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Pottery Barn's Nautical Entryway Cabinet

5-1-08-nautical.jpg

At first glance, we passed this piece off as way too tacky. On second glance (and we were surprised that there even was a second), we realized the bright blue ground and oversized white nautical graphics lifted our mood. Fitting for an entryway piece.

It looks like a found piece that has been spruced up and refinished — and therein lies the charm, if we can get past our reservations about the fact that it's not.

$899, here.

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shelving & storage, tables - dining & occasional

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Comments (49)

Your instincts were right the first time. Ugly and expensive. If you must have something like this, buy an old piece on craigslist and paint it yourself.

posted by Li on 2008-05-01 16:27:56
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Yuck!

posted by elizabet on 2008-05-01 16:31:17
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umm...NO!

posted by moni-ka in ky on 2008-05-01 16:35:12
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Just no

posted by Laura on 2008-05-01 16:35:56
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The blue itself is lovely, but the design is just too much--it takes it from fun to tacky. Too bad since it could look really cute without the design and some nicer hardware.

posted by harlie on 2008-05-01 16:36:00
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Blech.

posted by greenish on 2008-05-01 16:36:34
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This is ugly! Guess I'm just not a fan of the nautical look.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-05-01 16:39:25
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They just couldn't leave well enough alone. I actually laughed when I saw this in the catalog.

posted by robin on 2008-05-01 16:43:08
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In a little boy's room, maybe.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-05-01 16:43:16
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this is a sad attempt by the cookie-cutter catalog shops to knock-off the diy look. just do it yourself, and bypass the hokie decals.

posted by amt230 on 2008-05-01 16:45:58
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moni-ka in ky.. those were my words exactly! not just no..but hell no.

posted by animalhouze on 2008-05-01 16:55:30
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oy vey.

posted by BB on 2008-05-01 17:03:35
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Wait, isn't that the blue from the Long John Silver chain?

Is that place still around?

posted by Ironsides on 2008-05-01 17:20:33
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There *was* no second glance for me! Robin, I also laughed when I saw this.

It's unfortunate, because I really like the shape of the bureau and I *almost* like the color (I'd prefer it a bit more cobalt), but it's really just too tacky by far. . .those the navigation wheels being the final straw.

posted by ChloeSF on 2008-05-01 17:21:25
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Ugh, "cookie cutter catalog shops." I knew the PB bashing was not far off.

PB can't win in some circles, apparently. Now *they* are "knocking off" DIYers??? Gimme a break.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2008-05-01 17:25:36
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it's just too much.

posted by inkstainedwriter on 2008-05-01 17:29:48
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Maybe good for a child's room, but otherwise I hate this.

posted by kimg924 on 2008-05-01 17:33:30
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"eww!"
-- my 3 year old (i.e., not fitting in a little boy's room either!)

posted by selena on 2008-05-01 17:34:34
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oh sweet baby Jesus NO!!!!
And my 4 yr old thinks it's "ugly" his word-not mine.

posted by lorijo on 2008-05-01 17:37:31
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Wow - This would be Perfect...
...if I were the decorator for the HGTV Dream House.

posted by bepsf on 2008-05-01 17:41:18
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899?????? Do you know how many great vintage pieces I could buy up here with 899.00 ? I could furnish at least one room, and probably two with that money.

posted by lorijo on 2008-05-01 17:45:07
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not a fan, but it does give me an idea of what to do with the silver starfish and seahorse drawer pulls i got from amazon.com trying to bump my order up to $25 for the free shipping! they would look great on a plain blue piece. thanks! (and i highly recommend sorting all of amazon's stock by lowest price first and taking a look, it's a trip)

posted by akostalas on 2008-05-01 18:19:44
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Well, I've given it a third glance and...still tacky.

posted by arcticlapland on 2008-05-01 18:29:02
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Very very ugly. But not so ugly that it couldn't be helped. Sand it down and apply white wax so it's not so garish; change out the knobs for antique brass buttons or faceted milk glass - could be acceptable in a seaside holiday cottage. At this price, though, I doubt anyone will take it on as a fixer-upper.

posted by amed studio on 2008-05-01 18:30:36
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Your first glance was correct. Definitely too tacky.

posted by lorieS on 2008-05-01 18:42:23
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It's a fun piece -- not really my style, but fun. Cheerful.

Yes, I agree with those who think it costs too much for what it is, but most of the furniture that AT highlights costs way more than I would spend for it. I don't come here for a shopping service, I come here for ideas.

posted by Ulrika on 2008-05-01 19:16:44
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Uh, I kind of like it. If I stumbled across it in a thrift shop and had a specific use for it, I might buy it. But for $899? Hell no.

posted by insanity_pepper on 2008-05-01 19:19:27
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that piece of furniture is HIDEOUS.

posted by rubydellson on 2008-05-01 20:13:30
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Decorno posted the exact same picture earlier this week but never fell for it. Ugh! This thing is awful and I'm sorry to see it here. I'm also unhappy with all the Pottery Barn bashing though. Some of their stuff is great and relatively affordable. For some it might create another cookie cutter home but I see posts here where people have used PB, C&B, Target and Ikea stuff as building blocks for a beautiful and unique home.

posted by Cynthia in SF on 2008-05-01 20:17:30
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Yeah, um..no.

posted by lilithslair on 2008-05-01 21:04:49
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way too tacky. but I would gladly pick up a used one and paint it lipstick red.

posted by Usbek de Perse on 2008-05-01 21:04:53
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Pottery Barn is still in business?

posted by Devyn on 2008-05-01 22:00:34
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This would be perfect for my house... if I lived in a pineapple under the sea.

posted by Dan Berkes on 2008-05-01 22:06:15
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Ummm.... can you say HELL to the NO! Absolutely heinous, looks like something Popeye would give to Olive Oyl for x-mas... eek!
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

posted by urbanflea on 2008-05-01 22:26:59
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hideous.

posted by jick on 2008-05-01 22:50:47
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I suddenly have serious doubts about your taste. :(

posted by Joy R. on 2008-05-01 23:25:27
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I agree-all the big box stores are trying to do the DIY/hand-made/artsy/noveau folkart thing...even Target and Walmart. The sad thing is this piece, even at $899, is probably half particle or press board.

posted by aweekinparis on 2008-05-01 23:41:26
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Hideous.

posted by Harley on 2008-05-02 01:13:53
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I'm wondering whose job it was to choose the spots for the knobs?

Did three different people decide for each of the drawers?

Maybe each drawer was made in a different factory, and there were no instructions on where to put the knobs?

What's up with that?

posted by TRUE BLUE on 2008-05-02 01:43:05
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Hideous.

posted by pantzini on 2008-05-02 03:28:57
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UGH!
Fine, if it was a DIY and in some kids SpongeBob inspired room - actually really cool then.
Fine, if sub $50 for the chest in a flea market setting.
Not fine at $900 and new.
It's probably a nice enough piece of furniture under the blue skin, but I don't like retail for case goods. They don't usually make things well today in prices I can afford.

posted by Carol K on 2008-05-02 08:52:32
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Wow, TRUE BLUE, I see what you mean. Looks like a bad boob job!?

posted by Carol K on 2008-05-02 08:54:40
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gross. reminds me of spongebob squarepants.

posted by indiasoup on 2008-05-02 12:39:04
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Seriously, guys -- did you just post this to be contrary? Because it was at Decorno over a week ago and it still STINKS.

posted by DWF on 2008-05-02 12:47:36
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Looks like Avenue Q's Bad Idea Bears are designing furnature. Who knew?!
http://condo-blues.blogspot.com

posted by Condo Blues on 2008-05-02 16:32:42
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Thanks to Dan Berkes & Decorno (see above) this has at last found the perfect home: this year's Kips Bay Show House.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/MAGNAVERDE/Desk--Pineappleyday--small.jpg

posted by magnaverde on 2008-05-02 16:44:21
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Hideous. Absolutely hideous.

posted by emellemiko on 2008-05-02 23:04:20
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Is it April Fools again? This is WAY damn funnier than the Snoopy House you guys pulled in Small/Cool.

posted by Modfan on 2008-05-04 14:07:00
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hideous and a bit expensive for a joke.

posted by Nina79 on 2008-05-04 18:08:18
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