I’ve written here and there about a midcentury Lane end table that I thrifted while my sister was visiting this summer. I bought it on a day that we dedicated to exploring Portland’s suburban Goodwill shops. I’d heard for years that these locations were worth the drive, but I’d never made the effort before to investigate whether this held true or was simply a suburban myth.
Not a myth. Not at all. I bought three great vintage pieces from a single Goodwill shop, and only paid $6.99 for each piece. (An antique mirror, a groovy office chair and this table.) I almost missed the table, as it was in a hallway and stacked under another table.
Here’s the chair:
And the mirror:
Others might have focused on the condition of the top surface or that awful hardware that’s been added to the bottom of the right hand door, but I knew better. This is a sturdy classic piece that’s much in demand by those who appreciate the midcentury aesthetic. And priced at $6.99, what did I have to lose?!
Need proof? Here’s one priced at $425 on Chairish.com
The Goodwill employee helped me lift this insanely heavy walnut table into the back of my minivan, and my initial hit that it was Lane was confirmed.
That awful hardware, it was easy enough to remove:
Although the holes left in the wood were pretty awful.
However, it was easy enough to sand the wood down and fill the holes with stainable wood putty. Of course, this process removed some of the table’s original stain. No problem though, as I was able to locate a small tin of matching stain in my basement, although if this were not the case I could have driven over to my local Habitat ReStore to peruse their crowded shelves of stain. (Seriously, they’re an amazing resource!)
I did buy a can of Howard’s Restore-A-Finsh, as well as a bottle of their Feed-N-Wax. I thrift for vintage furniture pretty often, so I’ll be able to use these supplies for future projects.
I took a fine-grain sanding pad to the table, careful to always sand with the grain and prepared the table for its rejuvenating new finish. I could have done a thorough sanding on the top surface to remove all the water marks, but I wasn’t interested in getting too crazy with this table. (Maybe I should of, but oh, well . . . )
I then brought the table inside so I could photograph it looking nice for Craigslist. I was tempted to keep the table, but my sister convinced me that it was the wrong era for my 1914 bungalow. Also, I kind of wanted the money for my sons’ college fund. (The next $15,000 payment is due on January 1st, but it’s not like I’m paying attention . . . or counting down the days.)
Look at the amazing amount of storage! Perfect for lap blankets or board games. Or whatever it is that would need to be locked up. I took a sniff of the interior before I bought it, because you never know what this table was in its former life.
Please be amazed at how rich the wood looks now! And that area where the locking hardware used to be? It’s hardly noticeable now.
It took a few weeks, but I finally sold the table to a woman who was so enchanted by my handiwork that she didn’t even attempt to bargain me down. Bought for $6.99, $15 spent on supplies, an hour or two of my time and sold for $200. Not too shabby.
Now, if I could just get that mirror and vintage office chair to sell, I’d have an excuse to drive out to the suburbs for some fresh inventory!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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What was someone thinking with that hardware? Geez.
Super glad you sold it! And hoo boy….a $15,000 payment is not for the faint at heart.
Tell me about it! I need to find a Ming vase at Goodwill. Or maybe a Picasso.
College tuition for your children is never for the faint of heart! Tuition for anyone else either!
I’m amazed at how the Goodwill stores in your area sell such awesome pieces for so little price. I’m telling you, at my goodwill store that table (or one similar with much less value) wouldn’t sell for less than $25 dollars minimum. I’ve never found such great quality at the Goodwill stores in our area or surrounding areas. And of the lower value items that are for sale, seem to be overpriced. Love seeing your finds, though!
It’s hit or miss. That’s for sure!
It’s gorgeous, Katy!! Wow… definitely worth the 2 hours you put into it, i’d have a hard time parting with it!!
It is really beautiful. It would suit my wood panelled palace perfectly.
Great job.
Where do you buy these Howard products locally? Fred Meyer? Home Depot? I live across the river near Vancouver and inherited a few pieces of wood furniture that need some love.
I bought them at my local True Value.
Pretty sure you meant “should have”.
I’m impressed at your restoration skills.
Please tell what secret suburban Goodwills you have had luck in! I live around the area and never find anything in my local Clackamas County Goodwill stores!
My sister and I went to one in Beaverton and one in Aloha.
I’ve been told the one in Salmon creek is good too. Just haven’t checked it out yet.
I always thought refurbishing furniture would be way too hard, but that doesn’t look too bad. Maybe I should take up my in-laws on their offer of 60 year old furniture hanging out in their basement…
Refinishing is not hard at all–it just requires some patience. I bought a small wooden cabinet years ago–it has 2 glass doors with wood framing, and even has the key as both doors lock. It was painted red when I bought it. I took it all apart and stripped the red paint, stained it walnut, and it’s been in my house for decades, looking great! It did take about a week of vacation time to do the refinishing but it was worth it.
We also refinished our big wooden front and side doors to the house–had layers and layers of paint on them, and got them down to wood, which has been stained. Actually, they could use a re-do about now as it’s been quite a while. They look great and cost far less than replacements would have. And they are authentic! It did take more than 1 week’s vacation time, but it was worth it.
I’ve done full refinishing jobs on multiple pieces of furniture, and although it’s a lot of work it’s extremely satisfying!
Beautiful job on the refinishing! Those Howard products seem to be universally recommended for renewing the luster of dried-out or sun-faded wood furniture. I admire your commitment to selling the piece, and with a kid in college, I totally get building the college fund. But if you’d really wanted to keep it you should have. Don’t ever let the vintage of your house dictate how it should be decorated. As someone with a background in material culture and historic preservation, I’ve heard a lot people who feel like they should furnish their homes to the period they were built. But houses, just like our lives, aren’t static. They change and evolve over time. And though your house was built in 1914, it “lived” to see the ’50s and ’60s too. In truth, midcentury furniture has a lot of similarity to Arts & Crafts and Mission furniture, and even Shaker styles. All those clean lines… gotta love ’em!
I actually agree with you, and I would have been happy to keep the table, but sadly it found a new owner.
Perfect!
And now I want that Lane cedar “hope” chest back that I had as a college student. A n exact match to your end table. Probably worth a fortune now.
…or maybe about $200 on Craigslist refurbished or $6.99 at Goodwill in need of a little TLC . Seriously, watch the secondary markets. Lane Hope Chests were very popular and produced in fairly large quantities,
I have used Howard’s and Feed-N-Wax for years. They are simply the best. Your mid-century table turned out beautifully. I know it was hard to part with, but you are doing good thing for your sons! I had two in college and one in graduate school all at the same time. I feel your pain.
Yikes, at least I only have two kids!
It wasn’t easy, but we made it through.
The table came out gorgeous! It looks like it would be worth a weekly trip to those suburban stores to find more great furniture that just needs some of your excellent TLC.
Did you do anything to spiff up the hardware on the doors?
I used a gold paint pen that I already had on hand to touch up the brass. I smeared it around while it was still wet, and it really helped the handles to look better.
My Type A self is SO IN LOVE WITH YOUR COLOR COORDINATED/ORGANIZED BOOK SHELF! It gives me warm fuzzies!
It drives others crazy, so let me just say “thank you!”
My aunt just gave me the same mirror. It was my grandparents so I’m keeping it.
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