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 […]
heirlooms
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 […]
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, […]