This antique (1920s) Hoosier cabinet was among the items salvaged from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane. I never liked it, but it meant a lot to my grandmother, and to my mother, so I worked on refinishing it to make it more modern and neutral for my home. Here’a a recap of the process in part […]
heirloom restoration
Hoosier Cabinet Restoration (Part 1: Prep)
This antique (1920s) Hoosier cabinet was among the items salvaged from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane. I never liked it, but it meant a lot to my grandmother, and to my mother, so I worked on refinishing it to make it more modern and neutral for my home. Here’a a recap of the process in part […]
Magnolia Painting Restoration
Among the items salvaged from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane was an oil & acrylic painting of magnolias. And I only had a small hand in its restoration. Here’s a recap of its history, condition, and restoration. [Read the origin story of these heirloom restorations here: Heirloom Restoration] When I brought the painting home, I didn’t love […]
Sewing Rocker Restoration
This little antique (late 1800s, early 1900s maybe?) sewing rocker was among the items salvaged from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane. While the larger pressed back rocker was with the reupholsterer, I worked on refinishing this one to make it more modern and neutral for my home. Here’a a recap of the process. [Read the origin […]
Pressed Back Rocker Restoration
Among the items salvaged from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane, this antique (late 1800s, early 1900s maybe?) pressed back rocker is one of the coolest. And I only had a small hand in its restoration. Here’s a recap of its history, condition, and reupholstering. [Read the origin story of these heirloom restorations here: Heirloom Restoration] I’ve always […]
Dining Chairs Restoration
We salvaged these two dining chairs from my grandmother’s home post-hurricane, though to be honest, I almost left them behind. They have definitely seen better days; years of use, very dated upholstery, faded wood finish, and water damage from the hurricane. My friend convinced me to refinish them, and I’m so glad I did! Here’s […]
It’s No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk Glass
Grief shopping is a thing, right? Last month I rented a truck and drove to Louisiana to sort through things my mother salvaged from my grandmother’s house post-hurricane. Since they both passed away earlier this year, I had no idea what I’d find, but I had hoped to at least come home with a Hoosier […]
The Schooner Fanny 1885-1900
One of my favorite things salvaged from my grandmother Nonna’s home was an oil painting of my grandmother’s grandfather’s schooner. The stories Nonna told are very fuzzy in my memories, but with the painting and other items salvaged, I’ve found quite a few pictures and a handwritten story on the Fanny that makes this heirloom […]
Mirror Restoration
The first thing from my grandmother Nonna’s home that I restored was this heavy porcelain mirror from at least the 1960s, judging by its existence in old pictures. It was blue and ivory and very, very dirty. I didn’t love it, but I couldn’t leave it behind. Within a week I had this mirror cleaned, […]
Heirloom Restoration
My family has experienced a lot of tragedies this past year+, including a monster hurricane damaging my grandmother’s home in Louisiana, and then losing my grandmother and my mother most recently. Because of the water damage following the hurricane, I couldn’t handle being in the house after the storm. Physically or mentally. But my mother, […]