Introducing Heirloom Furniture to Your Décor
As a real estate broker, I get to see a lot of different homes. It’s easy to tell a hand-me-down piece of furniture with sentimental value because it never fits quite right. You’ve probably seen this; a colonial piece wedged into a contemporary setting, a beautiful European antique jarringly dropped into a country cottage, or homemade furniture dating back to somebody’s great-great Grandfather moldering away in a basement because it just doesn’t fit upstairs.
So what to do with a piece that doesn’t fit but can’t just be thrown away?
Can the piece be repurposed? For example, could a small squat table make a nightstand? Maybe an office credenza could be used as a sideboard or as a buffet. Be creative and think of ways to use the piece differently than it was intended.
If the piece is not financially valuable (check with experts first!), how could it be changed? For example, old couches and chairs can get fresh padding and reupholstered. Adding new accent pillows is always an option. Creating a modern look can be as easy as removing old skirting flaps to reveal the legs. Wood can always be refinished. Maybe an expert woodworker could shorten or alter the piece to make something new.
Adding new tops to worn tables can give them new life. Beyond a new wood top, consider a stone top or even placing a fabric runner or cloth over the top. Don’t limit yourself to pre-made tablecloths; fabric stores are bursting with options. But unless you are skilled, employing a seamstress is money well spent.
The easiest way to breathe new life into an old lamp is through a new shade. However, you may want to take it to a shop to have it rewired. Old cords with cracking or cloth wires are dangerous. The shopkeeper may have other ideas to dress up an old favorite, too!
There are plenty of options that only require some creativity. Seeking counsel from an interior decorator or home stager is especially helpful. If you want to be introduced to a great designer or home stager, please let me know. I will be happy to introduce you to someone great!