New forum user looking for a nice secretary desk on a budget

[simon]

Hey everyone, just joined the forum and I am looking for some help finding a secretary desk. We just bought a new home and this is the final piece we need for our lounge. The one we've found so far that is perfect is;

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/san-ma...ry-desk/216333

But the problem is the price is out of our budget by at least $3-400. Does anyone know where we could get a similar item lower? The key aspect of this is that it has the nice worn wood finish. We've seen plenty of similar units but in a cleaner finish. We are looking for the worn finish and it would need to be in a either grey, silver or maybe another pastel like green.

Anyone's advice would be greatfully appretiated!

[drcollie]

I'm no help on that one, my Secretary Desks in my store are $ 10,000 and up.

If you want to go under a grand, shop Craigslist for used ones. Seriously, try to buy new under that price and you'll be owning painted cardboard.

[bubbaonline]

Not only that... Ballard is just mass market crappy furniture... It's owned by the same company that owns Frontgate...

They have a catalog showroom in the Cincinnati area.. Most of their stuff is overpriced.. (probably including this item).

[organic_smallhome]

I'd strongly suggest you search your local Craigslist or find a reliable seller on ebay. I purchased this desk for $250 from an ebay seller, and--if I remember correctly--the shipping cost was around $200 or less. It's not the highest end furniture, to be sure, but it is solid cherry (not faux "cherry" or "cherry stained") and extremely well made. The brand is "Maddox"--I'm thinking from the 1940s-1950s? Anyway, if you're patient, you can find some amazingly good deals on both Craigslist and ebay. I just realized the other day that 75% of the furniture in my house is from CL or ebay. Good quality, and for MUCH less than what I'd pay new (unless, of course, I was buying high-end, heirloom type furniture).

[organic_smallhome]

P.S. I don't know where you're located, but here are a couple I found (I searched allofcraigs.com for "painted secretary desk"):

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/atq/2664787730.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/atq/2616305320.html