While there are quite a few options these days of where you can find antiques online, Everything But the House reigns at the top of my list. Why? Because you can’t beat their vintage shopping experience: Everything starts at a bid of $1! EBTH is based out of Ohio, boasting warehouses in Cincinnati and Columbus, but you can have any item shipped to you!
I recently partook in a few of EBTH‘s online estate sales and thought I’d show you exactly what I bid on, pictured below:
I was super into that dresser and that wicker patio set. Gosh, and it was from Lazarus, too!
And I also wanted to show you what I won:
It’s a dry sink! Specifically, a stone-top dry sink with an art nouveau tile backsplash, crafted some time in the late 19th or early 20th century. A little dry sink history… before there was indoor plumbing, people used these to hold a wash basin and pitcher. You may have found this important piece of furniture in a kitchen, bedroom, or on the porch.
So, anyways, I won this dry sink! I liked the unique look, the size, and the colors of the tile backsplash. Plus, EBTH noted it was from a home in Upper Arlington, which I thought was pretty cool.
This is how I envisioned it styled in our home… as a potential record player stand:
I picked it up from the Columbus location, which btw, is located in Hilliard, off of Cemetery Road, just a minute or two off of 270 (super convenient in and out)! They graciously brought it out to my car and loaded it in the back for me, thankfully! The top piece is stone and verrrry heavy!
As I was driving home, I was reminded of one very important thing that I chose to disregard while bidding on this dry sink …. EBTH very explicitly stated this dry sink was exposed to cigarette smoke. Also of note – EBTH always is open + honest about what condition the items are in. I knew it would have cracks and scratches. No big deal. BUT the cigarette smoke oh sheesh. I thought that would be find but I forgot how that smell lingers. And I’m weird about smells.
To fix this issue, I decided the dry sink needed to be refinished with paint, hoping that the smell would leave. Well, painting swiftly morphed into a complete overhaul of this piece because I found that smoke also lingers in tile.
Honestly – it may sound like a lot of work up ahead but – this is why antique shopping is so fun for me – you get to make it your own! With Nic’s handy skills, I am so excited to show you our finished piece tomorrow, on the blog… so be sure to check back!
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