Seven tips to use antiques in your home
Virginia Ann Ward loves antiques.
Her grandparents were collectors of all things beautiful, and when they died, Ward says their family was lucky enough to have some of those precious pieces passed on.
Some of her most treasured items are from her grandparents, says the Fall River woman.
"I love the stories that the pieces tell," she says.
“I always think, 'if this could talk, imagine what it would have to say.'"
Although she's not generally a sentimental person, there is something to be said about the memories that these special pieces hold.
Antiques and family heirlooms can be tricky, however. Many seniors are downsizing, and with so much "stuff" in our homes already, younger generations often don't want or have room to store any of these old dishes or antiques.
Ward, who has been operating Virginia Ann Interiors, an interior design firm, for the past year-and-a-half, has some thoughts on how and why we should consider incorporating these pieces into our homes.
The expression “they don't make things like they used to” is around for a reason, she says.
"Antiques are around because they are, generally speaking, quality pieces," she says.
This is especially true for furniture.
“By disregarding designs and craftsmanship of the past, we are ignoring what has gotten us where we are today in the design world. Cherish what the people before us created and worked so hard on,” says Ward.
Think outside the box when it comes to using these pieces in your home, says Ward. For example, she has a candy dish that used to belong to her grandparents, which was a staple in their home, that she now uses it as a planter.
Ward's top tips include the following:
1. Take a piece of furniture and paint it or recover it to make it suit your space.
2. Turn a bowl or any sort
“Cherish what the people before us created and worked so hard on.” Virginia Ann Ward
of vessel into a planter, like Ward did with her grandmother's candy jar.
3. Add artwork that has been passed down to you to a gallery wall in your home. By hanging it alongside more modern work, it will help to create an eclectic feel.
4. Repurpose dishes by hanging them on the wall as a decoration.
5. Frame pretty cloth napkins or any other kind of linens to create a unique piece of artwork.
6. Use dishes that are intended for food — such as silver or delicate dishware — for jewelry storage or on an entryway table for keys.
7. As for the family china, Ward suggests using the old dishes to store your jewelry, or consider using them as plant holders. Have some of
the pieces broken or chipped and you don't want to throw them out? No problem, she
says. Create a unique and beautiful mosaic using the broken pieces.
Creating a mix-and-match look in your home is the best way to incorporate antiques alongside more modern designs, she says.
"Always layer your antiques in with more modern pieces to give you a curated look. This will modernize the items while making your home look professionally decorated," Ward explains.
Always try to think outside the box, she adds. Consider new ways to use familiar pieces so you can keep bits of family history in your home without having the items simply collecting dust.
"Look at antiques as an opportunity to get creative and inject some personality, and in some case memories, into your home," she says.
And take your time when you're finding ways to add those old pieces into everyday decor or use. It's OK to store them in the basement until you can find a way to use them.
"Don't feel like you need to add everything to your space at once. You may need to layer them in slowly over time," she says.
"Find the right place for them or wait until you are redesigning a space."