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For a home to hold great appeal and interest for me it has to have a personality. In fact, my friend Linda recently read a quote from a designer, “I like to surround myself with things I love because I feel that my home is like a scrapbook of my life”. This sums it up nicely. That is where the personality of a home comes in. When done well, a home reads like a scrapbook of where someone has been, their interests, their history and their pursuits.
I’ve lectured posted on this topic before {HERE and HERE}, but I think we’re currently in the midst of a design trend that embraces the use of reclaimed, recycled and antique (previously owned) pieces and I couldn’t be happier for it. For me personally, it’s the ideal way to go ‘green’.
Some of the treasures we love to accessorize with have gotten pricey, even when you can find it on eBay, but if you’re lucky, you have a few items handed down through family. Those are my favorites, although I’m not opposed to adding to the collection by a decade long search of each antique shop or thrift store I encounter on vacations.
Notice the wallpaper (below)…it looks to be antique newsprint, and that mirror, I can only imagine those that stole a glance at themselves as they passed it in a hallway or bedroom!
My father-in-law left us his binoculars in their original black leather case, the smaller pair were from a friend of my mother’s. All rest on the antique French coat rack in our hallway…at the ready for bird watching {joke}.
I believe furniture made from reclaimed woods can be found for reasonable prices, but I’ve seen some that out pace an antique, pricing wise.
{I think the above image is Restoration Hardware, but the antique prints make the wall sconces, mirrors, hanging light and vanity all look vintage or antique}
{Amy Howard via Cote de Texas}
A closing post of a much loved blog site, Henhurst Interiors, 2.7.13 featured this quote “People who collect out of love are exempt from the dictates that govern traditional design, for there are no rules for true lovers.” – Rose Tarlow in The Private House ♥ Phyllis, we’ll miss you, I hope you will return to your blog sometime in the not too distant future.
Ricki Jill Treleaven said:
😀 I love this post so much that I’ve bookmarked it so I can enjoy it again over the weekend. I agree with you….I appreciate homes that have personality and reflect their owners interests and activities.
These images are so alluring in this post! So pretty.
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Ricki Jill. It means a lot coming from a fellow-blogger with a site I thoroughly enjoy! 😀 Karen
debra phillips @ 5th and state said:
karen
i adore this topic, close to my heart. oh how i reveled in the luscious images.
keep hoping that the trend of antique shops closing reverses itself and embracing the authentically vintage soars!
xo
debra
Karen B. said:
Debra, I have been saddened by the numberous closings of some of my favoritehaunts. It seems to me that the mid-west and east coast have a better selection of tag sales, antique stores and even thrift stores as a source of finding some great items. The hunt is more than half of the fun, isn’t it? I wish I lived in your neck of the woods so I could visit your consignment store! xo, Karen
Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
I so agree! My house IS a scrapbook… and sometimes I think I’m going to need a BIGGER scrapbook, for all the STUFF I cannot get rid of!
You have a Restoration Hardware photo… and while I love their stuff, (although, not the weirdly-greenish wood tone they’re showcasing lately,) I cannot believe how expensive they are! They have a reclaimed wood table, and while it’s really nice, you could buy a real antique set for maybe half their price!!
Karen B. said:
I know, I do love quite a bit of Restoration Hardware’s furniture, but most of it won’t fit in my small-roomed home. Besides, like you, I’d usually like the real thing and antiques, when you search, are often more affordable. Not to mention your good luck with Craigslist, it may take a little effort but great bargains can be found.
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
I’m flattered that you used the “scrapbook” quote. I’ve always felt that my home was my scrapbook and I’m forever cutting and pasting to perfect it.
I loved what you said about using reclaimed, recycled and antique things as the way to go “green.” I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for a truly wonderful post!
Karen B. said:
Linda, Thanks for the inspiration for this post…the whole scrapbook idea makes perfect sense. xo, Karen
Loi Tone on Tone said:
Karen –
I love your inherited binoculars 🙂 As a shop owner who specializes in antiques, I’m hoping more people, especially the younger generation, will learn to love and live with antiques and items with patina, imperfection and history.
Loi
PS – I thought of you when I saw this….your previous post 🙂
http://www.themarthablog.com/2013/03/making-meatloaf-on-today.html
Karen B. said:
Loi, Thanks, I do love old binoculars…could be the start of another collection. 🙂 I agree, young people often have no use for old items. Our two daughter-in-laws love antiques. Some of the things they don’t care to have is silver tea service and china. I’ll continue to use some of those things even though we entertain in a more casual manner now. Maybe my granddaughter will one day want it…you know what goes around comes around. lol.
Martha’s Meatloaf 101 looked pretty good, Mr. B would love the sugar in the sauce that goes on top. 🙂 xo, Karen
Kathy said:
Hi Karen~I love your French coat rack. The wood is aged to perfection. I wish the same happened to humans. I’ve always felt my home is a scrapbook too. That’s why no matter where I go returning home is like putting on comfortable slippers. I’m a little surprised when people say they want another person’s home. To me that’s missing the point. Oh my, now I’m lecturing. An older neighbor…even older than me…told me…he and his wife don’t like antiques. I was shocked. Actually some of us would now be considered vintage teetering on antique! I’ve always said I don’t want to be the oldest thing in the room. I find I like places like Restoration Hardware better in catalogs than in person. Quality furniture can’t be massed produced to have a true aged look. It’s kind of like fake Christmas trees.
Karen B. said:
Kathy, I’m barely able to type because you’ve cracked me up. Aged to perfection is what we old folks have done, seriously. I agree, for me there is no place like home. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel and visit family in other states, but there is nothing like getting home again. My grandmother, who was a sweetie, didn’t like antiques. She felt like she had grown up with the things I loved but I’ve come to understand her feelings. Remember when there was a resurgence of mid-century modern, using some of the same colors we thought were so great in the early 7o’s? I couldn’t have stood to have that decor in my own home. I do like RH but wouldn’t want an entire house of it…mainly because I love my collections and bits and bobs…yikes, now I do sound old! lol. Karen
4aroundthetable said:
Gorgeous post Karen and I couldn’t agree more.. “antique collections” is the ultimate in recycling and talk about scrap booking! I’ve got an antique table that from the late 1800’s (and the refurbished chairs) that I purchased from Annie Bahler years ago. I painted them white (per her advice) . It’s really unique and fun to have in my home. It those pieces could talk.. right? 🙂
xxleslie
Karen B. said:
Leslie, that’s the fun in collecting furniture and accessories with a history, right. I love imagining who enjoyed dining at this table or catching a glance in that mirror.
I’m loving your site in its new outfit!
Xo,
Karen
Sandra Hersey said:
I love this so much, Home the scrapbook of your life! How true is that! I have tweeted it too! Great post!
Karen B. said:
Sandra,
Thanks so much! My friend found the quote by the designer who came up with the idea that our homes reflect our lives, like a scrapbook. It is so true, when you think about it. Thank you for stopping by for a visit, so nice to meet you.
Karen
Anonymous said:
You can definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart
Gretchen said:
What a wonderful quote and how accurate it is for those of us who view our homes as expressions of our personalities. A model home can look beautiful and perfectly turned out but it lacks a soul!
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Gretchen. I truly love adding to the scrapbook that is our home. Karen
Sent from my iPad
Christina @ Floridays Mom said:
I absolutely LOVE the quote about our homes being the scrapbook of our lives. I agree the new trend of collecting things old, is wonderful. I love the way pieces tell a story, even if you don’t know of their story..it leads the imagination to do wonderful things. So many of my favorite pieces are ones I’ve had handed down from family members. Such a beautiful post Karen! Thank you for reminding us what really makes a house a home.
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Christina. It’s so heartwarming to visit a home and see the history of where they’ve been and what makes them happy. I appreciate your stopping by. Karen
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