Ah, the filing cabinet. A hallmark of the organized home, keeper of sacred papers and tool of the tidy office.

How could we say no to that? 

Deep into the second leg of our Sarasota excursion, and still on the lookout for furniture bargains, Dustin and I discovered a Goodwill store on Tamiami Trail. Therein we unearthed two tall cabinets ($15 each) just begging to be brought home and filled with important documents.

You might not think two four-drawer filing cabinets would fit in a Toyota SUV, but we beg to differ. Although Dustin’s tinted windows did pay a toll with some nasty scratches. Ouch. Next time, we’ll remember the furniture pads. 

Following Fruitville Road back toward I-75, we discovered another strip of antique stores fairly bursting with goodies. Unfortunately, most of it was priced accordingly. Thanks to eBay, dealers everywhere now know the value of their wares. Good for them, but not for me. I scrounged a nifty paper lantern and some metal TV trays, but was still coming up empty on functional furniture.

Until we entered Twice’s Nice. This humble corner shop at 1480 Fruitville Road offered a trove of hidden gems, starting with the drop-leaf table Dustin found. With its rich chocolate-colored finish, claw feet and center sliding drawer, the table was sure to make a perfect addition to Dustin’s mix of traditional and eclectic. 

A surface scratch knocked the price down to a mere $65 - worth the investment whether he wanted to refinish or just throw a table runner on top.

When I saw my desk, I learned that it is indeed possible to fall in love with a piece of furniture. Long and sleek, straight out of the space-age ‘60s with a wood laminate finish and white laminate facings on the drawers. A perfect fit for my style, and only $75 to boot. 

I write to you now from behind that desk, comfortably nestled in my second-floor office.