The chair; new-old or just old

Back in the day, “Cost Plus World Market” was called “Cost Plus” rather than “World Market” and was a cost-effective place to get interesting imports from around the world. Now it’s just an overpriced place to buy the new “mid-century” decor, which is currently popular with the urban younger generations. To my generation, it just looks like Grandma’s old stuff. No, actually, by the time I was 7 years old, my grandparents had already gotten this stuff out of their houses.

For example, I can imagine that if I’d never seen anything like this couch before, I’d really like it. It has good clean lines, and a warm color. But no, this is the furniture that was in the Goodwill stores when I was a kid. It’s not even the furniture that I grew up with. It was the dated furniture that was already beat up, smelly and unwanted, and given away for free.

Remember? Yes, we remember.

And look, remember the metal strips around the bottom of the table legs? What was that for? Like, in case your dog was still in puppy-chewing stage?

But I’m still partial to the store. And I was wasting time on their website recently when I spotted a great chair. It’s simple, with beautiful lines. It’s a great chair.

And it costs $299, plus tax, plus $70 in shipping (only available online). $400?!?! Who would spend that much on a chair? A single chair?? That’s just stupid.

I do want a chair, and a variety of other things, for my new townhouse. So I went to a consignment shop in Albuquerque (any locals reading this, it’s on Candelaria a block east of the freeway).

Consignment shops are great! I’m all for buying used because reusing items is the most efficient form of recycling. Also you can get all kinds of unique and different stuff, for less than the cost of new. And it’s better stuff than at the goodwill type stores, because the stuff is nice enough that the sellers think they can get some money for it. Goodwill only has things people are willing to give away for free. Also at consignment shops you can find things made by local woodworkers and other artisans.

Heres my $25 chair. I know it’s not for everyone, but I think it’s wonderful. And it fits me so well! Most chairs leave a huge, uncomfortable gap between my back and the back of the chair. But this chair fits great. I’m going to use it as my desk chair because right now I’m just using a dining room table chair and a pillow. My back with thank me.

You can’t see very well in this picture, but there are adorable little old-fashioned coaster wheels on the front legs. It’s just cute. And it will match my new townhome. I have a vision for the decor – a little funky and eccentric, but clean and simple, not cluttered, with a few strong colors. It’ll be great!