Yes, yes, yes .. free is good! :)

Paint it a fun color, put glass knobs on the drawers, then I like your idea of a tension rod with a simple skirt that parts in the middle for the bottom. Take out the drawer runners and reinforce the area if need be for shelves.

Well, as quick as that it is gone. I had the chance to get it yesterday and hesitated, because of my LACK of space issue, oh well. It would have been a neat piece to fix up. I guess I'm going to have to work on clearing out some of my garage for NEW projects, then I wont have to miss out.

If you did the shelves option, then you could put some of the low flat baskets in it for storage, ala the black ones pottery barn sells, etc.

Was typing when you posted. ;)
Bummer. I've missed out on some nice things by blinking!

great idea too moonshadow, ya, bummer, but I did have my chance, so it's my own fault.

Of course I would of grabbed it! I would of moved the 2 drawers to the bottom and made two open shelves on the top two rows so that I could place some baskets in it. Next time!

Great idea to move the baskets to the bottom. Love the skirting idea, too.

Drawers to the bottom! Wouldn't have thought of that. I've been admiring a few armoire pieces like that.

Not dumping on you, rjinga, because I see that you are already realizing your mistake in hesitating if you liked this dresser, (and, it had pieces missing, a different consideration,) but.......

I just don't understand why anyone posts here about extremely cheap or free items on craigslist. When you have something that is obviously a "real deal", either a great antique for $30 or $40 bucks, or even just a nice piece of furniture that you could use somehow and the price is not only within your budget but staggeringly low......like this little end table I found a couple of weeks ago listed for $35. I need one, measurements were listed in the ad and I knew it would fit, and the price was excellent-providing his picture didn't lie. (I show it here in MY house)

Now, I'm not talking about 2 wing chairs with nice legs for $300 that may or may not work with your living room.
I'm not talking about when you are looking at a Duncan Phyfe dining set listed for $750 that would represent serious savings over buying new but you are still unsure whether the price is too high or the set too formal for your dining room. Sometimes, we all need a little hand-holding. But if you see something that you already know is a steal, and you have the money and you have the ability to pick it up, then, don't get online--get in your truck.

Sincerely,
Red

LOL, Red, I hear ya, and I guess the fact that it was a "damaged" but possibly workable piece is what made ME come here to the "group" for ideas, etc. But I also know that if it were something I had an IMMEDIATE space for, loved and knew it was a steal, I would not have dilly dallied and WOULD have gotten it yesterday. many different factors were just not on my side with this "find".

rjinga....keep posting your questionable finds! I'm always questioning how I'm gonna use a piece and if I want to take it home....even if it's free. Like the wingback chairs that were free. I passed the first time he listed them. I didn't like the fabric and never thought of slipcovers....duh! If I'd posted them here everyone would have chimed in how to make them work! The guy givng them away was frustrated no one would come by and pick them up....we could have saved him that! :0)

Red......LOVE.....that little table!!!! I'm looking for little tables. I keep looking at a mahogany one that's $40 with 2 draweres, it's a little big. I thought of posting it here to see if $40 was a deal. I'm just not sure what people are paying out there. I like seeing what ya all find on CL.....please keep posting!!!

Nicole, one thing that I do when I'm looking at CL and think something may work for me, (as opposed to when I see something amazing that I MUST have!) I pull out my measuring tape and measure my space. Or if I don't know quite where I would put it, I measure and look around in different places. If measurements and condition are not posted in the ad.....well, first,
I freak out and yell at the monitor---Whatsa matter with you??? You have a FREE ad, post your information, Peasant!!

No, I don't really call all of them "Peasant", but that's pretty much what I'm thinking. It's insane not to measure your piece, put the measurements in the ad, mention scratches on the top, or that the table is in excellent condition, etc. The ad is free. The space is almost unlimited. Make it attractive.

Second, I email for more information and provide the seller with my phone number if I am pretty serious. Or if they put in a phone number, I just text or call, asking for the height/width/depth. If those things line up I make the first appointment I can muster to go see.

And I don't remember your wingbacks, did you go get them eventually? One caveat with upholstered furniture, sometimes it's pretty ratty in person. Stained, torn, ripped, smelly, etc. MUCH harder to determine if you found a gem or a germ. I bought some antique chairs last year off CL. I saw them, loved the style and the wood, they were priced at $100 for the entire set. And, I had to make arrangements to drive 90 miles. Arrangements included shanghaing my DH and the Toyota T-100. Well, the chairs were ratty as far as upholstery goes...

But after exchanging emails with the seller, (who also bought them through CL, intending to refinish, reupholster, and reuse) I found that they were sound structurally. So, last night, they finally went to my upholstery guy. We shall see how they turn out. My husband ripped out the old stuff & springs already, and cut plywood seats for them that must be foamed and batted and reupholstered.
The table I wasn't even really concerned about. I had a table, was just getting the set for the chairs. But once I saw how nice the table was, I sent it to my refinisher to scrape the stuff off the top. Some previous owner had allowed a plastic tablecloth to adhere to the tabletop and it had left it's little backing dots all over the top. My furniture guy redid the top for me early this year.

Red

Red....those chairs and table...WOW! The carved work on them is beautiful! Ya see....DH hates old stuff and wants "new". So my obsession with "free" stuff and picking up deals is not supported at my house. :0) Yes I did pick up the chairs and slipcovered them to go with the oriental rug.
{{!gwi}}
I actually "needed" 2 chairs in the MB, instead of the little vanity seats.....:0) The vanity seat is being used as a table until I can find one like yours.....:0)

nicole, that is an issue at my house as well. My DH also wants NEW, MODERN stuff (although I am pretty confident that he truly does not know exactly what "modern" looks like)

I on the other hand, just love finding quaint old, antique peices or even pieces that I know have great potential. My primary problem is that I've been at this a long time and I've finally nearly completely ran out of room!!

I can only "hide" things out by the Greenhouse (where DH, NEVER ventures) as long as the weather cooperates!!! too risky for some things..I know I'm sick, I need help. lol

Rjinga....we both need help, ALOT of help! Want to go to group therapy together?

I found the perfect little desk, great dimensions but not looking so great, for my son's room yesterday at the thrift store. I purposely left it in the van, with tinted windows, so he didn't see it. He left for work this morning and I ran out to the van to rescue the poor thing. It has already received a sanding, primer and has its last coat of spray paint drying. By the time he comes home it will be in place in son's room and more than likely my DH won't even notice for a week that its been added or he stubs his toe on it while walking by. lol

I freak out and yell at the monitor---Whatsa matter with you??? You have a FREE ad, post your information, Peasant!!

I feel your pain. What is it with people who don't take the time to advertise things properly?

And don't get me started on the people who don't post photos but say it is beautiful and must be seen . . .

To answer the original question, no, I would not rescue that piece.

I know myself and I know I wouldn't finish it. It would hang around and eventually be put up on craigslist or freecycle.

This is the little side table, he relisted it for the 3rd time. I think it's "not" cute enough. Not small enough....if it were almost "free" ......say $5 I might consider it as a temporary place holder until one like Red's came along.... Do YOU agree? This is more about liking the size and style, collecting a worthy piece.

I may start another thread asking this...?

Here is a link that might be useful: Is it cute enought to bring home?

Nicole, my heart is breaking! That is the exact size table I am looking for to set a small TV on. Too bad it's on the other side of the country.

Re the OP: I would probably take this if it was solid wood and I had space to store it/work on it... but I would make sure to take the missing drawers even if the seller/giver says they're not in good shape. You can do more with broken or sticking drawers than you can with no drawers!

KarinL