apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

A friend of mine just made me a "spoon ring" out of that exact same silverware...and I LOVE it! I love the roses and the feel of the it.

I have a few heirlooms that are everyday items in our home - a mirror that hangs by the door, some of my jewelry, an egg beaters, a nightlight for the nursery...these are what give homes personality and flavor and keep them from looking like a something that got copied from a catalogue.


http://embritadesign.blogspot.com

We use a few things:
1. A dish set from my mother-in-laws' mother, which is fabulous because it came with so many pieces. We used it for a big Thanksgiving gathering.
2. Some ornamental coffee cups from the 50's (also from MIL) that I use to hold some of my jewelry.
3. An old barn table as our dining table, also from in-laws. We took it to an art school and paid a student to refinish it and give it new modern legs.
4. Lastly, I have some of my grandmothers' shoes and purses from the 60's, they are so elegant!

My husband and I use tons of things from both sides of our family -- salt cellars, linens, the proverbial silver spoon (dated 1841!), dishes -- probably too much! But it's thrifty and we're sentimental. The most unlikely thing is a beautiful set of monogramed towels c. 1950, we use them regularly yet they're in perfect condition.

I have an old hope chest that was my great-grandmothers that is one of my treasured possessions. I keep all my old mementos in there and I love the way it always smells like cedar. It reminds me of her.

Ashley
http://rainycitystyle.blogspot.com

Not asking this to be "smart" - when did people start using "gift" as a verb? I never even heard of it being used that way until I started watching design shows. Is it a regional thing? A designer thing?

On topic: I just inherited two beautiful music boxes from my step grandma. She knew how much I had adored her collection from when I was a little, little girl and she gave me my favorite one before she died- a white swan which plays, naturally, "Theme from Swan Lake." I will treasure it always. I will soon be painting my bedroom blue just like her guest room used to be and that music box will have a special prominant space there.

My maternal grandmother's set of Asta cookware. They go with nothing in my home and I love them. They are a lovely reminder of my wonderful grandmother and all the amazing times shared with her.

Hooooooray for heirlooms! Thankfully my mother is awesome and likes to share! I have..

1. bedroom set that my mother got when she was 15. she gave it to me when I was in high school and I still use it because it is beautiful. this is what I sleep on every night!
2. two green velvet tufted chairs from my grandmother, used in sitting area in bedroom
3. sideboard that was my great aunt's (which is painted bright yellow and we use in the living room)
4. china cabinet built by my grandfather. I painted this black and took the door off of the front to display my vintage camera collection, which came from my grandfather as well.

I feel like i'm leaving a lot out, but these are what we make the most use of and are also my favorite pieces of furniture.

My mom has that exact pattern on some of her utensils. I'm not sure she has the entire set anymore, but it was a surprise to see it here, nonetheless.

I've inherited a lot of great 1940s and 50s things (and a couple of earlier bits and pieces) from relatives who've left this earth, and some who are still here, but the best hand-me-down is Great Grandma's wooden rolling pin. Who knows how many strudels it's seen in its life before it came my way? I used to use a similar rolling pin I bought from the supermarket but this rolling pin - I don't know; it just rolls dough out better. It's talented, and it makes me think of Great Grandma.

I have a couple dressers from my great grandmother. They aren't in the best of shape (some of the laminate wood is peeling/chipping off in a few areas) but they're pretty and seem to hold clothes pretty well.

We use my grandmother's sterling flatware every day. It's a very simple pattern and it looks great with everything else we have. We have few dinner parties, and I just hate the idea of using it only during the holidays. Instead, we get to enjoy it at every meal. What a pleasure!

thatjessicagirl,

"Gifted" is a bad noun-turned-verb, like "impacted" (other than in reference to wisdom teeth).

I have many heirlooms--furniture, silver, etc.--but what I am most excited about lately is the set of Ittala glasses I just "lifted" from my parents' house. Very retro, very cool, and since the glasses have feet they don't need coasters.

There is no sense in these things collecting dust! I'll be using my grandmother's china everyday once we have room to store it!

http://thebluepearlgirl.wordpress.com

These are great post and I really enjoyed reading what many of your wrote.
I was such a snob in college only liked modern and gave away all the family jewels to my brothers who have no taste or appreciation in anything that I should of appreciated.

I do have a fabulous locket from Italy maybe 1920's from my great grandma that is beautiful. My only heirloom to date is my 18 year old Jack Russell from three generations of old school shortie JRTS from England.

I do have some Ivory but I do not feel excited about because it came from a beautiful creature.

My parents just sold their house and gave me their old coffee table -- a 6-plank chest that belonged to my great-grandmother that I've always loved. They had a piece of glass cut to size for the top. We also have a "close stool" (aka. commode, aka. child's potty) that serves as a side table (with the top down, so no one is tempted to make use of the toilet seat). It makes me happy to know that I'm using things that people in my family cared about.

yes, i've never been a saver "for good." most of our furniture is inherited and i use my great aunt's silver every day. thrifty, yes. awesome, yes. everybody wins!

Is that everyday silverware Riviera?

I think if you're talking real silver, it's actually better to use it every day because it becomes more beautiful with use!

But it's funny that I read this post today, because just this morning I broke one of my grandmother's bowls. Most of what I inherited from her was breakable, and I've nearly broken all of it now. I guess that's the downside to using some treasures every day.

that was my childhood silverware pattern! i love it!

Hey, that's the silverware my grandma had for everyday! I don't think I had ever noticed it in particular but as soon as I saw that picture I remembered it and felt like I was 11 years old again. Do you know the pattern name, perchance?

sparklyj - I actually don't know the name and wish I did!

Anyone out there know the name of this pretty pattern?

I have an old radio cabinet turned desk (at some point the radio bits were taken out) I use all the time, that came from my moms side of the fam. And an old chair that came from my dads side, which is soooo comfy and in desperate need of recovering!

Among many other things, I look around and see my Grammy's maroon club chair with the carved wood feet, the most luxuriously comfortable reading seat in the house; the inlaid mother of pearl octagonal side table my Nana snuck out of North Africa after she was orphaned; and an absolutely beautiful oak high-boy dresser that came to me from Nana's second husband, who we called Fast Eddie and who was the nicest guy in the world. It is all beautiful, all used every day and all well loved, but none more than Grampy's oak roll-top desk, where Grammy balanced the books of his veterinary practice. It is filled with nooks and crannies, brass labeling plates (that I neglect to label) and weirdly wonderful pull out thingies--and even came with a lucky horseshoe. I type this at that desk. I am lucky, indeed.

My parent's had that silverware when I was a kid. I had forgotten about it until I saw your pic.
It was donated to Goodwill many, many years ago.
Thanks for showing that it brought back good memories.

My grandma had that too! But only a few pieces are left.