Sometimes furniture is more than just a functional object. There are also those pieces we keep around for their sentimental value …
Sometimes furniture hand-me-downs can be more curse than blessing. And then there are those pieces that we absolutely cherish.
When my husband's mother passed away, we loaded this sewing cabinet into our car and brought it back to Chicago. For my husband, it's a piece of furniture that he grew up with. The sewing cabinet had been an early gift to his mother from his father and he remembered it always being a staple in their home. For me, the sewing cabinet is a wonderful reminder of a woman who embraced me into her family. My mother-in-law was very proud of my crafting abilities and pulled me aside one day to tell me that she would like me to have it someday.
In our small apartment, I appreciate the double duty quality of this cabinet. When not in use, it's a simple table that resides in the bedroom. Then, when I'm feeling crafty, I open it up to reveal the blue Precision Deluxe sewing machine. And the best part? The matching chair has storage under its seat, perfect for my sewing supplies and, of course, my mother-in-law's collection of buttons, to which I've added my own.
While the style of this particular piece may not match our own and it's not like this cabinet is some sort of heirloom, for us this is one of the pieces that will remain with us no matter what.
Images: Jason Loper
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Shamefully enough I get more attached to my furniture than I do to people.
I have the white, '70s Singer version of that sewing machine. It's at a friend's place, because I just don't know where to put it in my tiny condo. I'll reclaim it...eventually!
I love that little table. I have my grandmother's bedroom suite and a vintage couch and chair, and I love them. I might refurbish them at some point, but I can't imagine getting rid of them ever.
Be thankful the sewing machine is a single item and fairly small. My sentimental furniture is not...
I loved hearing the story of what this table means to you. It's wonderful that you took the time to capture it. I think many of us have these sentimental items in our homes, but never take the time to record the story behind them.
@ House Voyeur---- I TOTALLY agree with you!!!
Actually, at this point, I'd argue that it's becoming an heirloom! Luckily, it's a very nice, tidy looking piece of furniture.
We have a handful of nice family hand-me-downs. An antique oriental rug that belonged to my grandparents (and was appraised in the price range of a nice use car) ; a wash stand that belonged to my great-grandmother; my grandfather's desk... all attractive, functional pieces that we have put to use in our home. Love it!
That is a REALLY cute table. I'm so glad you have it and cherish it so much!
My personal heirloom is a aslabcoffee table that my parents bought right after they got married - it's traveled with them from California to Denver, to Boston, to DC, and has all of their old addresses scrawled on the bottom in sharpie from when they shipped it int he 70s. I'll probably have that table til I die!
Those are pieces you just need to hang on to, whether they "fit" your style or not. It goes beyond that.
shelly
www.modhomeec.com
Off-topic--that color combination is great!
My most beloved hand me down piece of furniture is the bright cherry stained pine bookcase that my parents had in their bedroom when they were first married (I believe their other furniture was hand me down real cherry). I asked to have it in college and its been a fixture in my bedroom ever since. I even bought an unfinished pine dresser to stain to match it. There's nothing valuable or exceptional about it, but I like the sense of continuity it brings.
I also recently inherited my great-great-grandmother's sewing cabinet. Its not a sewing machine table, rather, its storage for small supplies. I've been torn between leaving it as is (Its in brilliant condition for something that can be no newer than the early 1940s) or painting it a bright glossy color.
My mother always said she'd love to have a little girl so she could make fancy clothes for her. After having 3 sons, the day she came home from the hospital with me (the youngest and only girl) she found a beautiful new Singer in a beautiful cabinet with matching chair...something my father paid for at the rate of $5. a week to the store he bought it from.
I inherited an 1890s Singer sewing machine from my grandma when she moved from her house to her apartment. It had been in her basement for 40+ years, and with how heavy it was, she said if I could get it out, it was all mine.
It was gorgeous when we took it out of the dank basement, and now it is stunning all cleaned up! The only difference between it now and when it was new is that it is missing some of the drawer pulls. Although it's at my mom's (awaiting a larger space for me to move into), I'll never get rid of it.
If there was another piece to put in the "keep for life" column, it would be my (currently white) wooden folding chairs. They aren't great - in fact, their only good point is that they're sturdy. I'm planning to paint them brown.
what brand i that sewing machine?
You're lucky it's as small as a sewing machine table. I've got a solid cherry desk/secretary in my place. It was bought new by my grandparents. My dad did his homework at it when he was a boy. I remember it at my grandparents house too. It was at my parents for many years, now I have it. I love it for many reasons, but it is huge and swear to god, I've moved a piano that weighed less. It's also very traditional and not my style, very faux antique, from a period when colonial style was all the rage, but it's not actually a valuable antique. It's also busted in a few places that don't show easily and the finish is not in great condition. Still, I love it. Though I'd be lying if I didn't sometimes think about how to get one of my sisters to take this 'heirloom' off my hands.
More than half of my furniture is "heirloom", and none is very fancy. However, I love it all the more as reminders of my dear family. My favorite piece is a china cabinet that my great-great-grandfather made as a wedding gift to his new bride. It is very simple, but very classic.
i tend to trade-up furniture all the time, except a dresser my dad re-finished as a wedding gift for us.
i've also inherited a china cabinet that was passed from my grandmother to my mother, and now she's ready for me to have it. problem is, our place is too small unless i use it for a different purpose (linen closet, sweater storage, etc.). i also had the idea of painting it black to match my style, but i know my parents would kill me.
until i decide to love it for what it is, i'm having her hold onto it.
what a beautiful story and piece