First of all- holy cow. We just had a crazy earthquake a few minutes ago. Very strong! It was completely unexpected for our area (we’ve never had a strong one before). The epicenter was right outside of Richmond (only about 35 miles from our house) and it registered about a 5.9! We’ve even heard from friends up in NY who felt it. Miraculously nothing fell off the walls or broke, but the whole house shook violently and it was insanely loud (we all gathered under a steel-enforced doorway and stared at each other). So yes, we were all shaken up by it but very thankful that we’re ok and hope that everyone else who experienced it is too.
Now for the cabinets. We promised to share all of the other places we hunted/solutions we considered when it came to the office built-ins (mentioned here) – because our thrift store cabinets definitely weren’t the first things we found. And we figure since not everyone can stumble upon six cabs for six bucks (uh, we never even thought that was possible until this recent discovery) we hoped that detailing a few other options that we considered might help anyone else who can’t find secondhand cabinets that work for them. So here we go, on a virtual cabinet-hunting whirlwind of sorts…
Our first stop was actually the Richmond Habitat for Humanity ReStore, but we didn’t find much in the way of cabinets. We did find that Clara loves the breeze from a big industrial fan.
And that they had this crazy big leather / zebra-print lounger thing if anyone’s interested. Tres practical for storytime, no?
The cabinet situation though was almost enough to make us give up on the ReStore entirely (everything was too tall or too wide and we couldn’t find six identical cabinets (or three identical double-wide-ones) that would work to make our wall of built-ins look related enough (and not like a mismatched secondhand cabinet sale). They did put us on a notification list in case anything that matched our needs came in, which was nice (never knew they did that).
So next we dragged the kiddos (yes, Burger included) to Lowe’s and Home Depot to see if their stock cabinets could do the trick. They had a lot of affordable-ish options for unfinished cabinets in a slew of shapes and sizes. Our rough math put us at about a $300 investment for three double-wide cabinets (to create left, middle, and right cabinets with two open spaces for our chairs along the built-in wall like this). Then we could have just painted them and topped them with a wood counter, which wouldn’t have been too bad for a wall of built-ins and a nice long two-person desk (around $400 for two desks or something custom built-in along an entire wall sounded about right I guess).
The only hitch in our plan were the cabinet sizes. Base cabinets were the perfect depth for a standard counter (24″) but their toe-kick made them too high (35″) for our chairs (27″). We contemplated adding casters to our chairs to make them higher, but weren’t sold on the idea (especially because 2″ casters might be cool, but 4″ casters would be a bit much for our chairs). So we looked at 30″ upper cabinets instead, but at only 12″ deep it’d make for either a super narrow desk or cabinets that floated a foot away from the wall. Definitely something we could remedy by buying additional lumber, but again, not ideal.
Then it was time to do some Craigslist surfing, but nothing turned up in the way of cabinets that would be the right depth or height off the bat (and we worried about sacrificing stability and making things look a little – uh, shady- by trying to cut something down or build it out). If we had found something super cheap or almost perfect (like our much-shorter-than-average $6 ReStore cabinets) we would definitely have pounced on them. Even for around $100 for the set. But nothing with the right dimensions came up after a few consecutive weeks of checking back.
Then we turned to Ana-White.com to see if we could find any awesome plans to build something ourselves (like the plans that inspired our giant console table build). There were definitely a few workable options, but we realized that a lot of the plans would cost more than $30 per cabinet (thanks to lumber, hardware, hinges, and interior fittings) – and because we noticed that many secondhand cabinets on craigslist and in thrift stores were under $30 (and some were priced waaaay under that), it made us wonder if we’d actually spend more building something than retrofitting something existing.
Next we checked out Ikea. From their website, it looked like we could build their cabinets without a toe-kick, making them the perfect height (around 28-30″ instead of 35″+, which would be too tall for our existing chairs (even if we added casters to them). Score! And we all know Ikea has tons of customization options, so it was starting to feel like a perfect solution… even if it was a bit pricier – roughly about $500 if I did my math right, since we definitely wanted doored cabinets over open shelving (for Clara reasons along with the general desire to very roughly mimic the look of the base cabinets from our built-ins – though not exactly). We were actually pretty invested in this being a good solution, so I started mapping it out using their online planner tool (technically for kitchens) since we were planning a stop there after our visit with Cat, Travis, Elsa and their new son Edison.
But that trip to Ikea never happened, thanks to our decision to give the Alexandria Habitat For Humanity ReStore a chance while out of town. Though even that trip started off somewhat discouraging. They certainly had more cabinets than our ReStore in Richmond…
…but the prices weren’t necessarily screaming “take me home” at first. Yowsa.
Of course, that was until we came across the ones in the very back with $1 stickers on them that screamed “You’d be an idiot not to take us home. We’re six friggin dollars!” And the rest, as they say, is history.
Well, not totally history – there’s still lots to do to these puppies. But that’s a story (and a project) for another day. Someday soon hopefully. You know Sherry and her propensity to paint anything that doesn’t move…
So in summary, it was harder than we thought to find cabinets that were deep enough (24″) and not too tall (over 30″) and we ended up checking two thrift stores, two home improvement stores, an online build-it-yourself website, a Swedish warehouse, and the list of a man named Craig. The cost of the project ranged from around $300-$500 at most places that actually had things that might work (not including a countertop), which was definitely making us sweat a little. Custom built-ins can obviously add function and value to a house, but unlike adding a patio to a monkey-grass-riddled side yard, it somehow felt a bit more like a rushed gamble to spend half of 1K on a desk, at least for cheap-os like us (who built our current desk from an old bathroom door). So we’re glad we took our time and eventually came across something around 95% cheaper. The lesson: hold out if you can, and leave no stone (or store) unturned (unvisited?). Whenever we dive in too soon we get all nervous and twitchy and sometimes even lay awake wondering if we rushed into something that might not be the best thing for our house/lifestyle in the long run. So there you go.
What have you hunted down after visiting a bunch of stores or googling a ton of options? Is there some sort of magic number (like five places) that usually results in a major score? Have you been searching for something for months or even years that continues to allude you? Isn’t it funny how the perfect thing is always in the last place you look? Probably because once you find it you finally stop looking.
Psst- The lady wife did a fun little interview about how our blog has grown and revealed a lot of behind the scenes blogging and book-writing info for anyone interested right here (it’s long, but full of tons of juicy stuff, at least in my humble husband opinion). We’re also over on BabyCenter talking about a sweet little boy’s nursery that we crashed (coolest light fixture we’ve seen in a long time).
Lindsay says
Glad you all are ok! It was felt here in Pittsburgh, PA also. Stay safe.
Laura says
I just saw the earthquake news on CNN. Glad you guys are ok!
Chris M says
No earthquake here in Minnesota but I felt the ground move when I saw that chaise lounger!!! Too bad it won’t fit in my 7oo sq.ft. bungalow.
I’m glad to hear you are all ok!
Stefani says
I’m so glad y’all are ok!! A co-worker just told me that there was an earthquake in Virginia.
Me: “Where in Virginia?”
Her: “Oh, somewhere north of Richmond I think”.
Me: “What?!? Richmond!?!” **Immediately log onto YHL to make sure the Petersik clan is alright!**
I’ve been reading YHL every day for years, but rarely comment – love your blog and glad y’all and the house make it through ok!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Stefani!
xo,
s
Sandy says
Glad to hear everyone is ok! My husband too felt the quake pretty bad in his office. He works out of a port (in New Jersey) and thought for sure a ship hit the dock.
Can’t wait to see the outcome of the cabinets! On a seperate note, be safe and enjoy life to the fullest!
Sara says
Yep, the floor underneath my feet swayed. We are in CNY.
Sweet – you even take your doggy shopping!
Patty says
I’m in CT and felt the earthquake! That was my first earthquake experience, so it was a little crazy. Glad to hear you guys are ok. It’s scary when you have NO warning!
jordan says
Bargains are my drug of choice-ha! I love that amazing deal you got! Two questions: Will you keep the original cabinet hardware and spray it ORB (online it looks like it could be the sister to the file cabinet hardware,if sprayed). Second, any ideas what you will do with your custom built desk that you are currently using (possibly a console table for the dining room?)? Thanks, YHL!
YoungHouseLove says
Not sure and not sure- haha. Wish we had it more figured out! We’re definitely brainstorming a few options.
xo,
s
Harinee says
OOh I like that idea – it could even be your entryway console with hooks under it for bags/backpacks! You could paint it a fun colour too.
YoungHouseLove says
Fun!
xo,
s
SingleMama says
Oh my cuteness…Burger in a shopping cart.
Sarah says
They are saying it lasted 15-seconds in Rochester, NY.
Glad you are all okay!
Judi says
Glad you guys are okay in VA!
Liz S. says
Wondering if/when you’d post about the earthquake! Glad no ceramic animals were injured! Congrats on the cabinets!
YoungHouseLove says
I know, it was kind of miraculous that nothing shattered or fell! The house shook so much I was waiting for windows to blow out and stuff. Yikes.
xo,
s
LisaOK says
We felt it in Columbus, Ohio too on the 25th floor of our building. We all looked at each other and asked “Do you feel that too or am I crazy?” ha. Glad that you are all ok–my first thought when I heard it happened in VA was if my YHL friends were OK.
Great find on the cabinets! I think the end result will look fantastic!
Lilly says
I came to ur blog today just to make sure u guys were ok. I felt the earthquake I am from Hartford CT when I saw that it was centered just out of Richmond Virginia I wanted to check up on u guys. Very happy to know u r all ok and I’ll still have a daily blog to read.
Ashleigh says
My rule of thumb is to start looking before I need it. For example, I wanted a Poang chair from IKEA for whenever we have child, so I just casually started perusing Craigslist. I am NOT pregnant, but I was sure I could work it in. Well, low and behold a weeks after I fell in love with the chair, I found a almost new chair for $40. So no $6, but it was great. We have even bought our cars off of Craigslist with the same mindset. Start looking before it’s a MUST HAVE!
Megan says
Ya’ll are the first people I thought of when I read about the earthquake!! (i’m concerned, not psycho…)Glad you’re OK
:-)
Emily says
We definitely felt the earthquake here in Charlotte, NC as well! Crazy, huh?!
On a more related note, I’ve been looking for a desk for my incredibly small home office space for a while now, and have searched through several stores/websites/diy ideas…I think I’m finally settling for an ikea option. It’s not exactly what I was hoping for, but the price is right, I’m starting to get impatient, and I think it really will work in the space. :)
kelsey says
In Charlotte we felt it. It was really freaky! At first I thought the dog was just laying on the floor scratching really hard (how dumb is that.)
Those cabinets are SUCH A STEAL! I have found that our reStores are crazy proud of their stuff and a lot of it is super over priced for what it is. But the reStore in Davidson, NC is awesome and I always find great stuff there!
I can’t wait to see what you guys do with those cabinets, they are going to be super perfect. So glad you guys are okay and nothing really happened other than a little shaking. And how smart are you to get in the doorway – I know what to do for a Tornado, but by the time I figured out it wasn’t the dog, it was too late!
Emily Drake says
Checking in on my favorite bloggers. Everyone in my office here in Eastern NC felt it, but I was up and about so I totally missed it. Glad you guys are all ok!
meghan says
Thankful you’re all ok! Jeesh…Wisconsin doesn’t see much for earthquakes! :)
heather says
You guys really scored with those cabinets. They look wicked nice. I’m glad you kept looking!
Second, I’m glad you guys and your families are ok. A bunch of people felt it up here in Maine too. Earthquake 1st, hurricane coming next week.
I’m ready for the blizzards to start again {in all seriousness} instead of these things.
Emily says
Felt it in Toronto..
Weird…
Kristen W says
Glad you guys are ok. And the picture of Clara in front of that fan is. the. cutest. thing. ever. Can’t wait to see the finished desk!
Jeanne G. says
I felt the earthquake in Columbus, OH!
Your family is a.dor.ab.le. I love Burger and Clara in the cart.
I think my sister would like that lounger. Too bad her new house isn’t big enough.
Sarah - { rad: renovations are dirty } says
My husband felt it in Toronto (23rd floor)! He said it was ‘bouncy’. haha I didn’t feel a thing (about 100 km away).
Penny says
I immediately thought of you guys! Glad you all are ok!
Funnelcloud Rachel says
Glad you’re ok and that all your ceramic animals survived! We’re up in NoVA, so a bit further from the epicenter than you are, and we had things knocked off the shelves and walls, etc! Freaky!
carolinaheartstrings says
We felt it here in Raleigh NC. IT WAS a scary 45 seconds. YIKES.
Stephanie says
First thing I thought of when I heard it was in Virginia was you guys! LOL Glad you guys are okay!
Dana B. says
We live in Stafford, VA so I definitely felt the earthquake, too. It was my first real one! And I was at home by myself and only freaked out a little, so overall pretty good. Thank God for small, one level houses, right? :) Made me feel much better to live here as opposed to in something big and heavy.
Can’t wait to see the results of your little make-over :) And glad to hear you’re okay.
Dana
Kendra says
I’m in Richmond as well… that was nuts! I’m at work and everyone just kinda stood around staring at eachother like “what do we do?!”
Great find on the cabinets! I’m going to have to check out the Habitat for Humanity store.
Nina says
Glad to hear you guys are okay! Insane, isn’t it?!
Vanessa says
Did not feel the earthquake here in MA – but that is just further proof that nothing comes between me and my lunch hour shopping.
I agree with holding out for a deal. The saddest example is probably my waiting for my library to get the third Hunger Games book in so I could finish the trilogy. Since deep down I am a tween, I sucked it up and ordered it off Amazon. I really, really tried to wait but could not take it anymore….sad really…
Mel says
Glad you all are ok! My home office in in VAB, and we haven’t been able to get through yet via phone! :/
Kim says
I just heard about the earthquake and the first thing I did was come here to see if you guys were ok!! I can’t read the whole post right now, but I’m glad to see that everyone in VA that I care about is alright :)
I’m sure Burger was none too pleased about the whole situation.
Lisa Riley says
I’m here in Boston, working downtown, and my building shook! Scary!
Lauren M says
DUDES I came here just to see if you had said anything about feeling the quake! I have a friend who lives in Richmond, and when I heard it was strongest there of course I immediately thought, BUT WHAT OF THE PEOPLE WHO I READ ABOUT EVERY DAY BUT DO NOT ACTUALLY KNOW, JOHN AND SHERRY!? Was Clara freaked?
YoungHouseLove says
She was totally unimpressed. Meanwhile we were freaking out and poor Burger was beyond spooked!
xo,
s
Jessica says
See how loved you all are?! I, just like many of your other fans, specifically went online to check and see how you made out during the earthquake. So happy to hear you two, Clara and Burger are ok!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jessica! You’re so sweet! We love you guys so much. Weird but true.
xo,
s
Emily says
This was actually the first place I went after
I learned that the epicenter was in Richmond. Glad you guys are ok! We really felt it in Delaware!
Leslie says
My AP alert on my phone went off about the earthquake and I instantly thought of you guys. Glad you’re ok! And what good fortune to find those cabinets for $6! I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Allyn says
The whole earthquake business is so scary! My mother-in-law in Boston felt it, as did friends in NYC and DC. Colorado has apparently had 8 or 9 in the past WEEK.
2012? Where’s John Cusack?!
Crystal says
“the list of a man named Craig” – for some reason this had me rolling with laughter.
And so glad there was no quake damage!
Susie says
Glad ya’ll are ok. Ya’ll are the first people I thought about as I have no family in the Virginia area.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Susie!
xo,
s
Jamie says
Wow! So glad you guys are okay!
Karen J says
Having lived through the big SF quake and now living on very earthquake prone Vancouver Island, I can tell you that the very latest advice is to lie right down NEXT to your bed but not under it. The thinking here is that anything that may collapse does so onto the bed and around the bed but not in that little radius immediately next to it. I have never had occasion to put this to the test and really hope I never do, but it sounds as good a suggestion as most I’ve heard. Definately DO NOT be standing in doorways – that has been proven a no no. As is running into the street screaming, which is really what most of us want to do.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the info! Very smart! We didn’t have a clue about what to do since we’re so not used to them!
xo,
s
Emily says
Just started following your blog… we experienced the tremors all the way up here in Boston. I totally missed it because I was outside and it was minor on the ground, but everyone in my office was buzzing about it when I got back. I guess people in tall buildings noticed it.
Teresa says
I SOO missed the earthquake! I was in the second floor of our…Habitat store lol, I really did go there on lunch today. Didn’t feel a thing though. My husband and mother both text that they did, and everyone at the office. So strange.
No $1 cabinets at the ReStore, but scored a drum lamp shade and picture frame for 2.50 :) I’m happy with that!
Teresa says
and I have to say that Clara loving the fan is sooo audorable!!! Those are the best laughs from a child!!
Katie says
Glad to read that my favorite bloggers and baby are safe and sound!
Paulette says
I work in Arlington, VA and had to evacuate our building. Funny thing is, I live right near Mineral, VA where the epicenter of the quake was and am scared what I’ll find when I get home. Hopefully all my pictures are still on the wall.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, here’s hoping everything fared ok! Crossing fingers for you!
xo,
s
Corinne says
I have family living less than 10 miles from the epicenter. They said that a few pictures fell off the walls and some books fell to the floor. Some of the windows had small cracks in them, but other than that, everything and everyone was okay, including their very skittish dog. I hope the same happens for you when you get back home!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Felt it on Long Island. Scray for sure!!! We left our 2 story building and went outside for a bit. I’ve never felt one before and don’t want to feel one again. Everyone seems ok on Long Island as of what I’ve heard so far.
You guys really scored then for $6.30 and in the end it probably won’t cost you too much more money to paint and retro fit it a little. Talk about saving 100’s of dollars on a project. YAY!!! Score for YHL!!! :)
kay says
felt it in chicago too!