Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Antiques

Last year when my daughter moved away to college, she took her bedroom furniture with her. I needed to get a new bed to put in her room so she'd have a place to sleep whenever she comes home. I found out that my parents had this old iron bed and an old dresser that had been my grandmothers when my mother was a little girl. They just had it in their storage shed and said that I could have it if I wanted it. I love having things that belonged to my grandparents, so I jumped at the chance to get them. However, the bed was rusted, so we had to get it sandblasted and then we painted it. I was very pleased with how it turned out. The old dresser was in bad shape, so my dad stripped the old finish off and painted it to match the bed. After getting those two items, it made me want to find other things for this bedroom and make it into a 1930's/1940's room because that was when my mother was growing up and they had this furniture. In our garage, I found the little nightstand which had been my husband's grandmother's, so we painted it to match the bed and dresser. And then at a flea market, I found this cool white lamp from that time period. The vase on the nightstand is a replica of an old-time lantern -- I found that at an antique shop in Mentone, Alabama. At the bottom of the nightstand there is something that looks like the old-timey telephones. It is actually just a music box I got at Helen, Georgia, but I thought it would fit nicely in this room. The quilt on the bed is not from that time period, but I bought it new from Linens and Things because I thought it was so pretty and would be colors my daughter would like.

On the dresser you can see some white crocheted pieces -- one was made by my other grandmother and my aunt made me two more to match that one since my grandmother is no longer living. See the candle on the dresser? It is called a "Courting Candle" and was used as a timer. When a young man went to court a young lady, it was proper for them to visit in the parlor for the evening. The young lady's father would light the candle and set the height of the flame above the spirals. When the flame burned down to the candleholder it was time for the young man to leave. If the young man was rich and showed some promise dad would raise the candle to give him more time. If he was a shady looking character dad would lower the candle and cut his time in half. My husband got this in Jonesboro, Georgia during a "Gone With the Wind" tour.
Now, I am very proud of my 1930/1940 room. I've got stuff from both of my sets of grandparents, something from my husband's grandmother, and something from my aunt. I'm sure HGTV would say it's too much of a "granny" room, but to me it is special to have things in my house that were once my grandparent's.

11 comments:

Sandi said...

Love the room! I have a dresser like that from my grandmother.

Amel said...

I LOVE this room! I would love staying there he he he...

The quilt is SO lovely. I'm sure your daughter'll love it.

I LOVE EVERYTHING about the room. Hey, THANKS for the explanation about the old courting days. I didn't know that!!!! ;-D

stacys1175 said...

The room is so pretty. your daughter will love it.and Im going to have to agree with amel the quilt is lovely. stacy

Kay Day said...

I love it! I think it's perfect.

roentare said...

Country style furniture and your blog is fine!

Sindi said...

Kat,

The room has a homey feel to it. I know your daughter will love to sleep in a room knowing that it was furnished with love and family history.

I also love to have old things. I get called old fasioned or little sussie home maker but I would not change me for nothing, that's me HE HE:)

I have been collecting old things from my family for years. You could say I throw a fit to get the things that were my grandparents and great grandparents. HE HE I am so bad:) HE HE

Stylin said...

Kathy,
I am so excited !!!I live in Jonesboro!!!The Gone with the wind mueseum is right next door to my church about 8 minutes from my home !!!In fact my mother-in-law had a gift store right in front of the mueseum!
That area is home to me !!
I love the stuff in the room,I ahve started collecting stuff that belonged to the grandmothers etc in my family too

Nina said...

Kathy,
You've done a great job with the room. I love antiques too. We have the dresser and chest my husband's parents started their marriage with. Sadly, the bed that went with it is gone. Antiques are great, but it's so much more special when they're heirlooms from your own family.

Missy said...

Kathy - the room is wonderful. The best part is that the furnishings are from family and placed in love. Thank you for sharing!

Kathy said...

Sandi, ah, that's neat that you have one of those dresser's too!

Amel, I would love to have you as a guest in that room sometime!

Stacy, thanks! Yes, my daughter does love the quilt also.

Kay, I agree with you!

Roentarre, thanks for stopping by!

Sindi, I'm with you, I'm just me with my own decorating ideas.

Frasypoo, oh, that is exciting! I didn't realize that was the city you live in! Maybe I'll get to do that tour one day.

Nina, thanks! Yes heirlooms are special.

Strawberry, Glad you liked it! It really is special to me.

Amel said...

Hi, Kathy,

Go claim your "I Love Your Blog" award here:

I Love Your Blog Award