A thrifter’s dream come true: You drop into the ReStore to take a quick spin, and are standing right there when the first piece of a big donation comes onto the floor. It’s your sister’s dream kitchen — a set of turquoise steel kitchen cabinets complete with a Frigidaire Flair range with hide-away range and a dishwasher. Oh, and all this on the eve of an anniversary that was going to be rough.
Jason wrote to me the day after his epic find:
I’ll warn you that this story is a bit of a tear jerker.
Generally I think people know that if I can do something for my sister I probably will. And if you know my sister you know she loves vintage stuff, particularly kitchens. Today would have been our mother’s 71st birthday — she passed away a little more than a year ago. It’s been a day full of tears, but not all sad ones.
I found this kitchen yesterday while on a random stop at a local Habitat for Humanity. I had just finished my workout and was walking around the ReStore because it is in the same neighborhood as my workout of choice. I happened by the first piece as they brought it onto the floor; the set was unassembled and nothing had a price on it yet.
To say it’s my sister’s dream kitchen is probably an understatement. I’ve occasionally read on design blogs about how someone randomly walking around a vintage store finds some incredible item right as they were putting it on display. They always catch it for some ridiculously cheap price on some momentous occasion, just to add to the lack of believability.
I found this set on the day before mom’s birthday, and I got it all back to my house on her birthday. Nobody knows for sure, but I’d like to think mom helped with that.
Thanks!
In our email exchange Jason added, “Eventually we will build my sister’s dream kitchen. It’s a few years off, but she’s absolutely blown away that we found her dream set.”
My sympathies on your mother’s passing, Jason. What a lovely gift to your sister. Thank you for sharing your story!
Tom says
Very cool!
Mary Elizabeth says
I love this story and wish Jason and his sister the best in their project. What I find interesting is the notes written (in permanent marker?) behind the cabinet door. Is it the former owner’s list of things that were purchased for the house while under renovation and the accompanying dates? For example, “Water heater 2/26/98” and “Garage door opener 6/2002.”
Just found a web site with tips for removing marker from household surfaces: https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/remove-permanent-marker-from-anything
Pam Kueber says
but… but… I like the marker stuff — it’s history!
Robin G says
from the days when you could and did repair things…….love the written record.
Holland says
Home, hearth, and heart … they are intimately interwoven as this story attests. There is a lovely sense of family inside those cabinets — as if they were meant to be found that very moment, that very place, by Jason.
Holley says
Absolutely amazing!
Wendellyn says
Amazing!!
Bill Waxman says
Hi Pam
I was just wondering if there are other places besides Joybird to buy retro. There are very expensive for my budget. They have great stuff but…..
Pam Kueber says
See all our furniture stories here including a big one on 33 companies with sofas: https://retrorenovation.com/category/period-accents/furniture/
Christine W says
What an amazing looking kitchen. What are the chances of finding it on that day? (I hope you bought a lottery ticket too!).
I’m always so happy to see nice looking kitchens (and other stuff) in the Restore. It means that someone has taken the time and trouble to take it out and donate it instead of bashing it, smashing it and dumping it in the dumpster.
Steve H says
What a wonderful story! Congratulations on finding such a fantastic kitchen. That Frigidaire Flair range is the bomb! Please give us updates.
Elizabeth says
Thank your mom, for sure.
A friend had a similar experience. Her mother always wanted her to sew. Years after her mother’s death, I piqued her interest in sewing. As I was upgrading my sewing machine, I offered her my old (but fancys schmancy) one at a great price. She hemmed and hawed, not knowing if she was ready. She took the plunge…three days later, she was contacted by an insurance company. Her mother had taken out a tiny, forgotten policy in the ’50s. After it was settled and divided by the siblings, my friend’s share of the policy was the exact amount she paid me for the sewing machine. She named the machine after her mom. True story!
So, bask in the love, it’s your mom smiling on you. And thanks for giving me my morning smile 🙂
Jay says
I love these stories and one day I hope we all get to see the completed kitchen.