In 1880, British designer William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” I think this statement could be taken one step further by adding, “or could last a lifetime.”
My favorite new podcast, The Sentimental Twist, has two ladies who talk a lot about things they’ve learned or inherited from their mothers and grandmothers. One of the hosts has a dining table that was her grandmother’s. The other host talks a lot about recipes that her mother used to make.
These are practices that truly resonate with me, and you’ll find them repeated throughout the Belle Antiquarian website. I believe in creating a heritage home that is centered around things that are useful, beautiful, and could last a lifetime, as well as traditions that bind us to the ones we love.
A Heritage Home Doesn’t Have to Be Inherited
My own story, however, doesn’t begin with inherited heirlooms and traditions. I don’t own my grandmother’s pearls; mine were a gift from my husband. My family’s traditional meals are ones that I have made every year since my husband and I were married, but I never ate them as a child. The antiques in my home were originally purchased by someone else.
A heritage home does not have to be inherited; it can be created by intentionally choosing what is worth keeping, establishing traditions worth continuing, and building a legacy that can be passed on to the generations that follow.
Creating a Heritage Home in an Age of Fast Decor
With the rapid onset of “fast fashion” in recent years, we’ve also seen an increase in fast decor. There has been a shift from purchasing items because of quality construction and durability to things that can be cheaply purchased, and then discarded, with each new trend.
Something that I have encouraged on Belle Antiquarian over the years is to decorate your home for the seasons by gathering items from your home and garden that reflect the seasons as they change, rather than purchasing something new for each one.
For example, a chinoiserie bowl can hold glass ornaments at Christmas, floating camelia flowers at a dinner party, or dyed eggs at Easter.
It is beautiful, useful, and can last a lifetime. It could have been a gift from your grandmother, or a Saturday morning antique store find. It’s the tradition of using it and passing it on that changes it from an ordinary object in your home into a treasured piece in a heritage home.
Choosing Furniture and Décor That Will Last
Some advertisers and influencers would have you believe that your seasonal décor must be on-trend. Unfortunately, some trends only last for a short time. In a heritage home, not only will pieces work in the same season each year, but they’ll be worth passing on to the next generation as well.
It becomes important to evaluate each item beyond its aesthetics. Many beautiful things are not made to last. Materials like solid wood, marble, and many metals have been used for centuries. Looking for these materials when you purchase a piece for your home will give it the best chance for longevity.
We recently painted the living room in our 1939 Colonial Revival home. As my husband and I were putting all the furniture and décor back into the room, we realized that there was only one piece of furniture in the room that we bought new. Everything else was purchased secondhand.
One piece that we’re still lacking is a coffee table. My husband has offered to take me to a variety of furniture stores to buy one, but I’ve noticed a change in the quality of some furniture in recent years. As I’m looking for a table, I’m keeping quality construction, durable materials, and timeless style in mind.
When we finally buy our coffee table, I don’t ever want to buy another one. Timeless pieces are less likely to be replaced due to changing trends, so it’s important to me to find a coffee table that is worth keeping.
Slow Decorating: Build a Home Over Time, Rather Than Buying a Look
Since I haven’t found the right coffee table for our home yet, that space will remain empty. I’m not interested in filling the void with something until I find one that I want to keep forever.
Your home is a work in progress. The story of your furnishings can be one that takes years to evolve. Whether it’s a piece of art to hang over the fireplace, a lamp for an end table, or a rug for a guest room, there is no reason to rush simply to fill an empty space.
Be the Beginning
When I think about The Sentimental Twist podcaster talking about her grandmother’s table, I feel a longing for family heirlooms in my own home. Inheriting an attic full of furniture is a gift. But to be honest, the reality is that very few people have that experience.
A family’s heirloom dining room table is certainly one to be treasured; however, the true beauty is that it was made to last through years of Thanksgiving meals where hands were held during the blessing.
If you’re like me, and you don’t have a box full of your mom’s recipes or a piece of furniture from your ancestors, you can be the one to create a heritage home. As you build your home around you, consider what William Morris (and I) said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful [or could last a lifetime].”
Maybe one day your family’s traditions and treasures will all be traced back to you.
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