5 decor items of gone by
Though beautiful or useful, the following things are hardly found in modern homes.
Pianos
Remember when every home had a piano? With the evolution of modern technology and digital streaming, instruments have been left behind. It seems like a shame, once upon a time, nearly every person could play a tune or two. Nowadays, during a total power cut might be the only time a piano is used. That is, if you have one.
Frilly valances
The valance was born in the Victorian age when even the ‘‘legs’’ or a wrought iron bed were deemed too suggestively familiar to that of a lady’s and therefore, had to be covered. Now, if you have a valance, it’ll be a lot less decorative and its job will be to change the colour of your box spring to better match your duvet cover. They’re also useful for hiding junk or storage under the bed.
Formal dining tables
The formal dining table was once an item of pride. Often made of woods like walnut, rosewood and mahogany, the more impressive the table, the bigger the status symbol. But now with a more casual style of living, families often eat in front of TV or prefer open-plan kitchen-dining-living areas.
China cabinets
Similarly, those still with a china cabinet in their homes may find that it’s full of pieces that don’t come out very often. In the past, due to import restrictions and lesser material technologies, foreign-made porcelain and pottery was highly sought after. Those who could afford it would put it on display in an open or glass-fronted china cabinet in the formal living area.
Separate laundries
Given the amount of labour previously spent on washing clothes, the laundry used to be a separate room or external structure. Now with more efficient appliances and more compact homes, the laundry could be just about anywhere. Washing machines can now be found cleverly tucked beneath the kitchen bench, a cupboard in the bathroom, or behind sliding doors under the stairs.