A couple of weeks ago, on the high of shopping at the Lucketts Spring Market and finding some great pieces for our kitchen, I spotted a charming pair of chairs on Facebook Marketplace. Right away, I got those butterflies when I find something special. They are unique, and adorable, and would be so perfect for our kitchen. I double-checked the measurements and thought they would be perfect. So, I arranged to pick them up the next evening.
As soon as I saw the chairs in person, though, I knew something was off with the measurements. What I thought were nicely-sized kitchen chairs were very small in scale with straight backs and shallow seats, and they were so light I could easily pick two up at a time. If I could figure out the logistics, I could probably carry all six at a time.
I knew looking at them and sitting in them that they would never work for a house with teenage boys and, more specifically, for my 6’3 dad. But, I did something out of character and I started loading the chairs. I had already given the money to the owner, who was rocking a sleeping baby on the porch while his wife was in bed with a bad back. I didn’t want to tell them I wasn’t going to buy the chairs. But, they were so cute and maybe I could make them work with a cushion. I debated with myself and felt all kinds of self-imposed pressure that I don’t normally feel when I’m buying furniture second-hand. I didn’t say, “No thanks, they are not quite right.” I ignored my gut and bought the chairs.
As I was driving home, I called Jeff and told him he would hate the chairs and I didn’t even want to hear about it. Even as I’m typing it out, I’m wondering what in the world possessed me. Thankfully, they were cheap, but it was still a total waste of money and I hate that. So, I immediately relisted them on Facebook Marketplace, hoping someone will make the same mistake I did! Actually, they would be good for occasional chairs, since they are so light and easy to move. They’d also be good kitchen chairs for kids since they are light, small, and sturdy.
I kept imagining my dad trying to sit in one of these chairs, though, and it just seemed like a ridiculous ask. And what about the boys, who continue to grow, and their friends who come over? What about when we have guests over from the church? Can I really ask them to sit in petite, straight-backed chairs?
I told Jeff I wanted to get rid of them ASAP, even if it meant giving them away. They were a folly and I no longer wanted their presence as a reminder. But, with everything going on in the house (and the garage), they ended up getting pushed out of the way and they are still there and still listed on Facebook Marketplace.
When my parents came over last week to help, my dad came into the house from fetching tools in the garage and asked, “Hey! Where did you find the VMI chairs?!”
My dad is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, but we didn’t have any chairs with the VMI logo.
“What VMI chairs?”
“The wooden ones out there. They are just like the chairs we had at VMI.”
He went out to the garage and carried one inside to sit in. “Oh, they are just great. They make me sit up straight and bring back so many memories.”
At this point, my mom and I were laughing so hard that we had tears in our eyes. Just minutes earlier, I had shown her the chairs and she agreed they were a dumb purchase. “Dad, you’re the big reason I’m selling these chairs because they are so petite!”
But, he sat in that chair anytime he took a break from checking projects off of the dad list.
I was actually able to find a picture of similar chairs in the VMI dorm in the 1950s and, while they don’t have the turned details on the back, they are very similar…
Despite the fact that my dad liked the chairs, they still need to find a new home. We need chairs that are sturdy and enjoyable for us to sit in, but we also want guests of all sizes to feel comfortable sitting in them.
We did get a good laugh, though, and my dad enjoyed a little memory from his days as a VMI Rat.
The chairs are still listed if you’re interested and you can just have them for free to get them out of my sight. HERE is the listing with the measurements and details. (Update! The chairs have just been picked up.)
It was a good reminder to me to have a clear idea of what I want and to walk away if the item(s) doesn’t fit that vision. Or are utterly impractical for my family. Whichever.
So, I’m back on the hunt for some kitchen chairs and I won’t make the same mistake twice. Please tell me I’m not the only one who made a stupid Facebook Marketplace purchase!
46 Responses
Oh my gosh your Dad looks hysterical sitting there! The seat hits him at 1/3 if his thigh!!! I was taken in by a shiny new stove over weekend. Only 5 yrs old and very clean, literally around the corner from me so I pulled the trigger and arranged a handy man to deliver. At same time we had a plumbing leak and an electrical issue so I was too pooped to cook and pizza it was. After an hour I couldn’t get the oven above 200° so we ate warmed barely cooked pizza😜 I had to call the neighbor/seller to come by and help. Turns out he switched knobs
for oven on backwards!! He was so embarrassed and said “ hey, I’m 80 and I just had a brain 💨. “
I think the chairs are very pretty. I have two French chairs with rush matting, and I have to put covers over them so that Tim Tam, my black and white cat, does not claw them. He is like a bee to the honey pot! Only thing he does that is naughty!
Oh dear! I can totally see why it was not easy to change your mind at the moment. I bought 2 down filled upholstered Henredon vintage club chairs. Sat in one before I loaded them up in our pick up truck to drive the hour and 20 minutes back home (this was in peak gas prices time, too😬) only to put them in our open plan living room and realize they were TINY. Like short and narrow. Perfect for a bedroom maybe or a smaller room. I’m 5’9″, all legs, and my husband is 6’1″…we looked like giants in them. I sold them for $20 over what I paid…got some gas money back. Lesson learned to check the room, too!
I made a mistake like that too. What you buy on FB Marketplace can look very different when you go to pick it up. I paid for a wood cabinet that was porch pickup. I drove a long way to get it. I was shocked to see how flimsy it was and I knew it wouldn’t work for me but I already paid for it so I took it home and reposted it on marketplace and got more than I paid!
You should consider selling them singly. Someone might want one cute little chair but not all 6 even if their free.
My MIL had everyone pick a few things they would like to have one day. Years later when they downsized we inherited a settee that was on our list. Once it was placed in my home I was certain I no longer wanted it. I could not have it out of my house fast enough. It just didn’t belong. We passed it onto another sibling and every time I visit their home I place my handbag on that settee and have zero regret.
I bought a set of leather club chairs once and quickly realized they were too small for us and the area! It wasn’t a cheap mistake, but I did re-sell them and got half of my money back. I make sure now I know measurements and how something will fit/look in the area first. We have all been there but it’s still not a good feeling and its disappointing all at the same time. Now, I really debate something and go back and forth so much he drives my husband crazy!
I bought an adorable French settee on FB marketplace for my living room. I have very “rugged” brothers, tall husky football players. The first time they came over, one bro threw himself onto the settee & I heard wood cracking. Another bro threw himself ontop of the first one & the whole settee went crashing to the floor. They call that maneuver “Haystack Calhoun”. I’m familiar with Haystack Calhoun so I dont why I thought that settee was going to work, it didnt have a chance…
Marian, I love the photo of your Dad on the chair, anddd he makes the chair look SO USABLE !!!! PLUS they’re really pretty, I think someone will LOVE them !
Oh sure we have all done a similar thing – it isn’t easy to see scale on a screen. But your idea (for the design) and your heart (referencing the dad, mom and baby) were both in the right place, and in the end I’m sure someone will be able to use them. I will ask my BIL if he recognizes these chairs from his VMI dorm in the 1970s! That’s so cute that your dad sat in it over and over again despite its petite size – he must have some good VMI memories:-)
These would be cute next to a tub or shower. With them small they’d be a little side table in there. Decorated with a tray, candle, plant or anything bathroomy.
Too bad they didn’t work out–the turnings are gorgeous! Glad they found a new home.
Wow, I love the look of those chairs! But I wouldn’t want to sit in them, they look uncomfortable. I think you will have no problem finding someone to take them off your hands, especially for free!
This reminds me of a comb-back Windsor bench that I bought on a marketplace site, already knowing that it was a scale-model REPLICA of a full sized bench. The woman who sold it to me said that she had previously sold it twice to people who thought they were getting a full sized bench, but rejected it when seeing it in person, and so she made sure to point out in all caps that it was sized for dolls, not people! I bought it as a display piece, so it was fine by me. The real deal costs a pretty penny.
VMI doesn’t have dorms. It has barracks.
You and your wife are terrific, I always enjoy posts that feature Marian’s parents being helpers. Thank you for your service, too! 😊
I always enjoy appearances of Marian’s parents too! I also live in a 1970s renovated ranch. My Dad has helped me with electrical work and installed an extra wall heater for me. I treasure the time spent with him. And he is tremendously helpful 🙂
Oh my gosh, I have been laughing out loud at theses stories. I recently bought two Adirondack rocking chairs for my patio. Took my husband all day to put them together. Well…they are so low to the ground (and rock back and forth of course) that a normal sized adult cannot get out of them! I had an elderly guest sit in one and it took two of us to get him out of it. They are awful chairs and I’m stuck with them. I don’t think I can even give these things away!
Another perspective is that taking the chairs and reselling them was just the gift that family needed from you that day. With your audience I had no doubt they would sell easily but for a couple with a baby and medical issues, it would have been much more difficult. Well done, Marian. I actually think you did follow your gut.
I agree. Lovely kindness. I’ve been the one with babies who needed some extra finances. It was a blessing the young family are perhaps very thankful for.
I love this. It was my first thought too and I really think your gut was telling you to do it, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. I am sure it was a blessing to the couple with the baby.
I did a similar thing a few years ago but unfortunately with a much more expensive price tag . We needed new chairs for our dining room set which we bought 22 years ago when we were first married. Since I knew we would keep these a long time I really wanted to get something nice and I had been eyeing some chairs from Serena and Lily on -line that I see commonly in interior design books and posts. They cost more than I would usually spend but my husband was on board with getting whatever I wanted and we hardly ever buy brand new furniture so I excitedly ordered them and then waited 4 months for them to arrive. When they finally come it was like Christmas morning and I was giddy unboxing them until I saw the first one and it was so….tiny! I have a 6’2” husband and two 6 foot and growing teenage boys and these looked like baby furniture under them. My husband tried to be game about it and said he could deal with it but I couldn’t stop laughing and then kicking myself for splurging on this purchase that would now have to go back with fees tacked on. Ugh.
Who hasn’t messed up? They really are darling chairs and it’s difficult to determine scale from one photo.
I purchased a new (to me) couch at a consignment shop and made my husband drag it home (over one hour away) and then discovered it really wasn’t very comfortable for napping. I never told him that I was not enjoying the couch. Fast forward one year and we are moving and I must sell it…not really sad about that.
As an aside, I live in Lexington, Virginia and am very familiar with VMI. I walk the parade grounds for exercise and enjoy looking at the lovely grounds. Sometimes we ask the young cadets why they have to walk the parade grounds along with us…they are usually very polite and we all have a good laugh. Lexington is probably still as beautiful as when your dad attended. Many cadets return as retirees to enjoy the beautiful surroundings…and maybe relive their glory days.
It’s so unfortunate that they didn’t work out for your family cuz they are just so pretty! If the design was different they would be perfect! Love the hominess of them with the weaved seat and turned wood. But totally understand why you made the decision to resell them. Such a lovely act of kindness to buy them anyway under the circumstances.
I can wholeheartedly relate! My husband and I married in 2009 and we have had a fruit basket turnover of chairs in our kitchen during that time. I brought 4 chairs with my kitchen table when we combined households and he had two separate sets of four chairs. Of course, I wanted a matching set and bought a set of 8 that I had seen listed online. They were not as sturdy as they seemed when I picked them up and about half of them wound up breaking within a few months. So, out they went and we brought the mismatched ones back out. When hubby’s mother was downsizing, she gave us the ones we have now and we got rid of all the others. They are at our big dining table with a lazy Susan center and are straight, ladderback chairs with rush seats that have the front legs that stick up past the seat like those. They are pretty narrow and very uncomfortable with those legs sticking into one’s thigh. There is no lingering after meals when all the family comes for holidays, trust me! We also have a smaller table and I bought some Queen Anne cane back chairs with upholstered seats for it. That is where the hubs and I sit for our meals unless we have company. He calls them the ‘big-butt-chairs.’ So, I’m always on the hunt for nice kitchen chairs – the catch is that there has to be at least 8 of them and that is almost impossible to find.
I once bought an old piano from Habitat for Humanity. Do I play the piano? No! It was just so pretty and cheap. To get it home, I had to rent a U-haul truck for the heavy beast. It took my myself, my husband and three burly neighbors to get it inside. It scratched my marble entry and what looked pretty at the store looked down right ridiculous in my home. Then, when my regret couldn’t get any worse, spiders began to crawl out of it! Black widow spiders! In the end I had to pay a fortune to have it hauled away. So I know your pain!
I think I would have burnt the house down and started over at that point!
Horrors!!
Diane, I think you win the prize for the best “mistake purchase” story! 🙂
Best post ever, Marian. Your disclaimer to Jeff had me chuckling, and I love the adorable photo of your dad. I’m glad the chairs provided some happy memories for him. You can’t put a price on that!
I’ve done both. I once bought two camelback chairs at an auction held in a dark basement. When I got them home, I discovered that what in the dim light appeared to be leather was actually an extremely ugly vinyl. Fortunately, I sold them at a consignment store for more than I paid. On the other hand, a few years ago, I bought an antique painted chest (shabby chic). It just didn’t work in my living room, so I eventually donated it. Imagine my surprise when that very same chest was sitting in the living room of a multi-million dollar house in Carmel-by-the Sea.
Your comments about the woman in bed and the man rocking the baby, made me think of the times in my own life that I felt I was acting out of character only to later on find out that I unintentionally helped others. So as I go through life, I’ve recognized those moments we think are out of character and perhaps a folly or waste, aren’t always quite what we think. While you may see your actions as a folly, I see things like this differently, I seem them as possibly God was telling you to do something out of character for a reason and you, unconsciously did.
Perhaps that family needed the money or needed them gone or maybe the next family to receive them needs them. We often don’t SEE or even KNOW about our part in the broader plans that God has for others, but it’s there nonetheless.
So for you, they didn’t work, but you buying them and passing them on, may have been exactly what you were supposed to do, not to mention, it gave your Dad a sweet memory and your mother and you a moment of fun and joy.
Just a thought.
Never regret the little things like this, especially when they are so out of character, you never know who you might be helping.
So true.
Welcome to my world. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who lets emotion take over my brain. And then I have a mess to clean up, just like you. Lucky you found someone who could use them. Craziness, huh??? You’ll find the “right” ones I’m sure.
I think this proves what a kind heart you have . That family needed help and you kept your word.
Hi Marian,
My thought, not that you want it. You lead with your heart. And you have a big heart. So glad to have you as a friend.
Oh my goodness, wasn’t that a story! WOW – just makes ya think. And as for that couple with the baby?
I believe God works in mysterious ways. Know what I mean? Was meant to be. Be confidence in knowing that.
It was just supposed to happen like this – for reasons we cannot understand.
It seems like everyone has buyers remorse sometimes. I just bought a vintage chandelier at a yard sale in my neighborhood. When I got it home I realized it was missing a piece. I chastised my self for not looking more closely before buying it but I felt bad to tell my neighbor I changed my mind. So I called my local lighting store to get an estimate on replacing the missing piece and getting it rewired and found out it would be $300-$400!! So now it’s just taking up space on my garage until I decide what to do with it.
Yes, I’ve done that a couple of times. Once, on Craigslist, saw a cute, oval, ornate French side table with removable glass tray top, and drove an hour to get it. When I got there, it was very small – only 20″ tall!! I had completely neglected to ask for the dimensions! Since I had told them I wanted it and to hold it for me, I felt I should go ahead and buy it, but it was a disappointment for sure. This can happen with antiques, including chairs, because people just were not as big (not as tall, but also not as “chunky”) as we are now.
For comfy kitchen chairs, you might want to consider looking for dining chairs with arms. Your sons are now old (and big) enough to also appreciate having roomy arm chairs at the table. With full antique sets, usually there will only be one or two with arms, but if you go Frenchy (and maybe vintage, not antique), sometimes you can find several sets of two arm chairs that match well enough (and arm chairs are usually roomier in general).
These chairs are very common in Greece and I had a bunch of them. Admittedly not the most comfortable to sit on but that’s what cushions are for.
Speaking of Dads and with Father’s Day coming up I will share something about my dad. We moved out of our 14’x60′ trailer in a trailer park to a nice “stick built” and eventually sold the trailer. It needed some work and dad replaced doors, took down shelving, cleaned out the porch and generally did his handyman thing. He was such a dear! He kept joking about tutti-fruitti ice cream. Recently my brother found tutti-fruitti hyssop and just sent me a plant. It will be in the ground for Father’s Day. And those chairs will be a real find for someone!
Oh we have all done it. Once did a 4 hour round trip to get an English armoire with amazing grotesque carved faces etc. it was in a storage unit- bad lighting, eleventy billion degree day, lady had kids helping move things, get outside and worm holes- old furniture has them, red flags 🚩 going off tho, but I feel pressure to move along etc. I don’t see fresh frass- fast forward to drive home, vibrations of truck loosen frass huge piles of it, piece had been wiped down with oil, . Needless to say it went straight to the burn pile- that infested. I got ahold of woman who was an estate liquidator, sent pictures etc, she refunded money, but a day and tank of gas was lost. Burning that armoire killed me- but getting the chemical to treat it here is not possible and mailing away for it days- not risking infestation of those nasties. Still hunting for replacement.
Don’t know what you’ve got in mind for “style” of chairs, but I saw these wonderful 19th century Delaware Valley straight back arm chairs (backs not as ramrod straight as those follies) in a set of four. The wood is beautiful! There’s also a set of five early 20th century ones that are cheaper.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Set-of-Four-Delaware-Valley-Ladderback-Rush-Seat-Armchairs/155269655343?hash=item2426caeb2f:g:OIAAAOSwxgNjfGvI&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA8DAVJSwvvlysbx44M79M5f23nEBzWYgaLHSBDJQvV1bkoCvQH/88sz7OFRuLW/UOyYgCu4gL0FLmMQwOLe8IjFkR4nxmRm/xe/SJY+K/vaTKw1Dn+cGSCIDVQRRN6xAX9mlSFGef8yaTvOmhOqoqbYYeVyQ8CHu12l3bugr3y5sB4h0CyXMM/ryrrNLRu70wnyobuEQh7CW/k/wLIbtDMManmwHIZucNNCWBbTOq46sw4u9fgHbK/BpCgEXjTKAtgBRT2/8CaAxeQHKfIWTtCCVB4zVLuvTC2HFfk2lePYSadPU5sBSgz8fyaJuplBxYrw==%7Ctkp:Bk9SR5bP0c2UYg&pageci=522432dc-f9c4-470a-92af-c12e6bc6d160&redirect=mobile
(Sorry, not sure why these ebay links are always so long!)
Nice! But I doubt Marian wants to $3000 for 4 chairs!
Mariam, I love your blog and I have been with you reading since your babies were little. I saw that you were going to move and wanted to follow along and I’ve tried so hard to read your blog and not be completely overwhelmed with the ads. I realize this is probably how you support your blog and your projects that you do. But there’s got to be a way to somehow not accidentally hit them and be thrown into an ad five times throughout your blog post?
Again, just a thought of how you could make it easier for us to read your wonderfully written blog. I have always enjoyed everything about your painting, enthusiasm back in the day with miss mustard seed, paint, which I am a devotee and have used for many years.
Again not a troll just a girl telling a girl the ads have taken over!
Unfortunately, ads have become more and more intrusive over the years and it’s just the nature of them if they are the source of income (as opposed to a pay site.) You can always installed an ad-blocker on your computer/phone to remove them.
The very first thing I ever bought at an auction were 6 carved rose back mahogany chairs and the matching oval coffee table. High quality carved roses, brand name from Michigan (I forget the company name at the moment). But oh, ladies from an earlier era were much smaller than folks today and when my large Nebraska corn and beef fed brother-in-law sat it one, a leg gave way. Still have the chairs, still love them, but don’t use them. But have a plan as to what to transform them into…
Hi, I just realized I haven’t been receiving your blog and I thought maybe something was wrong and remembered to check on you. I will sign up again but I didn’t unsubscribe so I wondered if any others had this problem or if there was a glitch. Just wanted to mention in case. Now I have a lot of catching up to do.