It’s particularly rewarding for me to be able to share this following article by Karla Baker, who is a writer, professional furniture restorer, the author of the blogs Antiquarian Journal and **City Limit Style*, and my good friend.***

Karla and I first connected years ago through some gorgeous mid-century modern chairs she restored. In my role as an appraiser I often see people struggle with visualizing how they can incorporate inherited furnishings into their home and personal style, and I especially love how Karla empowers her readers to envision new ways to utilize antiques and heirlooms rather than sending them to the dumpster and buying new mass-produced furniture, which is a topic close to my own heart. In this article, Karla generously shares her experiences successfully repurposing inherited family antiques to suit her own home and taste and provides inspiration and encouragement for how readers can achieve similar results with their own family antiques.

-Sarah Reeder, ISA CAPP

Displaying family heirlooms in our home is my favorite way to decorate. These special pieces tell so many stories throughout each and every room in our house and have sparked plenty of conversation. They provide a unique look, and I've found creative ways to make them functional.

““The collection I started with in my first home also became part of an important life lesson. My Grandfather sat me down to explain why financing furniture was a bad idea and why it wasn’t worth doing. His advice helped me gain another appreciation for these heirlooms because I didn’t go into debt for them.””

My love for family heirlooms began at a very young age when my great grandparents passed away, and I was so thankful to have a few things to hold on to so I could remember them. It helped that my Great Grandmother had such good taste for home decor and fashion. She was ahead of her time.

I remember displaying those few things in my bedroom when I was a teenager. A few years later, when I purchased my first home at just twenty-one years old, I collected more family heirlooms that were mostly hand-me-downs because I could not afford to buy new furniture and decor. My Grandparents gave me a dining table and a mid-century buffet that was passed down through a few generations. I also had plenty of unique decorative pieces and vintage kitchen items.

I learned to have an appreciation for these things because I started to realize that this "free stuff" was uniquely decorating my first home and sparking meaningful discussions. Family members would remember them from years before and we would reminisce. Friends would recall their own parents and grandparents owning similar things and they would bring up wonderful memories and stories to share with me.

The collection I started with in my first home also became part of an important life lesson. My Grandfather sat me down to explain why financing furniture was a bad idea and why it wasn't worth doing. His advice helped me gain another appreciation for these heirlooms because I didn't go into debt for them. They were passed down to me, free of charge, and although they certainly had their flaws, they added character and made my home feel cozy.

As the years went on, I found more creative ways to use them. In a span of twelve years, all four of my Grandparents had passed away and what was most important to me were the pieces that had a memory attached to them. Not the TVs or the big fancy things. I was most interested in things like my Gramma's floral-patterned chairs or my Grandaddy's old rusty scale he used in the butcher's shop.

These were things I remember them using. Not things of monetary value or that were hidden in a closet. They were used by people I loved, and I wanted to continue doing the same.

I think it's most important that they are functional, so they can serve a purpose. There's no point in having a sofa that isn't meant for sitting, right?

I don't view my collection of family pieces like they're in a museum, treated as if they're roped-off to keep a proper distance. My goal is to use them for style, function, and to share the stories behind them. They're great for everyday use and sharing the memories.

Here are some examples of how I'm using family objects in a repurposed way that suits my lifestyle and aesthetic in our home. I hope they will inspire you to use what has been passed down to you... especially the fun and unique treasures hiding away in a closet, just waiting for you to find a creative new use for them!

A Vintage Toolbox Becomes a Bar Cart-

One of my favorite pieces is my Grandfather's old toolbox that we now use as a bar cart. My Grandfather built this toolbox in the 1960s when he worked at our local DuPont plant.

The industrial look was so cool and I decided it shouldn't be hidden away in my workshop as a toolbox. I already had a toolbox.

I cleaned it up and refinished it and now we use it anytime we entertain. Many guests have fixed their appetizers and beverages right here on the stainless steel top. It provides so much storage, too! I store my extra serving dishes, silver, and napkins inside. The smaller drawers and compartments keep everything so well organized

Mixing Things Up-

Our daughter's bedroom is a mix of family pieces and second-hand finds. Since it has an eclectic style and her personality is fun and quirky, I decided to see how she'd feel about my Great-Grandfather's lamp.

This lamp survived a fire at a resort where he was a golf pro and my great aunt painted and restored it. He left this lamp to me, but I never really could find a place where it felt like a good fit. After it was hidden away in the utility room for many years, I decided to try it in my daughter's room. When I sat it on her nightstand, she loved it! It's different but somehow it works in her room.

And that quilt? That was another family item hidden in my mom's linen closet for years. I'm not sure about the story or who quilted it but it has been in our family for generations. She loved that, too. I am so happy with the way it looks in her room. Bedding from the big-box stores didn't fit as well with the vintage/eclectic mix in her room.

The Butcher Block-

My favorite family piece is my Grandfather's butcher block!

This was the first block he cut meat on when he was a butcher at our local A&P grocery store in the '60s. The block sat in our basement for many years but when we bought our current home, the kitchen was large enough to make room for it.

We even rearranged one section of our kitchen cabinets to make room for it. It's our kitchen island, now, and it is a statement piece. Not only does it stand out, but it has sparked a lot of interest from our guests when we entertain! We've had many people comment on what a cool block it is, and it's fun to tell the story behind it.

It's very functional, too. I keep a food-safe mineral oil on the surface so we can use it to prepare food. The stand is a wonderful storage piece.

The Little Things-

It isn't always about the large pieces of furniture. It's also a pleasure to use the small things in a fun and decorative way.

The antique creamer pitcher makes a nice little vase for fresh-cut flowers on our dining room table.

This creamer pitcher belonged to my great-great aunt. I knew her very well and loved spending time on her tobacco farm in Apex, North Carolina. I always think of her when I fill this with pretty roses, as she had some beautiful rose bushes in her yard.

My Great-Grandmother's yellow ware bowl is a perfect centerpiece on our farmhouse table. I've served many dinner rolls and biscuits in this bowl but every summer I use it to create a centerpiece with my fresh-cut limelight hydrangeas. The blooms and stems are heavy so the bowl provides a sturdy base to arrange them.

The most recent family piece we've added to our decor is my Grandmother's small sewing stool. We found this gorgeous 1800s pump organ from our local Goodwill but didn't have a seat to go with it. This stool was perfect and I found a vintage fabric piece to recover it.

The Rusted Garden Gate-

This rusted gate lead to my husband's grandparent's garden for many years. When their farm was sold, the gate was leaning against a wall in one of the buildings and was headed for the trash. I decided to bring it home instead and hang it on the wall with a simple wreath. It was a fun way to use their garden gate!

I could have painted it, but the rusted surface gives it such a neat look. I hung it above a thrift store dresser I refinished and gathered some things I already had to decorate the top. It all came together so well. I included an old photo of his Granny in a pretty frame just below her garden gate.

From Sewing Cabinet to Record Cabinet-

My Grandmother was a seamstress and had so many sewing supplies. And what did I decide to do? I brought them all home. I thought I would learn how to sew, but what I learned was that I wasn't really interested in it.

After donating the supplies, I turned her sewing cabinet into a record cabinet. It's a wonderful storage piece for all my vinyl records and I keep my turntable on top. It was a nice fit for our mid-century style family room and a great way to make the cabinet functional.

I kept several of my Grandmother's records, especially the jazz albums. The Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett records brought back so many memories! I am a huge fan of jazz music, thanks to my Gramma.

Repurposed Mantel-

My Grandfather, a skilled woodworker and a collector of antiques, restored this old mantel many years ago. It sat in his workshop as long as I can remember. After he and my Grandma passed, no one seemed to want this old mantel. I couldn't let it go.

I brought it home and shined it up a little with some lemon oil and propped it up behind our sofa. It beautifully displays a mix of framed photographs of our children.

I hope these ideas inspire you to consider creative adaptations that get hidden family heirlooms out of storage and make them part of your décor in ways that work for your own lifestyle and personal taste. These inherited family antiques can fill the rooms in your home with unique style and many stories to tell.

Karla Baker is a writer, professional furniture restorer, and creator of the blogs Antiquarian Journal and City Limit Style. You can find Karla online at https://antiquarianjournal .com/ and https://citylimi tstyle.com. Karla’s Instagram handle is @antiquarianjournal and she can be contacted at antiquarianjournal@gmail.com.

Old is New Again: Creatively Repurposing Inherited Family Heirlooms to Suit Your Life and Style

It’s particularly rewarding for me to be able to share this following article by Karla Baker, who is a writer, professional furniture restorer, the author of the blogs Antiquarian Journal and City Limit Style, and my good friend.