…thanks to eBay and a little vintage Heywood-Wakefield. This is a well-known shape of theirs, and don’t tell anyone – but they are actually end tables. They prove very, very useful in the bedroom.

Next we need a headboard. Headboard coming soon. For now, check out the “stepped” tables and how neatly they hold books, clocks, remotes, lip balm, laptops. Delightful design!

We hung reading lamps on the wall above, leaving more room on the tables for all those things plus my shameful, hours-old cappuccinos. Who doesn’t enjoy a little cold espresso at bedtime?

They likely date to the 50′s, are made of northern birch and have a wonderfully preserved, hand-rubbed “cognac” stain – which is to say, “damn, now I have to use coasters.”

These tables function beautifully – and that’s key, since our bedroom, at any given time, may serve as office, study hall, movie theater, library, laundry room, coffee house or dog park.

So tell me again why we have all those other rooms?

We also don’t have any grass yet – so this year’s unusually consistent winter means we’re always contending with snowy, and often muddy, boots. We frequently track in both snow and mud; I watch it form neatly dried paw prints across my wood floors. It is the evil Snud.

Like most people, we needed a clutter catcher at the back door to hold coats, boots, shoes, gloves, umbrellas, purses, school bags, hats, keys, and whatever else we drop on the way in. We had the right spot on the wall, with good available width and height, but not depth. The shallow space made it hard to find a proper “hall tree,” either new or old.

We couldn’t find the one right piece; so we came up with a two-part solution. Casual separates.

First, a “train rack” mirror we’d had in the entry of our old house – an Anthropologie sale find from years ago. Their home stuff is delicious; their prices, not so much.

Second, after seriously diligent hunting and checking of measurements, Greg turned up an English oak cabinet on eBay – most likely it was once the lower half of a full hall tree.

Together, they hold nearly everything we need to grab and go…even umbrellas.

This huge and rather hideous golf umbrella is my favorite for dog-walking in the rain. Someone left it at a party and never claimed it…now it has its own oak umbrella slot, and keeps me dry on the most downpouring of days. Thanks, inebriated forgetful party guest!

We hung the mirror with the proper length in mind for coats and jackets. Now the two work as a team…

..and they’re doing a bang-up job. I’ve been looking for a flat, vintage metal sign to hang between them – you know, to promote worker harmony and visually connect the two.

This shouldn’t be too hard, since metal signs seem to find us. If we look in earnest, we should have one before noon.

But I can’t be sure – and although I don’t need to know, exactly, I want to. And that’s fine, because the good talented people at Baker Furniture want me to know, too.

The Baker web site’s FAQ (apparently, they’re owned by Kohler Co. now) describes how you can email them photos of your vintage Baker for a history and informal appraisal of your piece.

Has anyone out there done this with Baker? I don’t care if it’s trash or treasure; I just love the chair and its lacquered, gilded goodness.

Treasure would be good, too.