This story could literally be a novel, but I'll try to just get the basics as I explain the saga of the buffet...Back in January of 2010, we decided we needed a little buffet or cabinet to fit in this area of our family room. After searching for months, I quickly realized that it was impossible to find one in the size and color we needed. I found this small store where you could order pretty much any size wood cabinet and they would finish it in whatever color you needed. Perfect!
We ordered it and were told it would be here in 8-10 weeks. 8-10 weeks came and went and we still didn't have our cabinet. Every phone call to the store was excuses and excuses and they kept saying it was coming on a certain date in the future. The entire summer was spent wondering where the darn thing was!
In August, I called again and no one would pick up the phone. WTF? Did the company close or what? I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and a problem solver column in the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Both did their share of research and were not able to help when we found out the company filed for bankruptcy. Hours spent online were helpful and I was able to find some others who were in a similar situation with this store. I started calling the bankruptcy attorneys to try to get some answers.
Finally, I was told the store had some stock in the back that they never delivered and I could come by to see if my cabinet was there. Luckily, it was there, BUT it was not finished and we paid for it to be stained black. They let me have some free stain and we took it home to attempt to finish it.
So here's a look at our cabinet in the garage when we got it home. Honestly, we figured if we can drywall, tile, paint, and do minor electrical and plumbing, how hard can it be to stain something?
Let's just say it didn't go as well as we expected. Here's a bit of our mess after 3 different kinds of stain plus hours and hours of sanding.
After everything we've been through with this cabinet, we were fed up! We gave up and decided to paint it black. And even that didn't go as planned! The garage was too dusty so we had to bravely paint with black in our living room!
FINALLY, months and months later, here's our finished buffet in it's spot in the family room.
I covered the bottom of the drawers in black felt so we can store our China and other serving pieces in there.
And of course, some fun accessories!
So glad to be done with this!
oh my gosh, thank goodness you didn't get totally taken by those jerks. i love the color and the shape of this piece. at least after all that, it looks great.
ReplyDeleteCrazy story, but it's a beautiful buffet. I'm trying to decide if I want a buffet or a china cabinet for our dining room. Such decisions, but I really like the look of a buffet after reading this post.
ReplyDeleteSaw you on Tip Junkie. Oh my word, I LOVE the buffet! I have a few pieces of furniture that we stained back in the mid 90's, and I SO want to do this. I love love love the black furniture. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteCannot believe you had to go through all that for a buffet, but in the end you have a beautiful piece with a crazy story!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh my heart goes out to you there is so many companies going out of business, you were smart to contact the bankruptcy attorney I would not have known to do that.
ReplyDeleteBTW how did you find out whom to contact?
I luv the buffet and i'm sorry you went thru so much to get what you wanted.
Would luv for our readers to discover this.
please add it to our linking party here
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/beautiful-furniture-redo-pop-up-cards.html
Have a great week,
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
I'm sorry you had to go through this....It's a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteBless your heart! What a nightmare! BUT, it did turn out beautiful. I love the end result. Great job!
ReplyDeleteit turned out so beautiful!!! sounds like a head ache tho...
ReplyDeletebut I LOVE IT!!!
http://jaysonandashley.blogspot.com
Lisa, I'm so glad to see that after such a harrowing ordeal, that it all worked out beautifully in the end.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I owned a furniture store for 9 years, so your story (in the beginning) sounded very familiar. We bought all of our furniture from small guilds and companies in the USA because of the quality, craftsmanship, and customization. But big or small, none of the companies were very dependable. They'd give us production estimates for our customers, and we'd always tack on a few extra weeks, just to cover our buns. But often, a 4-6 week estimate would become 16 weeks. It was horrible. People would get so mad at us and think that we were trying to pull a fast one. Sadly, it's businesses like the one that gave you grief, that really make people paranoid (and rightly so). It's terrible that they evaded your calls and closed without making right on their promise. I'm glad that you didn't just roll over, and were persistent enough to get something for your efforts and money. Your buffet is beautiful, and you should be proud of yourself for everything you went through to get it!
Jenn
Oh lord my dear what a hassle! I'm glad you were able to go in and find your buffet but still that is just horrible!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out wonderful, talk about blood sweat and tears poured into a project!
Hi, Lisa! Thanks for the sweet comment! Btw I'm admiring all your creative posts here. Can you please share them at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my ceilings, Lisa - it was QUITE the undertaking. =) And holy gorgeous! All your hard work paid off! That buffet is amazing; it looks like you paid in insane amount for it at Pottery Barn.
ReplyDeletewow that looks great! we have a buffet that is the twin to yours!!!
ReplyDelete