via INTERIOR HOME SCAPES
In
between design projects and appointments for the past few months, I’ve been
reorganizing closets in both of our homes. It’s amazing the things we
accumulate over the years. In my case since about 1977, when I started
collecting kitchen stuff in my mom’s old cedar hope chest as a senior in high school.
via MY NOTTINGHILL BlogSpot
The
heirloom silver and fine linens, the numerous sets of dinner plates, and mementos
from a lifetime with my late husband Jim, all have a place in my cupboards and hutches. They’re filled to
the brim but at least now they’re organized. It has also been a welcomed
challenge to fully incorporate my new husband David’s and my belongings into one
household.
via WHOLELOTTALOVELY
It
occurs to me that starting out as a young couple, you have few belongings. You
start with the basics. Your home looks simple and clean with few furnishings
and accessories. Your priorities are work, play and taking care of the
children. As years pass, you become more of a nester, adding to the décor or
changing it up over time. People give you things or you inherit them. You
collect a few pieces of artwork, or several. You buy a new sofa, or recover an
old one. You purchase a few new chairs, or a nice dining room table.
via CANDYKISSES tumblr
How
does it all end up feeling like “you”? What is your “style”? What do you keep
and what do you discard as you go through life? I’ve had personal and
professional reasons to ponder these things and I think I have a philosophy
that works.
JEAN-LOUIS DENIOT
It’s
not that complicated really, unless you make it so. If something is ugly, if
it’s cheap, if it has no sentimental value, give it away or consign it. If it’s
designed and/or crafted well, is a keepsake or an heirloom, or is something you
really love, you will find a place for it eventually.
Another
thing I’ve noticed, when something is really outdated it’s often because it
wasn’t well designed or well-crafted to begin with. Sofas with big, rolled
arms; faux distressed furniture; anything Tuscan or French looking, but made in
China; or colors and styles that have been grossly overused, generally don’t
pass the test of time.
via JONATHAN RACHMAN
Whatever
era, quality American or European hand crafted furniture is very desirable and
if you’ve been wise enough to purchase or lucky enough to inherit pieces like
these, keep them. If they don’t work with your living room décor, put them to
work in a spare room with the knowledge that a better space will open up for
them at some point.
BUNNY MELLON
In my own home, I’ve inherited many things I
treasure and a few I’ve stored away in the garage for my son Christian when he
has his own home. One was his great, great grandmother’s mission style rocking
chair given to me by my paternal grandfather when Christian was born. Another
is a red leather rocking chair from his father’s bachelor pad, before we met.
In the master bedroom I have a darling vintage dressing table that came with
the house. Initially, I’d planned to get rid of it but now I love it.
via EMILY FOLLOWILL
Then there’s the bird’s eye maple tall boy dresser that I boldly painted black because it didn’t go well with the wood floors. It’s a quality piece and eventually it will be refinished properly. It works fine for now. Because I’ve been loath to discard anything that’s wood, I also have some fun, mismatched tables and dressers around the house.
CHARLOTTE MOSS
In
David’s new den we’ve incorporated several things including my favorite pair of
black Edwardian “étagère” bookcases that I purchased from my old design store,
S.S. Home; a small black secretary/desk that was in my step grandparents’ home
now being used as a laptop work place; an antique lyre back Larson chair with a
custom skirted seat pad to match the draperies; a matching slipcovered cabinet,
incredibly ugly in its former life that now houses extra guest bedding; sheer,
floor length curtains from David’s old living room, which fit perfectly under
my existing custom valances and stationery curtain panels, his brilliant idea.
LOU LOU DEFALAISE
There is a round, rattan end table with a removable tray top, formerly in my living
room; a vintage Chinese red lacquered stool that he uses for drinks, found at a
local thrift shop; and his television, TV stand and newly purchased, loveseat
hide-a-bed for overnight guests. The loveseat’s coordinating brownish-green
fabric looks so handsome with the room’s existing green walls and green floral
window treatments and matching lumbar pillows.
I
love it when I get to repurpose things as we’ve done in this project. What was
initially a space planning nightmare is now a warm and welcoming “Man Cave”.
All that’s left to do at this point is hang the rest of his pictures when they
come out of storage.
MEGAN RICE YAGER
Shiree’s
Style File
To
incorporate a variety of furniture styles, use unifying elements like lamps,
paint, pillows and other fabrics to pull everything together in a cohesive
design scheme.
If
something isn’t well designed or well made, has no sentimental value, or isn’t
working in your home, give it to the thrift store.
If
something is good quality, but outdated try moving it around from room to room
first. If it still doesn’t resonate with you on any level, consign it or give
it away to a needy college student. Let someone else have it who will
appreciate it.
It
takes years, often decades, to put together an evolved, well accoutered home.
Don’t discard something just because you feel it’s old or outdated. It’s those
oddball pieces that make a home’s décor unique.
via SPLENDID SASS
via S.P. GENT tumblr
via PERIWINKLE tumblr