ when we were young and trying to fill our first home with furnishings . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ the budget was low . . . very low.
We saved and saved to buy an Ethan Allen breakfast table.
Finally, got the $225 together for a table and 4 chairs.
Back then it felt like $2,025.00.
I had my eye on one more piece to complete the area . . .
~ ~ but it was out of the question . . . out of the budget. I never forgot that piece.
Until a couple weekends ago . . . when I went to an estate sale.
And what did I see????…..
We passed the estate sale on our way to breakfast with our company (Kim and Mary Alice) . . .
~ ~ and their hubbies following us . . . as they were leaving for home after breakfast.
We did not stop . . I felt it was late in the morning and all the good stuff was gone.
On the way home, we passed the estate sale home . . .
~ ~ it is a beautiful home that my hubby always admired.
He said . . . let’s go in . . . I would love to see the interior of the house.
Yes, he loves architecture.
I strolled into the house thinking that it would practically be empty by then . . .
~ ~ as the sale had been going on for at least 4 hours.
The entry into the house led us first into the kitchen . . . then the breakfast room.
That is when I gasped . . . loudly.
There it was! . . . The tea cart that I wanted so many, many years ago.
It was in perfect condition.
I quickly opened the drawer to the cart and confirmed that it was truly “the one” . .
~ ~ yes!!!…The Ethan Allen “mark” on the inside of the drawer confirmed it.
You never have seen someone slap a sold sticker on an item so fast!!!
So many, many decades later (I won’t specify how many) 🙂 . . .
~ ~ I get my tea cart . . . and at the great price of $80.00 .
Talk about a happy girl!
Not sure if this will be the permanent place for it.
It is in a room that is undergoing a little makeover . . . so stay tuned for that too!!!
Have a wonderful day . . . it is truly a beautiful Fall day here!
Well, yes good things come to those who wait. How wonderful to get something you wanted so many years ago.
I remember that design…Ethan Allen had beautiful matching sets back then…we don’t talk about how long ago that was…ok? I think it’s fantastic that you found it after all this time! It’s been a wonderful Fall here too! 😉
Shirley what great serendipity!! That your husband wanted to go in and there it was, just waiting for you!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Shirley this post makes me all teary eyed!! What an amazing find and wow!!! what a great story!
Maple furniture, of any style or era, makes me feel the same way. The cabinets in the house we want so badly and probably won’t have, are maple. When my first husband got out of the service in early 1964, we moved to Nashville and lived there about a year and half. Maple furniture was everywhere. We managed to find a few affordable pieces, but never Ethan Allen. My aunt had beautiful Ethan Allen maple furniture. Years have passed, I am determined to find at least one piece of Ethan Allen maple, one of these days. I don’t know why I haven’t.:-) Wish we could run into an incredible estate sale like the one where you found your dream piece.
Pat@Back Porch Musings’s recent post…The Dining Room in Autumn
It was just meant to be :o) It is such a pretty piece and has wonderful detailing!!!! I can’t believe it is in such pristine condition too. Great find!
~Des
Des’s recent post…Antique slate chalkboard…..
What a great story and fantastic find. It goes to show you never know what is around the corner. I can feel your excitement. Don’t you just love the keeper husbands. Good team work.
Cindy
Oh Shirley what a great story and great piece. Good things come to those how wait. This is so sweet you finally got your piece. It is a beautiful tea cart. What a great story and beautiful find.
Kris
Kris’s recent post…Good Friends and Good Junkin Time
Well it must’ve been meant to be! I remember my friends mom having a tea cart similar to that one in her dining room and I always thought it was so neat. I guess you now have your husband to thank for wanting to go in and look around!
Kelly’s recent post…Things I Love About the Fall Season
The tea cart was there waiting for you, it had your name on it. It’s so nice that you finally were able to get something that you’ve wanted for so long and I’m sure at a very reasonable price from what it was originally. Enjoy it!! I’m sure you will be using it for many years to come.
That is a dear story. I’m glad you finally found something you wanted so long ago. Enjoy!!
Wow I feel excited for you! This was meant to be!! It looks lovely in your room with that picture. I always have admired Ethan Allen furniture- you did good!!
Liz @ Infuse With Liz’s recent post…Purple, Gold and Hues of Autumn
WHat a great find and to be reunited after all those years…LOL I’m so happy for you 🙂
Christine’s recent post…Purple Rust and Antler Tablescape for Fall
wow, what a story. after all these years, finding that one beautiful piece! that is truly amazing. it is just a stunning piece of furniture. i love how you’ve turned it into a fabulous vignette. just perfect.
The cart is amazing, it was meant to go to your house! Jo
IT was meant to be. Sometimes waiting is the best. Love the tea cart and it’s in really good condition. Enjoy your new treasure.
Mary
Wow!!! How fabulous and what a pretty cart it is too! I’ve had that happen to me before, although not with anything worth as much as that cart!!!
Enjoy your pretty treasure!
xox
Anne@DesignDreams’s recent post…Around the World Blog Hop
an amazing little blessing…love hearing about those!
Debra@CommonGround’s recent post…Fall Front Porch at the New House
I bet you will enjoy it so much more now. A great piece and can’t believe the price!
Great find Shirley, it’s really pretty. Just love to find things I thought I never would. Enjoy it!
Shirley,
Oh my…wonderful. You appreciate it so much with the story. I remember those days of low budgets and champagne tastes!
Our first piece just out of grad and law school was an Ethan Allen butler’s tray table…sitting in my parlor this very day. Some of the flaps are drooping…but I cannot bear to part with it because it was our first nice piece, in our first house. It sat in front of our Sears sofa! Ha! The sofa is long gone, but not my cherry tray table.
Cheers to finding your lost love!
Sheila@mykentuckyliving
I’m so glad it was still there waiting for you, Shirley! Your three white vases look beautiful grouped on the top of it. What a lovely piece!
Mary Alice
Mary Alice Patterson’s recent post…Pumpkins in the Dining Room
See, dreams DO come true. I am SO happy you found your tea cart and at a steal! It is beautiful and I loved the back story. Happy dance!!!!
Pinky at Designs by Pinky’s recent post…Leaves, leaves and more leaves!
It’s beautiful! I, too, wanted a tea cart many years ago. Now, not so much……but, if it was fate to find one like you did, how could I resist?!!!
You are blessed to have found this item that your heart truly wanted. So happy for you!!
I would say that was your lucky day. I guess having that tea cart was meant to be.
Linda’s recent post…A Gown Day
I love this! The story and of course the tea cart…right up my style alley. 🙂
Shirley, what a sweet story! How wonderful that you found this after many years, and at a bargain price, no less! 🙂
Susan
must love junk’s recent post…Fall Mantel 2014
What a find, Shirley! It is a magnificent piece! YOu don’t see pieces made with that quality any more! Yes, a good thing came to you! You certainly waited long enough for it! What a sweet story!
It took us 5 years to save up to get our Ethan Allen dining room table and chairs back in the day! My formal dining room sat empty… well really it was a playroom for my kiddos.
It was so special to get something we had saved and waited so long for.
I could hear you telling this story in my mind!
Miss you!
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Congrat on your super find!!
Are you kidding me? What a great story Shirley and so meant to be. It is a gorgeous piece, and it found the perfect home.
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How exciting!!! I’m sure it will mean even more to you now!! It’s absolutely beautiful!!~~Angela
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Hallelujah and congratulations!!! That’s wonderful! Just when you least expected it!!!
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The tea cart is where it’s supposed to be…home. It looks perfect with your style! Cheryl Ann
Wow what a wonderful blessing!! The cart is just beautiful and I know it will look great anywhere you put it! I had e-mailed you this past week but am not sure if it got through.I had e-mailed a friend of mine and it didn’t go through so I was thinking the same thing might have happened with the one I sent you.
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It is great when we get something unexpected that we truly want… It is perfect… I’m sure you will find a home for it soon…
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What a wonderful thing to find your treasure after all these years, Shirley. Isn’t it sad (certainly not for you as the buyer, though), how small a price the once highly coveted brand is now reduced to? Coffee carts are back in vogue, so it’s a wonder than it was sold that inexpensively. Score!
Rita C. (Panoply)’s recent post…Low Maintenance Health, Beauty Arsenal
What a fun surprise Shirley, aren’t you glad your hubby wanted to stop?! My MIL has a tea cart from Ethan Allen thats looks like it could its cousing
Mary’s recent post…At the Table: Pumpkins and Pfaltzgraff Delaney Dinnerware
cousin 🙂
Mary’s recent post…At the Table: Pumpkins and Pfaltzgraff Delaney Dinnerware
What a beautiful piece Shirley…it was your lucky day!!
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I inherited the same tea cart (was bought from Ethan Allen by my Grandmother) but it’s painted in cream instead of black. I ended up giving it to my mother-in-law. She loves it! I’ll probably eventually end up getting it back one day. LOL. I also have a matching deacon’s bench (painted in black with fruit) and I ended up painting it antique white to go in my beach house.
Shirley, I can imagine how you felt…I stopped at an estate sale today and found this very SAME teacart. Although I have no maple furniture and, truth be told, nowhere to even PUT it without giving up something else, I just had to bring it home. It’s in perfect condition, too! I had to pay a little more than twice what you did, but imagine what this piece would cost today. It’s part of the Heirloom collection, and they named it appropriately. I absolutely love mine, so you must have felt like hugging yours when you finally found it again! Enjoy.
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