Last September, right before we left for Italy, I found the most gorgeous Louis XVI-style desk on Facebook Marketplace. The refined legs, smooth leather top, and brass inset details caught my eye, so I messaged the seller, we went back and forth confirming details, and scheduled pickup for the upcoming weekend.
Crappy photo from the listing
When I asked for her address to pick up the desk that Saturday morning, she ghosted me. Just stopped responding. Then she removed the listing.
It happens. Some people are pieces of wet lettuce. But I was still annoyed.
I always tell myself that if something falls through or I miss out on a great piece, something better will always come along…eventually. I just have to be patient.
Fast forward to this past week when I was pumping and scrolling FB MP (my new normal lolol) and I finally stumbled across another Louis XVI-style desk – about 10 months after that piece of wet lettuce ghosted me.
I fell in love with the mahogany, fluted classic Louis XVI style legs, brass decorative accents, and tooled leather top. It had three drawers with the original key (!!!) and was in overall good condition.
It was listed for $495, I offered $420, and he accepted. It would have been a 3-hour round trip to pick it up but he offered delivery for $140 which, to me, was worth it.
So in total, I paid $560 for this beauty.
He delivered it yesterday and now it’s sitting in our garage waiting to be used!
When I want to confirm whether I’m getting a good deal on something, I’ll go to the LiveAuctioneers app and check what similar items have sold for by typing in the item and clicking “Price Results Only.” Since auction prices have been higher since Covid, I don’t really pay attention to any price results prior to 2020.
I wouldn’t say I got a GREAT deal, but I definitely don’t feel like I overpaid. IMO, a GREAT deal would have been purchasing this from someone who had no idea what they were selling and listed it for $95.
My favorite little detail is the brass bow escutcheon and tassel key:
If you’re wondering “where are you putting this desk if you don’t have an office anymore?”
That’s a post for a different day. Soon 😉
SHOP SIMILAR DESKS:
Gorgeous! Great find.
Thanks so much !
i love it! are you teasing an office reveal? i hope so!
Thank you! We’ll see ????
Pretty! The bows are really cute
Thank you!
It’s gorgeous! I’m going to leave my prediction here: you’re under contract for a bigger house! ????????????
Oh god I wish! We’re not going anywhere anytime soon unfortunately ????
Perhaps in your bedroom as a vanity?
I’ve been looking for a desk also. You’ve given me hope that waiting pays off. I hope my eventual purchase will be as beautiful as yours.
Thank you so much Mary!????????
So gorgeous!! This post definitely renewed my patience tank for the items I’ve been searching for. Thank you for sharing! Hopefully it finds a place to land soon, where you can admire it. Even if that’s all you get to do with it for now, haha!
Thank you Lauren! Never give up ????
This is absolutely gorgeous!
I love your determination!!! I cannot wait to see how you incorporate the desk into your home.
What a great find! I don’t think you could do any better, style-wise, if you shopped in a store. I think it’s due to the area where you live.
Makes me want to comb thru FB market place. The only things I’ve bought on that are some old classic children’s books and a magazine rack. Weird, I know. It was to hold my late mom’s music.
Anyhow, congratulations on the birth of your son, Angelo Charles, Jr!! He’s a beautiful baby.
I was horrified at your birthing story and some of the stories shared by others. It makes me wonder what they’re teaching physicians these days. And a maternity ward with no A/C?! Completely unacceptable.
I follow Umair Haque on Twitter and he has shared stats on the maternal death rate in the U.S.:
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While US maternal mortality rates increased from 9.8 deaths per 100,000 births in 2000 to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 births in 2020, the rate of women dying in childbirth is decreasing in many other countries. From 1990 to 2015, the maternal mortality rate worldwide decreased by 44%. The US ranks poorly compared to other developed nations, ranking 46th among 181 countries.
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I’m glad that you and baby are doing well. And I pray for your complete recovery from the epidural complications. In my opinion, it is a malpractice lawsuit.