Everything old is new again!

I’ve often said that every home should have a mix of old and new. By paying homage to the past, we can live better in the present.

Not everyone lives in – or wants to live in – a historic home like I do. But we all have heirlooms, valuable whether in price or in sentiment – stashed somewhere on a shelf. What if that heirloom could be moved to a more prominent place in the home? What if it were to be used for a different purpose than that which it was created?

For instance, your grandmother’s water pitcher perhaps has become too old and fragile to use, even during the holidays. Why not display it on a shelf in the dining room so it can be seen during those holiday gatherings, but kept safely preserved, as a piece of art?

In one home, we added a set of antique salt and pepper shakers to the stairwell, making a very modern home include a touch of history.

Styles can blend nicely so that a home can flow from room to room with pieces old and new. It’s rare for a homeowner to want to completely get rid of everything they’ve inherited or moved from house to house. Some pieces are favorites and some pieces bring back that feeling of nostalgia, of being a child.. safe, young, carefree.

There are lots of things The Lee W. Robinson Company does for clients who have heirlooms they want to use in their more modern home but don’t know how to do so. I’ll start by saying not everything is worth keeping. Yes, I said it. Items that don’t have sentimental value should be evaluated for intrinsic value. I’d never recommend throwing away items with true value such as cut crystal, sterling silver or real Irish linen. However, Grandma’s collection of snowglobes may not have sentimental value for you, and therefore, it’s ok to photograph them and then part with them. If your heart will give you permission, well then so do I.

Sister Parrish, the first interior designer brought into work on the Kennedy White House, had great stories of taking Victorian furniture given to her, refinishing with lacquer and creating a great set of new pieces. If you can think past the dark, old wood color that doesn’t work in your home and reconsider the shape, you can have an all-new piece with a minimal amount of work. If Sister Parrish could accomplish this 30 years ago, it is certainly manageable today.

So hold on a second before you have that estate sale. Think through what is of sentimental value and what is of intrinsic value, and can it be modernized for use (or display) today? I’m always up for a challenge like this so give me a buzz at 502-895-1401 and let’s talk about it.