You might try sending an email to Bonhams down here in LA, but I don't think you're going to raise a big price, Bonhams has a monthly auction that they call an "estate sale" auction, and you can search on the site for past results. I'm not suggesting that you strip it and paint little hearts on it, but it's not showing to its best advantage, I think. Even if it's custom made, colonial repro isn't in fashion, and esp. not in Southern California. I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom, but being realistic.

angelaid, here is a brief description of various dovetail joinery used in antiques and how style can help date a piece. Dovetail joinery is one of the methods used to secure drawer sides to fronts. (Look at a piece in a showroom today and you'll likely see staples and not even well secured at that.) Technically and generally speaking, when a piece has been altered, such as damaged repair, painted, or stripped and refinished to bring it back to life, the value tends to plummet. But sometimes there's just no way to get around that in order to make a piece functional again. However, there are exceptions to that rule (as evidenced on very high end pieces shown on Antiques Roadshow and what experts recommend doing to repair). But that's neither here nor there. $300 per piece is a great price and you've got some quality furniture there. You'd never get a new dresser of such good construction and wood on today's market for $150. Your pieces appear to be oak, one of the hardest of the hard woods. Quarter sawn is a prized cut. Well constructed furniture today is hard to find in our disposable society. For the most part it's just not made as well today as it was back in the day. That's only one reason a lot of us here that are nuts about old things tend to pickup up vintage to antique case goods (furniture primarily constructed of wood). Far better quality for a far better price compared to what's out there new on today's market. Those are beautiful pieces that appear to be in great condition. In my area an original that needs some TLC goes for $300-$500. Further north into the city, good shape, offered by a dealer, they could go much higher per piece. In my hometown where it's more ample it tops out at $300 for a nice piece, maybe a little TLC needed, but when the economy is on a down turn they get hit hard and fast back home (very small town) and certain types and styles of furniture are fairly easy to come by, both of which result in not being able to get a higher price. So, just a few tidbits to share. Ultimately imho you have some lovely furniture, good score! ;D

FWIW, USA may no longer be in a recession 'on paper', but wages are not increasing, yet costs are & a lot of people in many areas are not enjoying any economic benefit. It always irks me a bit to hear this framed by news reporting as 'people just don't want to buy', when it's often a case of 'can't afford to buy' - as in little to no disposable income for frivolities like collecting. The economic uncertainty today has caused a lot of folks to try to hold on to what $$ they have. I think about the AR items that have dropped vs. those that have risen or remained stable & many seem to represent niche markets - or specific demographics of collectors - & & keep in mind that not all collectors are in the US, tho they may be buying from US auctions/dealers. For instance, I know @ one time there was a large amount of buying going on from China & Asian antiques were fetching astronomical prices. I'm not sure this is still true. & then, of course, there's the foreign money laundering...

I like staring out windows, too, but I do find I do it more when I'm doing things I dislike, like washing dishes. I've got bird feeders 6 feet outside my kitchen window, Chickadees, gold finches, nuthatches, cardinals, it's great! My dining room table is next to the glass sliders with the same view of the feeders but if we are sitting there it's only for holiday dinners and we are talking with our guests, etc. I suppose if one uses the dining table all the time it might make a difference. (DH likes his meals in his recliner in front of the TV,) In the house we're building the dining table isn't near any windows, there really isn't any place to put it unless I replace the island with it. It would make a good farm table but I need that counter space! Now I suppose I could take my life into my hands and post that portion of my floor plan for suggestions? Pretty sure I've tried every combination possible though.