Modify family heirlooms to suit personal style

Celebrating Mother’s Day earlier this month made me think about mothers’ homes and the stuff in them. Many friends and family members in my circle of folks have things in their homes passed down from moms and grandmoms. And, often times, you look at those things and marvel at the history and sentimentality associated with them, and then go, “Holy cow, what were you thinking?”

I’ve come across pieces in people’s homes that certainly didn’t reflect their style, but they felt compelled to keep the piece because it belonged to, whomever. And please, don’t misunderstand, I’m all for the sentimental thing; however, there are differing views and different ways to pay respect. Pieces that we grew up with or admired in family members’ homes tend to look different when we’re all grown up and have developed our own styles.

Several years ago I had the pleasure of putting together a room for a client who had inherited all of her father’s war memorabilia, including uniforms, photos, medals and I think there was even a sword. She also had pieces of furniture and wall art from her parents. She had just moved into a new, modern home and was unsure of how to celebrate her parents’ lives and incorporate everything into her space.

Our solution may not work for everybody, but luckily for her, she had the space and chose to dedicate an entire room to her inherited pieces. The furniture had a Victorian bent and blended perfectly with her father’s military pieces. So, she ended up with a beautiful little Victorian room sporting a set of velvet Victorian chairs, a small round table with a lace tablecloth and wall art reminiscent of “The Great Gatsby.”

Most of us do not have the luxury of a spare room, but there are other ways to incorporate beloved family pieces into your current décor. As you know (you do know, right?), having furniture and accessories from different eras and styles just adds interest to a space. However, inheriting your father’s recliner, a la “Frasier,” may require a little more effort to make it work.

Upholstered pieces can be re-covered easily. You don’t have to live with the brown plaid sofa or orange velvet sofa. I have seen beautiful little Victorian settees and chaises re-covered to fit into modern or contemporary spaces. The juxtaposition of a Louis sofa upholstered in a vibrant modern print is exciting and the piece makes a great addition to an entryway, bedroom or sitting room.

Case goods such as dining tables, buffets and desks can be incorporated into any style. Victorian or traditional tables can be gussied up with modern chairs, either acrylic or fully upholstered slipper chairs. Conversely, a traditional buffet will live very happily with a glass top, acrylic or other modern dining table.

Desks or dressers can be reconfigured to give them new life. Changing out the hardware for a more modern style and painting or refinishing will announce their arrival into today’s style.

So the moral of this column is that inheriting treasures from anyone can be a win/win for all concerned. Changing the color or upholstery does not diminish your feelings for your loved ones or their possessions. You are simply putting your stamp on them and, most probably, someday, someone will put their stamp over yours. That’s the sign of true sentiment.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.