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Houzz Call: Show Us Your Family Heirlooms

Is your home filled with meaningful inherited items? We want to see!

Brenna Malmberg April 2, 2017

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Over time, many of us inherit items from the generations that came before us. These pieces of furniture and decor fill our homes with more than just belongings. They fill a room with meaning and with lots of stories. Let’s take a look at how home dwellers across the country display and use their inherited pieces. Then we want to hear — and see — the stories behind your own family heirlooms. How do you display them? How do you use them? Show us in the Comments!

Shabby-chic Style Living Room by Sarah Greenman

Display as a collection. A wall of memories fills this Texas home’s foyer. The homeowner curated this collection of mementos and travel treasures to showcase her family’s story.

Read more about this Texas home

Eclectic Living Room by Elaine Musiwa

Use as intended. A New York apartment dweller likes to add personal touches throughout her home. She added a bunch of flowers to this carved chinoiserie vase that belonged to her grandmother, to brighten up the living room.

Read more about this Brooklyn apartment

Farmhouse Living Room by Jordana Nicholson

Jordana Nicholson

Save from being sold. Some family members might not think twice before selling their belongings to a stranger. If you know a relative is getting ready for a garage sale, politely ask, like the couple who owns the home seen here did, if you can bring a piece of their life into yours. These two blue velvet chairs, purchased by the husband’s parents right after they were married, add a beautiful pop of color to the home — and it wouldn’t have happened if the chairs had been sold at a garage sale.

Read more about this Missouri home

Contemporary Kids by Kelly Donovan

Furnish an even younger generation’s space. This child will get to experience the past because his parents added this antique roll-top desk in the corner of the room.

Read more about this New York cottage

Eclectic Dining Room by Corynne Pless

Replicate the past. The woman who owns the home seen here fondly remembers her grandfather by displaying his old Illinois license plate collection in the dining room. She hung them exactly as she saw them as a child hanging in his garage.

Read more about this Mississippi home

Farmhouse Bedroom by Theresa Fine

Give keepsakes a home. Depression-era quilts have a new home thanks to a daughter who inherited her mom’s quilt collection and love of vintage style. She purchased this antique cabinet, and the glass doors allow the quilts to be admired by all who stop by.

Read more about this Vermont home

Eclectic Kitchen by Corynne Pless

Keep the whole house. Why stop at a few pieces of furniture or some art on the wall when the whole house could be a family heirloom? The owners of the Los Angeles home seen here inherited it from the husband’s grandparents. Over time, they have made their own memories in the home to go along with all the ones from the past.

Read more about this Los Angeles home

Your turn: Share your family heirloom stories and photos in the Comments!

Flash Furniture Hercules Diplomat Series Brown Leather Chair

Flash Furniture Hercules Diplomat Series Brown Leather Chair

$421

Jack 84" Modern Tuxedo Tufted Sofa, Navy Blue Velvet

Jack 84" Modern Tuxedo Tufted Sofa, Navy Blue Velvet

$1,126

Baxton Studio Charlemagne Traditional French Accent Chair, Beige/Oak Brown

Baxton Studio Charlemagne Traditional French Accent Chair, Beige/Oak Brown

$483

Bianca Mid-Century Modern Distressed Lounge Chair, Light Gray Fabric

Bianca Mid-Century Modern Distressed Lounge Chair, Light Gray Fabric

$267

Accent Chair w/ Ottoman Round Arms Curved Back French Print Script, Beige

Accent Chair w/ Ottoman Round Arms Curved Back French Print Script, Beige

$170

Contemporary Silver Metal Sculpture 74779

Contemporary Silver Metal Sculpture 74779

$106

Comments (48)

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eaglenester

Many years of my own collecting and some pieces from family. It's good to display your keepsakes.

2 Likes April 23, 2017 at 9:25AM

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KSgmail

Fabulous oak buffet.

3 Likes April 23, 2017 at 4:51PM

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minischnauzlady

This is a fun post to look at and read the stories behind the items! I inherited these items from my dad's mother. The cupboard has been painted many times by others in the family- when it came to me, I found the original store sticker dated 1911! I scraped paint from the inside showing the various colors it had been. The dresser set came from the same grandmother; given to her by her brothers on her 13th birthday (she was born in 1904). It was to hold a powder box, nail buffer and boot hook, and is made from bakelight. I think of her every time I look at these items

3 Likes May 2, 2017 at 2:27PM

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