I have a beautiful wooden larder that's swapped ownership between family and family friends for almost half a century before eventually ending up with me. One former owner painted it bright yellow with black accents. It's... divisive, but I think it's gorgeous and I love it. It looks both modern and classic and it's a real eye catcher in my space. I also saved two beautiful, solid oak pieces from the literal trash at one point, a desk and a stool/sidetable. The owner literally tried to give them away for free, no takers. My grandparents will move into a smaller place soon, and I've been eyeing their handmade Persian rugs... It's great to have an appreciation for vintage styles, especially if you're on a budget, because that's how I ended up with half my furniture being secondhand IKEA, and the other half beautiful classic pieces you could drop from a cliff, and they'd still be salvagable.
this was nice of you to reassure us mere mortals that is OK to be "unfashionable" for loving our sentimental pieces. it's who we are. there are a lot of timid people who go along with trends cuz no one told them they didn't have to.
My rules for painting wood furniture- 1) if it’s a quality piece, don’t paint. Stain it to match your aesthetic. 2) if it’s a a questionable wood, think pine, it’s okay to paint. It’s far better to repurpose and have it last a bit longer than to buy something new. It’s far better for the environment and your wallet. 3) use quality cabinetry paint if you paint a wood piece.
I stripped my great grandmother's glass doored bookcase from the 1920s and it turned bright orange! I was hoping it was walnut, but nope. It was pine. Orangey pine. So I painted it a light mocha to match with my home. I tried living with it naturally for ten years, but it was just awful. It's much better this way
I bought a second hand 80s dresser with heavily stained golden oak. For $75 i definitely bought it for the construction but hated the color, so that was painted rather than strip it. I have ash furniture i bought bare and polyurethaned when I was in my 20s Its still my good looking bedroom furniture 40 years later!!
I like cherry wood and oak, which tends to be on the orange side but it usually has a more mellowed down, orange tone with a patina that makes it a big darker and not so bright.
Flashback to 1974 and my first house I was walking through Marshall Fields and saw a blue and white lamp I loved. I still remember it was $45 which doesn't sound like much but back then you could buy a lamp anywhere for 10 or 15 plus I had NO living room furniture yet!! I kept thinking about it and a month later someone gave me a little money on my birthday. I went right to the store and bought the lamp. Flash forward to 2023, after owning eight homes...I still have the lamp! Buy what you love and you will keep it.
I love this story very much! I have a vintage chandelier that my mom bought with her first paycheque back when she was a teenager. She kept it for over 50 years and now I treasure it…both for its beauty and because my mom loved it 🩷
Yes! I have some lamps and other pieces my parents from the 70s in my early 1900s house with dark oak wood trim paired with contemporary stuff and it all works because it all stuff I love.
In 1975, first year of teaching, purchased a cream coloured pure wool, British Indian carpet, from HBC. It cost more than a month’s salary. Still have it, still love it. They said it would last 25 years that was almost 50 years ago. Such a great purchase and still timeless.
Same here. 1973 bought a beautiful wool oriental carpet in neutral colors from an older woman who was moving, and I still have that carpet throughout many moves. Right now it’s in my bedroom and I still love that rug!
My landlady ripped off the beautiful oak hardwood floors years ago on the apartment I live in now. When I noticed them in other people's apartments in my building, she just said "oh, I was modernizing it" and so she replaced them with laminated wide planks (now they're not in the best condition but I manage). I really get along with her but she has no idea how DUMB that was.
I wouldn't assume that. I have lovely fir floors throughout my house, but the old man who lived here years ago used the back bedroom for a workshop. There is a horrible oil stain that will never come out. You don't know what some people can do to a place. She might not have wanted to speak ill of them, but I would think if she were "modernizing," then she would have taken out floors in the other units also.
@@joannebutzerin6448 you;'re assuming the landlady owns the entire building and not just one specific apartment within the building, as is increasingly common in areas that were historically owner-resident heavy
True. In my part of the country separately owned units are called condos, while apartments generally have a single owner or owner group. @@emryspaperart
Nick: “Classics are timeless and can work with any design style.” I couldn’t agree more. I have vintage rugs, a huge antique library bookcase, and a rattan sitting area, in my very contemporary style design, and it’s so rich looking. The mix is everything - it adds so much texture and depth to the design.
Yes! Especially with how solid wood are pricey, I think people get caight and up with trends too often, not realizing that a lot of vintage and natural designs carry lasting and priceless value. In some cases, it makes you take a second glance at these things in envy, cause timeless classics speaks on taste and culture.
Yes, especially since it can look really nice to mix styles and make it very easy- have one contemporary style and mix in a few traditional pieces, and it can make the space look so much more cozy and like a place you want to live in.
Plank width is interesting. Years ago I toured an old mansion and they said to note the plank widths. The narrowest planks were used in the formal rooms. As we went upstairs, the planks were wider in the personal family rooms, wider still in areas used by the help, and the really wide planks were used in the attic. The rationale was that narrow planks required more labor and were more expensive per square foot, so wealth was shown by the width of wood you used for people to walk on.
That’s good to know. I thought the planks in my place were narrow because they were cheaper than wider ones. They’re first growth timber, oak I think, and you can see the bottom of some in parts of the unfinished basement. There are small rectangular spaces in some areas and because this kind of flooring is common in my neighbourhood they sell bags of the pieces you can glue into these spaces when the old ones fall out. It’s quite the adventure living in old spaces and finding history when you renovate. My upstairs neighbours discovered the horsehair in the plaster.
Also, they typically used less expensive, softer woods in the less public spaces in a home: pine or fir as opposed to oak or maple in the public spaces.
@@jodynuttall3215 I just really thought it was interesting how things have changed. Since there are no old growth forests left, wide planks are more expensive since they are a limited resource. When wide planks were more abundant and wood was milled and shaped by hand, the narrow more labor intense planks were a sign of wealth. I still look at narrow planks and think gym or bowling alley. 😄
I'd also add moulding/millwork as things not to discard (provided it matches the architecture of the home). I do a lot of work on Craftsman homes and I'm always so happy when people haven't demolished the built-ins or removed the moulding above the doors or windows.
I lucked into a beautiful one owner home that has been beautifully cared for. Gunstock oak flooring, oak and maple trim, solid oak doors… A couple of the rooms had the trim painted but the majority of the house was in its original condition. I love vintage furniture and the craftsmanship that went into it.
Someone ripped out the craftsman arch in my house, put up wood paneling (this did mean I had one layer of paint and two layers of wallpaper to get to the plaster), and dropped the ceilings. They didn't completely remove the window trim but cut it all flush and removed the extra decorative top trim (also they didn't paint the living room and dinning room trim). But they also got rid of the baseboards and picture rail. At best I can say I still have the original wavy glass and leaded glass windows in my house. Part of the problem is that I think that it is douglas fur which is not an easy wood to get a hold of today. I removed the fiberglass tub in the bathroom and put in a vintage claw foot tub. My kitchen cabinets are in really great shape and I plan to keep the originals. I think it is important to pick your updates in an old house so they feel like they belong. A supper modern looking kitchen wouldn't feel right in my 1910 vernacular house. But updating the inner works of the house makes sense. My fixer upper is a mixed bag of past good and bad choices. I hope someone in the future doesn't curse my choices.
Most of my furniture are pieces I've collected over the last 30 years. They are solid wood from the 1700's and 1800's. The workmanship it took to carve the details with no electric power, is timeless and beautiful! I love and appreciate every one of them.
I do not understand people who follow design "trends," ESPECIALLY in a world of dwindling resources. KNOW what you love, BUY what you love, and KEEP what you love. The original capital outlay will very quickly resolve itself into a bargain. People who cycle through whatever is the trend du jour are ultimately trying to reinvent themselves rather than defining and refining their aesthetic.
Yes to this. In the 60s when my parents were furnishing their first little rental home, it was cheaper for them to drive from the south to New England, buy late 1700s/early 1800s country pieces then buy new. FF 60 years later and my home is filled with these antiques and memories of my parents and childhood. It’s fascinating to run your hand along corners softened by age and imagine the stories of their maker and former owners.
My great grandmother’s great uncle was a cabinet maker back in the mid 19th century. My grandmother wound up with some of his pieces. When she died, they wound up with me. I love them. They are all solid wood, mainly walnut and mahogany.
I’m with you, bought a house built in 1951 and the hardwood floors are stunning! And just pulled up the rug from the upstairs hall and stairs and found even more beautiful hardwood floors! I feel so lucky to have found them.
You are so fortunate! I, too, had a 1958 rancher that had solid oak flooring throughout the main floor. I had them refinished, threw down some oriental rugs, and BASKED in the beauty that those two features gave to the rooms. I recently moved, and although the rugs came with me, I miss those floors…
Back in the 70"s my Grandmother had an apartment that she decorated with so many plants and trees it felt like a rainforest. Amidst all of these plants she furnished it with wicker furnature. The very first thing you saw walking in the door was a HUGE peacock chair. The windows all had roll up stick blinds, and she covered the floor with "Old cheap and second hand throw rugs". As it turned out, I now realize they were hand made persian rugs that she got at yard sales and thrift shops. I'll never forget that place.
Oh lordy! I was sitting in a dentists office a few months back and they had some hgtv makeover show on... the homeowner was like, "this was my grandmother's hope chest, I really want to incorporate it into our space..." 5 seconds later, cut to the hosts sanding/cutting off all of the design flourishes on the wood and schlaping some paint over it 😢 I was about ready to break down in that waiting room.
Any cast iron tub, whether it has claw feet or not, is definitely worth holding on to because 1) it weighs too much to move & 2) it’s basically a thermos and will keep your bath warm a long time. Show that old tub some love with a nice re-glazing & invest in a really nice rain shower fixture for some luxe vibes.
I never thought about that- I have a 60s cast iron tub in ming green that I love but haven’t used for a bath. I feel silly for not thinking about how well it would retain heat compared to the newer tubs I’m used to!
Solid wood furniture is underrated. And thrift stores are full of it! I got a beautiful oak coffee table for like $20 & I’m pretty sure that thing could survive a nuclear war.
Yes!!! I got a gorgeous wooden wardrobe (just a little one, because I only needed a shelf, some drawers, and a tabletop basically) with lovely carved details between each drawer, and it's made me fall in love with my closet. Usually I don't like my closet because it's a very utilitarian space (I love clothes, but my closet is usually ugly). But that wardrobe has genuinely made it so fun to look at my closet, which is making me keep it a lot cleaner, too. It's a sturdy little thing, and it makes my clothes smell AMAZING (I think it's a dark oak, it doesn't look or smell like cedar). And it cost less than the last winter coat I bought!
Thrift stores are bare of anything worth driving there for All the resellers go there now so poor ppl have no way to buy clothes or have a dresser or kitchen table. It’s despicable.
I love how respectful towards the traditional style/pieces this conversation was, especially knowing that you’re not particularly a fan of vintage yourself. I personally love those beautiful timeless pieces mixed in with contemporary and it’s nice to talk about how people can continue to honor those beautiful pieces among different styles rather than keeping up with every trend. The pictures were great as well and i will be rewatching :)
Thanks for making feel better about my choices! I have mixed in old and new and just makes me happy! My kids are somewhat horrified that I have this one tiny corner cabinet with items from my Mom, grandma and even great gran. It looks like an old lady cabinet in the corner of a beautifully decorated room , but it makes me smile!
I'm with you, plus have a number of boxes in the basement with some gorgeous old things inside. Staffordshire, silver, things that could be valuable. NOT getting rid of it. :)
Sad that the young ones don't appreciate the effort that went into handmade things from the past. I know,sadly,that my mother's and grandmother's beautiful handmade things will just be thrown away when I die. Kids and grandkids don't care about anything that isn't "cool"
@@katella Stay as fit and healthy as you can because when they grow up and have kids and grandkids of their own, the perspective changes, and you want to be there to see it. :)
I have a friend who is an interior decorator. The first time he came to my home I felt very self-conscious about my rather eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories. He was actually so complementary and said that if you go with what you love it will always work together. So now I have an 1800s French China cabinet, it’s huge! Right next to a very modern vertical bookcase from design within reach. I have sentimental pieces like the corner cabinet made for me by my grandfather mixed with rugs that my parents brought back from Turkey and lots of leopard print😂
Sounds lovely ! True designers will work w/ what you have , blend new w/ old , classic w/ quirky , etc. & let your personality show so your home is a reflection of you , not them !
My parents married in 1957, with absolutely nothing. My dad’s grandparents gifted them a set of hand-me-down furniture that was what we used my entire childhood & early adulthood. At 59, I inherited the last surviving chair of the set which had lived for years on my Mom’s deck & now is inside at my house. I plan to refinish The Gramp Chair & continue its life as long as possible. I think the set was new in the 1940s.
Thanks for this video, Nick! Old, well made furniture is such a special find - so much history. My son's baby dresser (he is 45 now) was a refinished, painted dresser that had gone through Pearl Harbor and was brought back to the states. I have a couple very old drop leaf tables that belonged to my great-grandparents (late 1800s) which I place their pictures on. My grand-daughters have already 'claimed' which one they want! I live in a small town - my mom pulled a heavily painted, solid wood buffet/sideboard (whatever) from the alley trash, hosed/bleached it and used it for *years* in the mud room to hold laundry soap etc. Fast forward about 30 years (!) and living in a city and I wanted to try my hand at refinishing furniture, so Mom gave me that piece to 'practice' with. Found a special stripper that does not harm 'original patina' at a 'home show' and went to work. I didn't know the type of wood so took it to a specialty wood shop - guy said it was 'black walnut' and discussed how to refinish it with wax. Beautiful! Fast forward 15 years .... I live in same small town again, I work from home, client came in with a friend and the friend was mesmerized by the piece (in my living room) ... said it looked just like one her great-grandmother owned. After a short discussion we decided it was the same piece! (knowing who and where people lived helped) I, being very sentimental, offered it to her - she declined saying she was just glad it is being loved and cared for again!
What delightful synchronicity. Yep, as long as it's being loved and cared for, that's all that matters. Congrats on the restoration. I wouldn't be that brave!
When I moved from a studio apt. to a much larger apt. I moved some pieces of furniture from my parent's house that were purchased by them when they built their house in 1955 and LOVE them. Beautiful and in pristine condition. I look at them everyday and it makes me so so happy.
If you price out the new dressers or side tables at West Elm or Crate and Barrel, the savvy shopper will quickly look at vintage-better furniture at a fraction of the price. Example: my 1960’s solid wood danish modern dining table (with leaves and a table protector) was $225 on a Craigslist sale. Anything similar brand new was going to be at least $2500!
For anyone who insists on painting wood furniture ... clean it well, then add a coat of shellac before painting. Not only does the shellac make a good primer, but if you or someone else wants to strip off the paint later, it makes stripping much easier.
It’s much easier to restore painted furniture (especially primed with shellac) than stained furniture! While I don’t like seeing beautiful vintage pieces painted, at least they are protected this way. But seeing them stained hurts me in my soul because that often cannot be undone.
That is a rule I have always stuck to! Very much agree! I had my share of painted furniture so I chose to leave them alone at this point and instead refinish or refresh them and keep them original! Pieces that aren’t super rare or true antique I will paint to bring out all the details! But thats my limit! Leave antiques alone!
Love that you make these types of videos. Too often, the so-called "experts" influence what we're "suppose" to be buying or how we're "suppose" to be decorating. It's refreshing to have a real expert come on and make us feel better about holding on to some of these vintage and heirloom pieces. 🙂
Thank you for saying if it doesn't fit you it's ok to sell it. I inherited my great-grandmother's mahogany bedroom set. Three beautiful pieces, but they were huge and overwhelmed any bedroom I have ever had. I carted these pieces from coast to coast for twenty years. I finally donated them to Goodwill so someone else might appreciate them but have felt guilty every since but I don't miss them. They were never going to fit in any house I have.
I would also add don't paint wood trim. One of the things I love about old homes in Tasmania is that people, largely respect the natural Tasmanian timbers used in them and have not, over the decades painted them. This is, of course, changing as wealthy house flippers and AirBnBers have bought up large swathes of real estate, pushing up the property prices ridiculously and "modernising" traditional homes. Vandals!
I'm a NCIDQ licensed career architectural interior designer, mostly commercial. Now moving into creating artwork, something I promised I would for years. I've worked long enough in the Chicago area and worked for a time at the Merchandise Mart to see fabrics and furniture etc recycle over and over again in different formats. I own a 60's walnut desk and credenza with the woven rattan fronts ( dentist dad office), a 1880s rosewood game table ( grandma), a craftsman inspired oak grandfather clock that still works, FLW inspired with spindles cherry rectangle dining table about 25 yrs old, a Baker Thomas Pheasant large bronze urn, a Laura Kirar Melon bulb floor lamp along with a number of other items that I will not get rid of. Eclectic design in my home so I change it up with wall paint, straight clean open linen weave tall panels on our windows, neutral at this time area rugs on lighter natural wood floors. I have a few colorful geometric design woven area rugs that have been tucked away for another time. AND I just purchased a Herman Miller Noguchi table, walnut base new....yes I did it.......waited 25 yrs for that and I don't care if its been overdone 😊
Thank you for this video, Nick! Especially though you are not a "vintage-person" (I am). Thank you for respecting craftmanship, materials and history of these items! This needs to be said often and loudly.
Just found your channel but really enjoy your thoughts. Side note - I've restored 3 clawfoot tubs for our two 100+ year old houses and I LOVE them. They are heavy as heck - especially when you ask your husband and friend to get it upstairs but it was the best birthday gift to get it installed. I always feel like the design style should fit the house style so I love a lot of different styles if they fit with the space. Thanks
I was gifted yrs ago, a sofa & loves seat set. All solid beautiful wood with throw pillow type cushions to sit on. Very 1970s Ethan Allen Heritage. I just love it. Many have commented on I should get rid of them, but I love the wood and have over time updated the seat covers. I have a very cottagecore/english style of home, and the set fits so beautifully with that style. Thank you for saying it's ok not to toss just because it might not be trending. 1:57
Yay, Nick! My grandparents and parents were both antique dealers. I learned the value of real quality pieces. Painting reproductions is fine with me. I’ve seen many images of an Eames lounger on a traditional Persian rug. Beautiful!
An antique dealer from my knitting group explained it this way: if it’s mass produced (loosely, ‘vintage’ not antique) you’re not really devaluing the price itself; that’s just going to depend on trends and the market value of what’s in style. Whether you paint or refinish/restore is going to depend on what you like. If it’s not mass produced, be careful. You can ruin antiques by painting or refinishing. Having it appraised first is probably your best move.
So how does anything ever get to be antique in the future if it can be painted today? I prefer Nick’s approach as it preserves for future generations and doesn’t just serve the tastes and economic realities of today.
Thanks for affirming my decision to keep my old wood flooring in the 100 year old home we renovated after retiring! We .ove them and would never have gotten rid of them. We had them refinished, and luckily had enough to cover the main living space as well as the kitchen ! Unfortunately, I did paint some old pieces of wood furniture , I guess I can sand them and bring back the wood! 😢
We live in this throw it away and get brand new sort of country and unfortunately a lot of the furniture is poorly made out of not that great materials.Our economy depends on the buy buy buy mindset and the advertising convinces us as to what is in style, or should I say trending.All of this works against valuing or holding onto "old"stuff .It's nice to see a video encouraging people to appreciate good guality,thanks.
My dining table and chairs are a solid oak set that my parents bought used when they got married in 1950. It's probably 1930s, originally with a bleached finish and painted flowers. We used it as a playroom table when I was a kid, then my dad and I refinished it. I might refinish it again one of these days, but I'll never get rid of it, even though the chairs are not the most comfortable in the world. Dad reglued and rescrewed all the loose joints back in 1989, and it's still solid as a rock.
I have almost NOTHING new in my house. I refinished my grandmother's Cherry wood furniture. I reupholstered and repaired my sofas. Rescued and rewired crystal chandeliers. I have 6 Antique and Vintage Persian rugs. Super Cool Fenton Bud Vase collection that people walk into my house and woo and aww over. Timeless pieces can work always in a space. I change the art around but go with the classics and used. Really gives my space the wow factor. I even shopped my family's old stuff in order to give my daughter a super awesome room. It was fun going around and collecting unwanted items from family and friends and really giving it all new life and seeing my family flip out with how great it was.
I used to own a townhouse built in 1958. The kitchen was original (except the white goods of course). I loved those solid wood, beautifully restored cupboards. I replaced the floor and backsplash tiling from 70’s with tiles that could have been produced in the late 50’s. After selling the house I was invited back but my former neighbours told me the new owners had ripped out the kitchen and replaced it with IKEA’s “finest”. I never went back! 😢
My parents’ house still has its original 1956 aqua blue oven installed at the perfect height in the wall. None of the other appliances match it, of course, but gosh I love that oven. If they ever sell, I’m going to ask them to save it for me.
Ok....im really happy you posted this. I have inherited many gorgeous pieces of very old furniture that were totally handmade. The dovetails are all different and super thick wood. They are dark wood(antique black walnut) my taste leads to modern sleak and straight. I have been toying with selling them but now after your talk Im going to keep these pieces. To buy these pieces new as today, i could never afford these pieces. Your talk cemented it for me. Im going to meld them in with accessories and make it work.
I always want to have a home like a Nancy Meyers movie set. Hardwood floors under wool rugs, botanicals, books, neutral colors... Eventually I will get it right. An inherited dresser and handmade occasional table are my starter pieces. Wish me luck! Love your videos ❤
This is a cry from my heart! I have the same persian rug for 30 years and it still looks perfect. Mixed in with a 19th century armoire and modern furniture. Obviously, I live in Europe...
I had the opposite experience of painting furniture. I bought a 1950s era, traditional bachelor’s chest with a white Formica top and white factory painted finish. I got curious about it and stripped off all that white paint. The frame and drawers were walnut. WALNUT! I had to paint the Formica (black), but that walnut is now the star.
It’s content like this that makes me love your channel. You don’t force your design style on anyone (not even the farmhouse lovers 😅), and you were objective in your commentary. I personally love a mix of modern and vintage. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing my grandmother’s solid wood china closet in my parents’ entry way or my great grandmother’s mahogany table she received as a wedding gift in the living room styled with family photos and a vase. There is value to these gems.
My aunt cut the legs off their dining room table to coffee table height. They had had it all the yrs raising 8 kids and now were going to early colonial style room by room. They didn’t use any leaves but it was still a rather large table. This was back in the late 70s so it was quite novel. They left it same color (it had been streaky painted blueish greenish in the early 60s as a garage sale find) and placed the captain’s chair in same room. Massive legs. When they died, the kids fought over that piece lol It rly did work & no one dared touch that color after so many decades!
I inherited my childhood home. Both my parents lived into their 90s and so lived in the home for a long time. So there is a natural mix of styles. Furniture from the 30s to the 70s. Wicker from the 50s and 70s. Mid century modern. Traditional mahogany. Barcelona chairs. I like very modern styles so at first I planned on selling the furniture and replacing it with pieces more my style. Problem is that I couldn't replace the old pieces with anything approaching the quality of the old solid wood quality built pieces. So I reluctantly decided to keep it. I am so so glad I did. These old pieces really are beautiful and sturdy and worthy of respect. I mixed them with some more modern pieces and modern decor and lamps and I think it all works together and is beautiful. I feel very fortunate. I inherited a treasure trove. I pulled up the old wall to wall carpet and found the original red oak hardwood floor throughout. I decided I didn't want them to look new. So I didn't refinish them and left the imperfections. I used a product called Rejuvenate and the imperfect floors look gorgeous. Thanks for this video and I agree 💯
As a regular bath taker with muscle issues, I absolutely adore a clawfoot tub! They’re built with the shape of your back in mind to maximize comfort. Also, way deeper so that your whole body can soak. It’s always a high priority on my list when apartment hunting.
I have been blessed to have been gifted a 9X12 rag rug made by my Great Grandparents on their 4 harness loom for my parents. It is beautiful, rich jewel tones--shades of red, navy, green with a touch of orange and brown. It needs to be bound on the edges and cleaned, but I am so excited. I even have a picture of my Great Grandma at her loom. Really enjoyed this post. I love timeless pieces.
I agree with you 100%! I keep my vintage pieces… I’m aware that such quality items will not be made as well in the future. If you find it, it will cost you a fortune! Thank you for sharing. You certainly know what you’re talking about! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Great video. Updating a dated piece of furniture to whats "in" now just means it will be dated again soon-ish. So restoring and styling in a way that is modern by using other pieces might be smarter.
We were lucky enough to find an incredible vintage wool rug, sold by a guy in a dirty little tattoo shop in a random side street, for just £50, and it is absolutely an heirloom quality piece. We’ve had it in multiple rooms through multiple houses, and despite the colour (rosy red, beige and green) and the overtly traditional style, it really does just seamlessly fit in anywhere.
7:25 Only tangible gift I got from a sibling (we grew up separately and gift cards are a safe option) was a four legged ceramic piece, not sure if meant for a candle. Sister gave it to me because she didn't want because the feet were uneven. I simply stacked felt pads, looks a little odd, but works great for wallet, keys, and coins. So appreciate inclusion of sentimental.
Great video Nick, it is so nice when an interior designer is able to 'sell' a style that isn't their personal favourite. Personally I like to see a modern piece or two in a traditional space, or vicey versy.
Thank you! I needed a voice in my corner to convince my husband that we need to refinish, not replace, the solid hardwook flooring in the house we bought in 2019 (that was built in 1981).
I have A LOT of French pieces and I wonder if they'll be on this list. French country, french provincial, french cottage - You name it, if it's French inspired, I have it. LOVE IT ALL!
Your best video to date, I still have a plantation rice bed and kitchen table the kids grew up with them and now the grands are eating at the same table and sleeping in the same bed, and it does my heart good. And I have a coffee table from my grandmother, priceless
My home decor consists of pieces acquired from inheritances, thrift and consignment stores, garage and estate sales, rubbish days, and some ‘new’ furniture purchased 40 years ago. You don’t have to spend a lot of money( or any) to get beautiful furnishings.
It’s so nice to see a video that helps point out the beauty of natural materials and furniture that may be absent on newer pieces and not just getting rid of everything that isn’t currently in style. I seem to remember you have an awesome framed placard off of a bus or a trolley that was your grandfathers that you framed. Those are the kind of stories that make a room interesting.
Please, encourage anyone and everyone to shellac wood pieces if they must paint ( when they feel they must, because it is inevitable). Two coats of shellac will act as a primer AND protect the wood pores from the paint so that a heat gun will be able to later remove the paint. It’ll still be time consuming, but it WILL be removable. Please. And thank you for this video, Nick! You’re speaking my language! ❤
Real Wood pieces should be kept unpainted. Same with brick. I see all these shows painting the brick and I yell at the television "sure it looks good for the show but you'll soon regret that!" I have my grandmother's farmhouse kitchen cabinet she used for her dishes -- must have been repainted every decade given the number of paint layers on it. It's in my garage holding guitar parts (I build guitars) until I get the ambition to strip and refinish it back to original (I think it's 1920-30s, she used to buy a lot of second hand items back then). Don't forget that old upholstered furniture can be recovered with modern fabrics to fit nearly every decor. Agree on old floors. Even if you need to pull out a thousand staples from an errant linoleum project, do it and sand the floor to refinish and you'll get more complements on that fantastic old flooring than any modern 'wide plank' engineered product.
This is excellent advice !! I’m 68 & have seen trends come & go. My professional life was around interior design & furniture retail. Listen to what he’s saying ⭐️
I have a hook rug that’s 5’x3’ and whoever made it” hooked” the date 1964 and their initials LM in it and it’s beautiful. I’ve been wanting to display it on a wall but for now it’s in my bedroom where there is not much foot traffic. Great video Nick!!
fun fact, handmade persian carpets increase in value as they age. the patterns you displayaed are very nice but the truly valuable stonishing persian carpets are from: Tabriz, Kashan, Qom, Naeen and Kashmar... Ps, Always go with a persian if you want to buy one or esle you might pay double
In the 80s, an acquaintance bought a home built in the early 1900s. It had some aweful 70s shag in the living room, hall and bedrooms. The husband was a carpenter, and they bought this home having significant skills to renovate properly. (The kitchen wooden cabinets had numerous layers of paint, the current coat being blood red, lol) Anyway, when they worked in the floors, the layers went something like this. Ugly, dirty shag carpet, rotten underlayer, some other thread bare carpet, 1950's lino, 1940's grey lino with huge red flowers in the design, several layers of paint and THEN! Two inch thick, solid, bird's eye maple hardwood! They just about fainted. The value of that flooring at the time was probably close to what they paid for the house. I don't think this wood is even available now, at least to mere mortals.
Omg the only thing I have seen like that is the solid heart Redwood used to build my landlord’s 1906 Victorian. Fortunately the previous owner restored everything. Not even possible to get this anymore since they cut down all the old growth Redwoods long ago.
Some young homeowners near us bought a pristine 1920's cottage and promptly painted its original, tiger oak front door with flat finish turquoise paint. I die a little every time I glance while driving by. (I know it's not my house, my door, I know that.)
Ohhhh I loved this video!! So much of you tube design culture aims to tell us what we should do with our homes and what’s no longer OK for our homes. It sends us to the stores for what’s on trend over and over in a perpetual cycle. How about focusing on quality and soul and meaning in our interiors? Sometimes that means hanging onto quality items that speak to our hearts. Love this Nick!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving wonderful pieces from mistreatment and from landfills, and for encouraging an appreciation for the history, workmanship and quality of the past.
I have a buffet my folks bought pre 1960. I also have my mom’s china cabinet from the late 70s. My mom always believed in buying quality furniture to last a lifetime. Both pieces are gorgeous. I will never paint them. The buffet has been through many moves, many kids, many dustings and cleanings and still looks nearly new.
My 1948 house had surprise unmolested narrow oak. I had a carpenter sand it, very slight stain it, and three coats of poly. My 1965 house also has narrow oak.
Love this ! The only things I don't have are hard wood floors (I wish ) and a claw foot bath .I adore solid wood furniture and Persian rugs and am lucky enough to have both .Our living room rug was gifted to us ,it's pure wool and has shrugged off cat claws ,little children and years of high traffic use .I have been using a wicker 2 drawer chest as a bedside table for years ,a very useful and sturdy thing it is too .I think the best thing about good quality ,vintage pieces is that they get worn in instead of worn out ,a few knocks and scrapes don't matter and they become old ,familiar friends .
This is one of my favorite videos you've done. I enjoy them all, but as I look at the solid wood 150 plus years old stepback cupboard in my kitchen, I'm reminded it needs a good lemon oil rub down. Painting...NEVER!
Almost all of our furniture is vintage or antique. I feel that an "out-of-date" piece like my Barrister's Bookcases (or a clawfoot tub) helps to ground a room - adding history or gravitas. I agree about not painting old furniture, but one could have a piece refinished and lightened up!
I give so much away, most times I don’t regret that but there are a few things I kick myself for letting go. I’m the opposite of a hoarder, I just let go. Thank you for this!✨🙏❤️
You have been in my house! 19th-century case goods, vintage Oriental rugs, knick-knacks from travels, vintage wicker on the porch, and a clawfoot tub in the bathroom. A big advantage of those tubs that Nick didn't mention is that they keep the water hot a lot longer than new tubs. Ours was a cast iron core covered with porcelain and it was luxurious to sink into that hot water and soak with a good book to read and nobody bothering you.
I've been caring for my 97 year old Mom for several years. Keeps me tethered to the house, but I've taken the opportunity to have the furniture I remember growing up prompt many childhood memories. Beautiful solid cherry from my parents original bedroom suite, pieces from my first bedroom suite, fit for a princess with Ethan Allen antique white nightstand and desk, huge solid brass planters and on and on. I've been decluttering but plan on keeping all of these old pieces, finish left untouched. I could use your help Nick, you would be perfect!
I bought a 1930's or '40's rolled arm sofa and chair from a couple who had a small business restoring old pieces. They kept a list of people who wanted vintage sofas and chairs. She would find the battered pieces, and they would call the people on their list to come have a look. If you were next on the list and liked the piece, he would restore and reupholster in the fabric of your choice. I've had my sofa and chair since 1980, and have reupholstered once. Solid hardwood construction, weigh a ton. Beautiful and comfortable--and will apparently outlast me! I hope I can find an appreciative next owner for them....
You are such a reliable source of good ideas, taste and common sense. This was a great video, and i agree with you. Keep the good quality stuff, it pays off. I bought a persian silk rug at an local action for 80 dollars (translated to canadian dollars), and got it valued at nearly 500 dollars. Keep the good stuff or sell it, just dont throw it away.
Great video! You are so right Nick. I have been decorating long enough to realize that even though my taste changes there are certain key elements that I always come back to. For example, we bought a beautiful armoire for our first apartment years ago to hold our tv. We used it for years, then put in in storage when our taste and needs changed. Now we have it out again and I love it. Surrounded by my current decor style it looks great.
I work in so many peoples homes and see so many things. My favorite homes are where the owners are confident in what they like. Personal art and objects and generally a more relaxed approach. They also seem to be happier.
I have had some large ginger jars, framed pictures, and furniture that i gave to my daughter for her first home. I enjoyed them for 40 years and now I enjoy them in her home.
I do have some solid wood pieces that were a 90s honey color, very yellowish. I had them sanded and stained a darker walnut color and changed the pulls. They look so gorgeous how and integrate perfectly in my home.
Nick, this is one of my favorite videos of yours! Right now we’re staying at an AirBnB cabin on a lake and when I first walked in the door, I was hit by an overwhelming sense of comfort and nostalgia. The solid wood furniture, beautiful wood cabinetry, ornate detailing, wide staircase with runner and wood banister, warm deep yellow paint accented by white molding, gorgeous moody sconces. I feel like I’m in an episode of my favorite 90’s sitcom. It feels like home! Your video came at the perfect time to solidify in my mind that I absolutely need to be holding on to my timeless pieces.
I have a beautiful wooden larder that's swapped ownership between family and family friends for almost half a century before eventually ending up with me. One former owner painted it bright yellow with black accents. It's... divisive, but I think it's gorgeous and I love it. It looks both modern and classic and it's a real eye catcher in my space.
I also saved two beautiful, solid oak pieces from the literal trash at one point, a desk and a stool/sidetable. The owner literally tried to give them away for free, no takers.
My grandparents will move into a smaller place soon, and I've been eyeing their handmade Persian rugs... It's great to have an appreciation for vintage styles, especially if you're on a budget, because that's how I ended up with half my furniture being secondhand IKEA, and the other half beautiful classic pieces you could drop from a cliff, and they'd still be salvagable.
this was nice of you to reassure us mere mortals that is OK to be "unfashionable" for loving our sentimental pieces. it's who we are. there are a lot of timid people who go along with trends cuz no one told them they didn't have to.
😂 great comment.
My rules for painting wood furniture- 1) if it’s a quality piece, don’t paint. Stain it to match your aesthetic. 2) if it’s a a questionable wood, think pine, it’s okay to paint. It’s far better to repurpose and have it last a bit longer than to buy something new. It’s far better for the environment and your wallet. 3) use quality cabinetry paint if you paint a wood piece.
I stripped my great grandmother's glass doored bookcase from the 1920s and it turned bright orange! I was hoping it was walnut, but nope. It was pine. Orangey pine. So I painted it a light mocha to match with my home. I tried living with it naturally for ten years, but it was just awful. It's much better this way
Yeah, pretty much. I don't really mind the painted wood so much, but the distressing makes me stabby. I hate it. So much.
I bought a second hand 80s dresser with heavily stained golden oak. For $75 i definitely bought it for the construction but hated the color, so that was painted rather than strip it. I have ash furniture i bought bare and polyurethaned when I was in my 20s
Its still my good looking bedroom furniture 40 years later!!
Better put on my glasses.. I read "quality cranberry paint:...fauly specific!
I like cherry wood and oak, which tends to be on the orange side but it usually has a more mellowed down, orange tone with a patina that makes it a big darker and not so bright.
Thanks for taking a stand AGAINST painting old wood pieces. Breaks my heart every time.
Flashback to 1974 and my first house I was walking through Marshall Fields and saw a blue and white lamp I loved. I still remember it was $45 which doesn't sound like much but back then you could buy a lamp anywhere for 10 or 15 plus I had NO living room furniture yet!! I kept thinking about it and a month later someone gave me a little money on my birthday. I went right to the store and bought the lamp. Flash forward to 2023, after owning eight homes...I still have the lamp! Buy what you love and you will keep it.
Yes!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤
I love this story very much! I have a vintage chandelier that my mom bought with her first paycheque back when she was a teenager. She kept it for over 50 years and now I treasure it…both for its beauty and because my mom loved it 🩷
Yes! I have some lamps and other pieces my parents from the 70s in my early 1900s house with dark oak wood trim paired with contemporary stuff and it all works because it all stuff I love.
You had me at “I was walking through Marshall Fields . . .” ❤ I really, really miss Marshall Fields.
Best advice❤
...a subject that's not talked about often enough! Thanks
Agreed.
In 1975, first year of teaching, purchased a cream coloured pure wool, British Indian carpet, from HBC. It cost more than a month’s salary. Still have it, still love it. They said it would last 25 years that was almost 50 years ago. Such a great purchase and still timeless.
Good quality carpets will last more than a life time - depending one traffic area and proper care.
Same here. 1973 bought a beautiful wool oriental carpet in neutral colors from an older woman who was moving, and I still have that carpet throughout many moves. Right now it’s in my bedroom and I still love that rug!
My landlady ripped off the beautiful oak hardwood floors years ago on the apartment I live in now. When I noticed them in other people's apartments in my building, she just said "oh, I was modernizing it" and so she replaced them with laminated wide planks (now they're not in the best condition but I manage). I really get along with her but she has no idea how DUMB that was.
I wouldn't assume that. I have lovely fir floors throughout my house, but the old man who lived here years ago used the back bedroom for a workshop. There is a horrible oil stain that will never come out. You don't know what some people can do to a place. She might not have wanted to speak ill of them, but I would think if she were "modernizing," then she would have taken out floors in the other units also.
Yes, some stains go all the way through the wood, making restoring them impossible.
I lived in an apartment with old teak floors with lots of cigarette burns. The owner asked me if I minded. I said I loved the character.
@@joannebutzerin6448 you;'re assuming the landlady owns the entire building and not just one specific apartment within the building, as is increasingly common in areas that were historically owner-resident heavy
True. In my part of the country separately owned units are called condos, while apartments generally have a single owner or owner group.
@@emryspaperart
Nick: “Classics are timeless and can work with any design style.”
I couldn’t agree more. I have vintage rugs, a huge antique library bookcase, and a rattan sitting area, in my very contemporary style design, and it’s so rich looking. The mix is everything - it adds so much texture and depth to the design.
Yes! Especially with how solid wood are pricey, I think people get caight and up with trends too often, not realizing that a lot of vintage and natural designs carry lasting and priceless value. In some cases, it makes you take a second glance at these things in envy, cause timeless classics speaks on taste and culture.
Your home sounds lovely.
Yes, especially since it can look really nice to mix styles and make it very easy- have one contemporary style and mix in a few traditional pieces, and it can make the space look so much more cozy and like a place you want to live in.
It adds "soul". 👍🏻
I have never been one to mix styles by choice.
Plank width is interesting. Years ago I toured an old mansion and they said to note the plank widths. The narrowest planks were used in the formal rooms. As we went upstairs, the planks were wider in the personal family rooms, wider still in areas used by the help, and the really wide planks were used in the attic. The rationale was that narrow planks required more labor and were more expensive per square foot, so wealth was shown by the width of wood you used for people to walk on.
That’s good to know. I thought the planks in my place were narrow because they were cheaper than wider ones. They’re first growth timber, oak I think, and you can see the bottom of some in parts of the unfinished basement. There are small rectangular spaces in some areas and because this kind of flooring is common in my neighbourhood they sell bags of the pieces you can glue into these spaces when the old ones fall out.
It’s quite the adventure living in old spaces and finding history when you renovate. My upstairs neighbours discovered the horsehair in the plaster.
Also, they typically used less expensive, softer woods in the less public spaces in a home: pine or fir as opposed to oak or maple in the public spaces.
@@jodynuttall3215 I just really thought it was interesting how things have changed. Since there are no old growth forests left, wide planks are more expensive since they are a limited resource. When wide planks were more abundant and wood was milled and shaped by hand, the narrow more labor intense planks were a sign of wealth. I still look at narrow planks and think gym or bowling alley. 😄
@@kailee5694 in some rooms they even put hardwood around the edges, and a cheaper soft wood in the middle where it would be covered by a rug.
@jodynuttall3215 right. And soft pine cannot be used as a viable hardwood floor. It's only purpose is as a subfloor
I'd also add moulding/millwork as things not to discard (provided it matches the architecture of the home). I do a lot of work on Craftsman homes and I'm always so happy when people haven't demolished the built-ins or removed the moulding above the doors or windows.
Or painted the brick fireplace!
We saw many craftsman windows, builtin cabinets, and moulding demolished (before and after sales listing photos). It was truly sad to see.
I lucked into a beautiful one owner home that has been beautifully cared for. Gunstock oak flooring, oak and maple trim, solid oak doors… A couple of the rooms had the trim painted but the majority of the house was in its original condition. I love vintage furniture and the craftsmanship that went into it.
@@33JenesisAs someone who dreams of affording a nice old craftsman one day, it hurts my soul when people tear out the stuff I’m dying to have.
Someone ripped out the craftsman arch in my house, put up wood paneling (this did mean I had one layer of paint and two layers of wallpaper to get to the plaster), and dropped the ceilings. They didn't completely remove the window trim but cut it all flush and removed the extra decorative top trim (also they didn't paint the living room and dinning room trim). But they also got rid of the baseboards and picture rail. At best I can say I still have the original wavy glass and leaded glass windows in my house. Part of the problem is that I think that it is douglas fur which is not an easy wood to get a hold of today. I removed the fiberglass tub in the bathroom and put in a vintage claw foot tub. My kitchen cabinets are in really great shape and I plan to keep the originals. I think it is important to pick your updates in an old house so they feel like they belong. A supper modern looking kitchen wouldn't feel right in my 1910 vernacular house. But updating the inner works of the house makes sense. My fixer upper is a mixed bag of past good and bad choices. I hope someone in the future doesn't curse my choices.
Yes, paint up that cheap furniture, but leave the good stuff alone :) ❤
So agree.
Agree!
Painting solid wooden furniture: "I understand it ... but I'm also saying don't do it" Funniest, most insightful Nick so far this year!
Most of my furniture are pieces I've collected over the last 30 years. They are solid wood from the 1700's and 1800's. The workmanship it took to carve the details with no electric power, is timeless and beautiful! I love and appreciate every one of them.
I do not understand people who follow design "trends," ESPECIALLY in a world of dwindling resources. KNOW what you love, BUY what you love, and KEEP what you love. The original capital outlay will very quickly resolve itself into a bargain. People who cycle through whatever is the trend du jour are ultimately trying to reinvent themselves rather than defining and refining their aesthetic.
Yes to this. In the 60s when my parents were furnishing their first little rental home, it was cheaper for them to drive from the south to New England, buy late 1700s/early 1800s country pieces then buy new. FF 60 years later and my home is filled with these antiques and memories of my parents and childhood. It’s fascinating to run your hand along corners softened by age and imagine the stories of their maker and former owners.
My great grandmother’s great uncle was a cabinet maker back in the mid 19th century. My grandmother wound up with some of his pieces. When she died, they wound up with me. I love them. They are all solid wood, mainly walnut and mahogany.
WOW
That’s incredible
Bought this house last year and found the original hardwood floors from 1958 under the very worn carpet :D I LOOOOOVE them!
I’m with you, bought a house built in 1951 and the hardwood floors are stunning! And just pulled up the rug from the upstairs hall and stairs and found even more beautiful hardwood floors! I feel so lucky to have found them.
You are so fortunate! I, too, had a 1958 rancher that had solid oak flooring throughout the main floor. I had them refinished, threw down some oriental rugs, and BASKED in the beauty that those two features gave to the rooms. I recently moved, and although the rugs came with me, I miss those floors…
That is a dream! Yayyyy for original wood floors
Were the floors orangey? My wood floors that had had carpet on them were orange sorta. The floors were from 1948 when they just laid rugs on them.
@@YeshuaKingMessiah a slight orange to them so someday I want to stain them Im just super happy they are in great condition and are solid wood :D
Back in the 70"s my Grandmother had an apartment that she decorated with so many plants and trees it felt like a rainforest. Amidst all of these plants she furnished it with wicker furnature. The very first thing you saw walking in the door was a HUGE peacock chair. The windows all had roll up stick blinds, and she covered the floor with "Old cheap and second hand throw rugs". As it turned out, I now realize they were hand made persian rugs that she got at yard sales and thrift shops. I'll never forget that place.
sounds like a place I would love
Oh, it sounds LOVELY!
Gosh I am amazed she got those cheap. Never saw such in Aus and I was desperate for an old cheap Persian or whatever rug.
@@StevenBishop-c9r Did I mention that she was going thru Turbin and Caftan phase at the time...Yah, Grandma was a true hippy at heart. Always edgy.
Oh lordy! I was sitting in a dentists office a few months back and they had some hgtv makeover show on... the homeowner was like, "this was my grandmother's hope chest, I really want to incorporate it into our space..." 5 seconds later, cut to the hosts sanding/cutting off all of the design flourishes on the wood and schlaping some paint over it 😢 I was about ready to break down in that waiting room.
HGTV are the Einsteins who champion painting brick houses as well. And all that gray... Somebody. Please. Stop. Them!!!!
Any cast iron tub, whether it has claw feet or not, is definitely worth holding on to because 1) it weighs too much to move & 2) it’s basically a thermos and will keep your bath warm a long time. Show that old tub some love with a nice re-glazing & invest in a really nice rain shower fixture for some luxe vibes.
I never thought about that- I have a 60s cast iron tub in ming green that I love but haven’t used for a bath. I feel silly for not thinking about how well it would retain heat compared to the newer tubs I’m used to!
You also have to keep the claw foot tub when the entire home renovation was built around it because it sure won’t fit through the door.
Until you age to the point where getting out of it is dangerous
@@juliebbb6031 A bit too heavy to move, too.
@@joswearingen3507 There are conversion kits to make that easier. Not sure how $$$ that is.
Solid wood furniture is underrated. And thrift stores are full of it! I got a beautiful oak coffee table for like $20 & I’m pretty sure that thing could survive a nuclear war.
Yes!!! I got a gorgeous wooden wardrobe (just a little one, because I only needed a shelf, some drawers, and a tabletop basically) with lovely carved details between each drawer, and it's made me fall in love with my closet. Usually I don't like my closet because it's a very utilitarian space (I love clothes, but my closet is usually ugly). But that wardrobe has genuinely made it so fun to look at my closet, which is making me keep it a lot cleaner, too. It's a sturdy little thing, and it makes my clothes smell AMAZING (I think it's a dark oak, it doesn't look or smell like cedar). And it cost less than the last winter coat I bought!
Thrift stores are bare of anything worth driving there for
All the resellers go there now so poor ppl have no way to buy clothes or have a dresser or kitchen table. It’s despicable.
I love how respectful towards the traditional style/pieces this conversation was, especially knowing that you’re not particularly a fan of vintage yourself. I personally love those beautiful timeless pieces mixed in with contemporary and it’s nice to talk about how people can continue to honor those beautiful pieces among different styles rather than keeping up with every trend. The pictures were great as well and i will be rewatching :)
Thanks for making feel better about my choices! I have mixed in old and new and just makes me happy! My kids are somewhat horrified that I have this one tiny corner cabinet with items from my Mom, grandma and even great gran. It looks like an old lady cabinet in the corner of a beautifully decorated room , but it makes me smile!
Good for you! Sadly, the younger generations don't have any interest in family treasures. They're too busy with other priorities.😏
Tell them it's called grandma chic, it's a thing. 😇
I'm with you, plus have a number of boxes in the basement with some gorgeous old things inside. Staffordshire, silver, things that could be valuable. NOT getting rid of it. :)
Sad that the young ones don't appreciate the effort that went into handmade things from the past. I know,sadly,that my mother's and grandmother's beautiful handmade things will just be thrown away when I die. Kids and grandkids don't care about anything that isn't "cool"
@@katella Stay as fit and healthy as you can because when they grow up and have kids and grandkids of their own, the perspective changes, and you want to be there to see it. :)
I have a friend who is an interior decorator. The first time he came to my home I felt very self-conscious about my rather eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories. He was actually so complementary and said that if you go with what you love it will always work together. So now I have an 1800s French China cabinet, it’s huge! Right next to a very modern vertical bookcase from design within reach. I have sentimental pieces like the corner cabinet made for me by my grandfather mixed with rugs that my parents brought back from Turkey and lots of leopard print😂
Sounds lovely ! True designers will work w/ what you have , blend new w/ old , classic w/ quirky , etc. & let your personality show so your home is a reflection of you , not them !
My parents married in 1957, with absolutely nothing. My dad’s grandparents gifted them a set of hand-me-down furniture that was what we used my entire childhood & early adulthood. At 59, I inherited the last surviving chair of the set which had lived for years on my Mom’s deck & now is inside at my house. I plan to refinish The Gramp Chair & continue its life as long as possible. I think the set was new in the 1940s.
Thanks for this video, Nick! Old, well made furniture is such a special find - so much history.
My son's baby dresser (he is 45 now) was a refinished, painted dresser that had gone through Pearl Harbor and was brought back to the states. I have a couple very old drop leaf tables that belonged to my great-grandparents (late 1800s) which I place their pictures on. My grand-daughters have already 'claimed' which one they want!
I live in a small town - my mom pulled a heavily painted, solid wood buffet/sideboard (whatever) from the alley trash, hosed/bleached it and used it for *years* in the mud room to hold laundry soap etc. Fast forward about 30 years (!) and living in a city and I wanted to try my hand at refinishing furniture, so Mom gave me that piece to 'practice' with. Found a special stripper that does not harm 'original patina' at a 'home show' and went to work. I didn't know the type of wood so took it to a specialty wood shop - guy said it was 'black walnut' and discussed how to refinish it with wax. Beautiful! Fast forward 15 years .... I live in same small town again, I work from home, client came in with a friend and the friend was mesmerized by the piece (in my living room) ... said it looked just like one her great-grandmother owned. After a short discussion we decided it was the same piece! (knowing who and where people lived helped) I, being very sentimental, offered it to her - she declined saying she was just glad it is being loved and cared for again!
What is the brand/name of the stripper?
Love this - thanks for sharing !
Thank you for sharing this amazing full circle story. Really satisfying and enriching!
What delightful synchronicity. Yep, as long as it's being loved and cared for, that's all that matters. Congrats on the restoration. I wouldn't be that brave!
(Following for the recommendation )
When I moved from a studio apt. to a much larger apt. I moved some pieces of furniture from my parent's house that were purchased by them when they built their house in 1955 and LOVE them. Beautiful and in pristine condition. I look at them everyday and it makes me so so happy.
"History doesn't always repear but it does rhyme" what a nice way to phrase that! Great video as always
Sooooooo glad you mentioned painted wood furniture! I thought I was the only one who likes to keep the integrity of wood pieces without paint.
You are not the only one, there are many TH-camrs and subscribers that hate them as well
If you price out the new dressers or side tables at West Elm or Crate and Barrel, the savvy shopper will quickly look at vintage-better furniture at a fraction of the price. Example: my 1960’s solid wood danish modern dining table (with leaves and a table protector) was $225 on a Craigslist sale. Anything similar brand new was going to be at least $2500!
For anyone who insists on painting wood furniture ... clean it well, then add a coat of shellac before painting.
Not only does the shellac make a good primer, but if you or someone else wants to strip off the paint later, it makes stripping much easier.
I just said this elsewhere about laying down a coat of white shellac before painting - thanks for validating my advice!
It’s much easier to restore painted furniture (especially primed with shellac) than stained furniture! While I don’t like seeing beautiful vintage pieces painted, at least they are protected this way. But seeing them stained hurts me in my soul because that often cannot be undone.
I did not know that it is easier to strip that way. Thanks
that's really good advice, thanks!
That is a rule I have always stuck to! Very much agree! I had my share of painted furniture so I chose to leave them alone at this point and instead refinish or refresh them and keep them original! Pieces that aren’t super rare or true antique I will paint to bring out all the details! But thats my limit! Leave antiques alone!
Love that you make these types of videos. Too often, the so-called "experts" influence what we're "suppose" to be buying or how we're "suppose" to be decorating. It's refreshing to have a real expert come on and make us feel better about holding on to some of these vintage and heirloom pieces. 🙂
Thank you for saying if it doesn't fit you it's ok to sell it. I inherited my great-grandmother's mahogany bedroom set. Three beautiful pieces, but they were huge and overwhelmed any bedroom I have ever had. I carted these pieces from coast to coast for twenty years. I finally donated them to Goodwill so someone else might appreciate them but have felt guilty every since but I don't miss them. They were never going to fit in any house I have.
I would also add don't paint wood trim. One of the things I love about old homes in Tasmania is that people, largely respect the natural Tasmanian timbers used in them and have not, over the decades painted them. This is, of course, changing as wealthy house flippers and AirBnBers have bought up large swathes of real estate, pushing up the property prices ridiculously and "modernising" traditional homes. Vandals!
Tasmania? I was just reading that the new queen of the Denmark is from there.
@@653j521 Yeah, she married that dude about 25 years ago, from memory.
I'm a NCIDQ licensed career architectural interior designer, mostly commercial. Now moving into creating artwork, something I promised I would for years. I've worked long enough in the Chicago area and worked for a time at the Merchandise Mart to see fabrics and furniture etc recycle over and over again in different formats. I own a 60's walnut desk and credenza with the woven rattan fronts ( dentist dad office), a 1880s rosewood game table ( grandma), a craftsman inspired oak grandfather clock that still works, FLW inspired with spindles cherry rectangle dining table about 25 yrs old, a Baker Thomas Pheasant large bronze urn, a Laura Kirar Melon bulb floor lamp along with a number of other items that I will not get rid of. Eclectic design in my home so I change it up with wall paint, straight clean open linen weave tall panels on our windows, neutral at this time area rugs on lighter natural wood floors. I have a few colorful geometric design woven area rugs that have been tucked away for another time. AND I just purchased a Herman Miller Noguchi table, walnut base new....yes I did it.......waited 25 yrs for that and I don't care if its been overdone 😊
Thank you for this video, Nick! Especially though you are not a "vintage-person" (I am). Thank you for respecting craftmanship, materials and history of these items!
This needs to be said often and loudly.
Just found your channel but really enjoy your thoughts. Side note - I've restored 3 clawfoot tubs for our two 100+ year old houses and I LOVE them. They are heavy as heck - especially when you ask your husband and friend to get it upstairs but it was the best birthday gift to get it installed. I always feel like the design style should fit the house style so I love a lot of different styles if they fit with the space. Thanks
I was gifted yrs ago, a sofa & loves seat set. All solid beautiful wood with throw pillow type cushions to sit on. Very 1970s Ethan Allen Heritage.
I just love it. Many have commented on I should get rid of them, but I love the wood and have over time updated the seat covers. I have a very cottagecore/english style of home, and the set fits so beautifully with that style. Thank you for saying it's ok not to toss just because it might not be trending. 1:57
And then when those things are trending again those same people are jealous.
@@poodlegirl55 🙂
As a designer , I sold lots of EA in the 70's - it was very well made !
Yay, Nick! My grandparents and parents were both antique dealers. I learned the value of real quality pieces. Painting reproductions is fine with me. I’ve seen many images of an Eames lounger on a traditional Persian rug. Beautiful!
An antique dealer from my knitting group explained it this way: if it’s mass produced (loosely, ‘vintage’ not antique) you’re not really devaluing the price itself; that’s just going to depend on trends and the market value of what’s in style. Whether you paint or refinish/restore is going to depend on what you like. If it’s not mass produced, be careful. You can ruin antiques by painting or refinishing. Having it appraised first is probably your best move.
So how does anything ever get to be antique in the future if it can be painted today? I prefer Nick’s approach as it preserves for future generations and doesn’t just serve the tastes and economic realities of today.
Thanks for affirming my decision to keep my old wood flooring in the 100 year old home we renovated after retiring! We .ove them and would never have gotten rid of them. We had them refinished, and luckily had enough to cover the main living space as well as the kitchen ! Unfortunately, I did paint some old pieces of wood furniture , I guess I can sand them and bring back the wood! 😢
I love how you frame personal style as more elevated than something you'd see in a showroom.
We live in this throw it away and get brand new sort of country and unfortunately a lot of the furniture is poorly made out of not that great materials.Our economy depends on the buy buy buy mindset and the advertising convinces us as to what is in style, or should I say trending.All of this works against valuing or holding onto "old"stuff .It's nice to see a video encouraging people to appreciate good guality,thanks.
Spot on! I have wool rugs that weren’t even expensive - probably machine made - that I’ve had for decades and they’re still gorgeous.
My dining table and chairs are a solid oak set that my parents bought used when they got married in 1950. It's probably 1930s, originally with a bleached finish and painted flowers. We used it as a playroom table when I was a kid, then my dad and I refinished it. I might refinish it again one of these days, but I'll never get rid of it, even though the chairs are not the most comfortable in the world. Dad reglued and rescrewed all the loose joints back in 1989, and it's still solid as a rock.
Just add chair pads and they will no longer be uncomfortable
I have almost NOTHING new in my house. I refinished my grandmother's Cherry wood furniture. I reupholstered and repaired my sofas. Rescued and rewired crystal chandeliers. I have 6 Antique and Vintage Persian rugs. Super Cool Fenton Bud Vase collection that people walk into my house and woo and aww over. Timeless pieces can work always in a space. I change the art around but go with the classics and used. Really gives my space the wow factor. I even shopped my family's old stuff in order to give my daughter a super awesome room. It was fun going around and collecting unwanted items from family and friends and really giving it all new life and seeing my family flip out with how great it was.
I used to own a townhouse built in 1958. The kitchen was original (except the white goods of course). I loved those solid wood, beautifully restored cupboards. I replaced the floor and backsplash tiling from 70’s with tiles that could have been produced in the late 50’s. After selling the house I was invited back but my former neighbours told me the new owners had ripped out the kitchen and replaced it with IKEA’s “finest”. I never went back! 😢
My parents’ house still has its original 1956 aqua blue oven installed at the perfect height in the wall. None of the other appliances match it, of course, but gosh I love that oven. If they ever sell, I’m going to ask them to save it for me.
Ok....im really happy you posted this. I have inherited many gorgeous pieces of very old furniture that were totally handmade. The dovetails are all different and super thick wood. They are dark wood(antique black walnut) my taste leads to modern sleak and straight. I have been toying with selling them but now after your talk Im going to keep these pieces. To buy these pieces new as today, i could never afford these pieces. Your talk cemented it for me. Im going to meld them in with accessories and make it work.
I always want to have a home like a Nancy Meyers movie set. Hardwood floors under wool rugs, botanicals, books, neutral colors... Eventually I will get it right. An inherited dresser and handmade occasional table are my starter pieces. Wish me luck! Love your videos ❤
Yes!
I want to live in a Nacy Meyers movie set! My favorite look is from "It's Complicated."
This is a cry from my heart! I have the same persian rug for 30 years and it still looks perfect. Mixed in with a 19th century armoire and modern furniture. Obviously, I live in Europe...
I had the opposite experience of painting furniture. I bought a 1950s era, traditional bachelor’s chest with a white Formica top and white factory painted finish. I got curious about it and stripped off all that white paint. The frame and drawers were walnut. WALNUT! I had to paint the Formica (black), but that walnut is now the star.
Good for you!
All my furniture is thrifted mid century and I love how solid and timeless it is! I’m on team don’t paint wood furniture too!
I love making this sort of video! Old is bold! And I love a good piece of vintage! Great video Nick!
I cleaned an old hardwood floor well with Murphy's Oil Soap then hand buffed it with paste wax, it turned out gorgeous
thank you, I love my 'brown furniture' my solid wood pieces. they always look good.
It’s content like this that makes me love your channel. You don’t force your design style on anyone (not even the farmhouse lovers 😅), and you were objective in your commentary. I personally love a mix of modern and vintage. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing my grandmother’s solid wood china closet in my parents’ entry way or my great grandmother’s mahogany table she received as a wedding gift in the living room styled with family photos and a vase. There is value to these gems.
My aunt cut the legs off their dining room table to coffee table height. They had had it all the yrs raising 8 kids and now were going to early colonial style room by room. They didn’t use any leaves but it was still a rather large table. This was back in the late 70s so it was quite novel. They left it same color (it had been streaky painted blueish greenish in the early 60s as a garage sale find) and placed the captain’s chair in same room. Massive legs.
When they died, the kids fought over that piece lol It rly did work & no one dared touch that color after so many decades!
I've unpacked my mother's Roseville pottery, now that we're in a MCM house. Works great and wonderful reminder of Mom the collector.
I inherited my childhood home. Both my parents lived into their 90s and so lived in the home for a long time. So there is a natural mix of styles. Furniture from the 30s to the 70s. Wicker from the 50s and 70s. Mid century modern. Traditional mahogany. Barcelona chairs. I like very modern styles so at first I planned on selling the furniture and replacing it with pieces more my style. Problem is that I couldn't replace the old pieces with anything approaching the quality of the old solid wood quality built pieces. So I reluctantly decided to keep it. I am so so glad I did. These old pieces really are beautiful and sturdy and worthy of respect. I mixed them with some more modern pieces and modern decor and lamps and I think it all works together and is beautiful. I feel very fortunate. I inherited a treasure trove.
I pulled up the old wall to wall carpet and found the original red oak hardwood floor throughout. I decided I didn't want them to look new. So I didn't refinish them and left the imperfections. I used a product called Rejuvenate and the imperfect floors look gorgeous.
Thanks for this video and I agree 💯
The basket chair you showed quickly was something we had growing up in the 60s. Loved them.
There’s nothing that quite like a beautiful, old school Persian carpet.
LOVE that you talk so fast (as do I).I have no time for slow talkers 🙃❤️
💯💯💯💯 and straight to the point. I shut down so many because they’re just storytelling when I want the information.
As a regular bath taker with muscle issues, I absolutely adore a clawfoot tub!
They’re built with the shape of your back in mind to maximize comfort. Also, way deeper so that your whole body can soak.
It’s always a high priority on my list when apartment hunting.
I have been blessed to have been gifted a 9X12 rag rug made by my Great Grandparents on their 4 harness loom for my parents. It is beautiful, rich jewel tones--shades of red, navy, green with a touch of orange and brown. It needs to be bound on the edges and cleaned, but I am so excited. I even have a picture of my Great Grandma at her loom. Really enjoyed this post. I love timeless pieces.
What a treasure!
I agree with you 100%! I keep my vintage pieces… I’m aware that such quality items will not be made as well in the future. If you find it, it will cost you a fortune! Thank you for sharing. You certainly know what you’re talking about! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Great video. Updating a dated piece of furniture to whats "in" now just means it will be dated again soon-ish. So restoring and styling in a way that is modern by using other pieces might be smarter.
We were lucky enough to find an incredible vintage wool rug, sold by a guy in a dirty little tattoo shop in a random side street, for just £50, and it is absolutely an heirloom quality piece. We’ve had it in multiple rooms through multiple houses, and despite the colour (rosy red, beige and green) and the overtly traditional style, it really does just seamlessly fit in anywhere.
What a find!
7:25 Only tangible gift I got from a sibling (we grew up separately and gift cards are a safe option) was a four legged ceramic piece, not sure if meant for a candle. Sister gave it to me because she didn't want because the feet were uneven. I simply stacked felt pads, looks a little odd, but works great for wallet, keys, and coins. So appreciate inclusion of sentimental.
Great video Nick, it is so nice when an interior designer is able to 'sell' a style that isn't their personal favourite. Personally I like to see a modern piece or two in a traditional space, or vicey versy.
Thank you! I needed a voice in my corner to convince my husband that we need to refinish, not replace, the solid hardwook flooring in the house we bought in 2019 (that was built in 1981).
I have A LOT of French pieces and I wonder if they'll be on this list. French country, french provincial, french cottage - You name it, if it's French inspired, I have it. LOVE IT ALL!
Your best video to date, I still have a plantation rice bed and kitchen table the kids grew up with them and now the grands are eating at the same table and sleeping in the same bed, and it does my heart good. And I have a coffee table from my grandmother, priceless
If I could have the kitchen floor of my dreams it would be cork! It’s easy under foot and if treated correctly will last for years, looking brand new!
My home decor consists of pieces acquired from inheritances, thrift and consignment stores, garage and estate sales, rubbish days, and some ‘new’ furniture purchased 40 years ago. You don’t have to spend a lot of money( or any) to get beautiful furnishings.
It’s so nice to see a video that helps point out the beauty of natural materials and furniture that may be absent on newer pieces and not just getting rid of everything that isn’t currently in style. I seem to remember you have an awesome framed placard off of a bus or a trolley that was your grandfathers that you framed. Those are the kind of stories that make a room interesting.
Please, encourage anyone and everyone to shellac wood pieces if they must paint ( when they feel they must, because it is inevitable). Two coats of shellac will act as a primer AND protect the wood pores from the paint so that a heat gun will be able to later remove the paint. It’ll still be time consuming, but it WILL be removable. Please. And thank you for this video, Nick!
You’re speaking my language! ❤
Real Wood pieces should be kept unpainted. Same with brick. I see all these shows painting the brick and I yell at the television "sure it looks good for the show but you'll soon regret that!" I have my grandmother's farmhouse kitchen cabinet she used for her dishes -- must have been repainted every decade given the number of paint layers on it. It's in my garage holding guitar parts (I build guitars) until I get the ambition to strip and refinish it back to original (I think it's 1920-30s, she used to buy a lot of second hand items back then). Don't forget that old upholstered furniture can be recovered with modern fabrics to fit nearly every decor. Agree on old floors. Even if you need to pull out a thousand staples from an errant linoleum project, do it and sand the floor to refinish and you'll get more complements on that fantastic old flooring than any modern 'wide plank' engineered product.
This is excellent advice !! I’m 68 & have seen trends come & go. My professional life was around interior design & furniture retail. Listen to what he’s saying ⭐️
I have a hook rug that’s 5’x3’ and whoever made it” hooked” the date 1964 and their initials LM in it and it’s beautiful. I’ve been wanting to display it on a wall but for now it’s in my bedroom where there is not much foot traffic. Great video Nick!!
fun fact, handmade persian carpets increase in value as they age. the patterns you displayaed are very nice but the truly valuable stonishing persian carpets are from: Tabriz, Kashan, Qom, Naeen and Kashmar... Ps, Always go with a persian if you want to buy one or esle you might pay double
In the 80s, an acquaintance bought a home built in the early 1900s. It had some aweful 70s shag in the living room, hall and bedrooms. The husband was a carpenter, and they bought this home having significant skills to renovate properly. (The kitchen wooden cabinets had numerous layers of paint, the current coat being blood red, lol)
Anyway, when they worked in the floors, the layers went something like this. Ugly, dirty shag carpet, rotten underlayer, some other thread bare carpet, 1950's lino, 1940's grey lino with huge red flowers in the design, several layers of paint and THEN! Two inch thick, solid, bird's eye maple hardwood! They just about fainted. The value of that flooring at the time was probably close to what they paid for the house. I don't think this wood is even available now, at least to mere mortals.
I would have fainted! They must have been lovely.
Omg the only thing I have seen like that is the solid heart Redwood used to build my landlord’s 1906 Victorian. Fortunately the previous owner restored everything. Not even possible to get this anymore since they cut down all the old growth Redwoods long ago.
Some young homeowners near us bought a pristine 1920's cottage and promptly painted its original, tiger oak front door with flat finish turquoise paint. I die a little every time I glance while driving by. (I know it's not my house, my door, I know that.)
I have to plan my trips to avoid a house with gorgeous brick that was painted. I wish he would've covered that. It's so wrong.
@@LaurasLastDitch I totally get it.
Ohhhh I loved this video!! So much of you tube design culture aims to tell us what we should do with our homes and what’s no longer OK for our homes. It sends us to the stores for what’s on trend over and over in a perpetual cycle. How about focusing on quality and soul and meaning in our interiors? Sometimes that means hanging onto quality items that speak to our hearts. Love this Nick!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving wonderful pieces from mistreatment and from landfills, and for encouraging an appreciation for the history, workmanship and quality of the past.
I have a buffet my folks bought pre 1960. I also have my mom’s china cabinet from the late 70s. My mom always believed in buying quality furniture to last a lifetime. Both pieces are gorgeous. I will never paint them. The buffet has been through many moves, many kids, many dustings and cleanings and still looks nearly new.
My 1948 house had surprise unmolested narrow oak. I had a carpenter sand it, very slight stain it, and three coats of poly. My 1965 house also has narrow oak.
Love this ! The only things I don't have are hard wood floors (I wish ) and a claw foot bath .I adore solid wood furniture and Persian rugs and am lucky enough to have both .Our living room rug was gifted to us ,it's pure wool and has shrugged off cat claws ,little children and years of high traffic use .I have been using a wicker 2 drawer chest as a bedside table for years ,a very useful and sturdy thing it is too .I think the best thing about good quality ,vintage pieces is that they get worn in instead of worn out ,a few knocks and scrapes don't matter and they become old ,familiar friends .
This is one of my favorite videos you've done. I enjoy them all, but as I look at the solid wood 150 plus years old stepback cupboard in my kitchen, I'm reminded it needs a good lemon oil rub down. Painting...NEVER!
Almost all of our furniture is vintage or antique. I feel that an "out-of-date" piece like my Barrister's Bookcases (or a clawfoot tub) helps to ground a room - adding history or gravitas. I agree about not painting old furniture, but one could have a piece refinished and lightened up!
A painted " accent piece " is a nice touch & can compliment a color in a picture / oriental rug / pillows / drapes , etc.
I give so much away, most times I don’t regret that but there are a few things I kick myself for letting go. I’m the opposite of a hoarder, I just let go.
Thank you for this!✨🙏❤️
You have been in my house! 19th-century case goods, vintage Oriental rugs, knick-knacks from travels, vintage wicker on the porch, and a clawfoot tub in the bathroom. A big advantage of those tubs that Nick didn't mention is that they keep the water hot a lot longer than new tubs. Ours was a cast iron core covered with porcelain and it was luxurious to sink into that hot water and soak with a good book to read and nobody bothering you.
Appreciate your saying keep the fine, real traditional things, great you addressed this topic, thanks.
I've been caring for my 97 year old Mom for several years. Keeps me tethered to the house, but I've taken the opportunity to have the furniture I remember growing up prompt many childhood memories. Beautiful solid cherry from my parents original bedroom suite, pieces from my first bedroom suite, fit for a princess with Ethan Allen antique white nightstand and desk, huge solid brass planters and on and on. I've been decluttering but plan on keeping all of these old pieces, finish left untouched. I could use your help Nick, you would be perfect!
You may want to refinish, carefully. Odie’s oil can work wonders with older wood
I bought a 1930's or '40's rolled arm sofa and chair from a couple who had a small business restoring old pieces. They kept a list of people who wanted vintage sofas and chairs. She would find the battered pieces, and they would call the people on their list to come have a look. If you were next on the list and liked the piece, he would restore and reupholster in the fabric of your choice. I've had my sofa and chair since 1980, and have reupholstered once. Solid hardwood construction, weigh a ton. Beautiful and comfortable--and will apparently outlast me! I hope I can find an appreciative next owner for them....
You are such a reliable source of good ideas, taste and common sense. This was a great video, and i agree with you. Keep the good quality stuff, it pays off. I bought a persian silk rug at an local action for 80 dollars (translated to canadian dollars), and got it valued at nearly 500 dollars. Keep the good stuff or sell it, just dont throw it away.
Agreed I love wood with natural grain.
Great video! You are so right Nick. I have been decorating long enough to realize that even though my taste changes there are certain key elements that I always come back to. For example, we bought a beautiful armoire for our first apartment years ago to hold our tv. We used it for years, then put in in storage when our taste and needs changed. Now we have it out again and I love it. Surrounded by my current decor style it looks great.
I work in so many peoples homes and see so many things. My favorite homes are where the owners are confident in what they like. Personal art and objects and generally a more relaxed approach. They also seem to be happier.
I have had some large ginger jars, framed pictures, and furniture that i gave to my daughter for her first home. I enjoyed them for 40 years and now I enjoy them in her home.
I love giving my 5 kids things from my home
I do have some solid wood pieces that were a 90s honey color, very yellowish. I had them sanded and stained a darker walnut color and changed the pulls. They look so gorgeous how and integrate perfectly in my home.
I love traditional so thanks for reminding people how they can be mixed in with any style.
Nick, this is one of my favorite videos of yours!
Right now we’re staying at an AirBnB cabin on a lake and when I first walked in the door, I was hit by an overwhelming sense of comfort and nostalgia. The solid wood furniture, beautiful wood cabinetry, ornate detailing, wide staircase with runner and wood banister, warm deep yellow paint accented by white molding, gorgeous moody sconces. I feel like I’m in an episode of my favorite 90’s sitcom. It feels like home! Your video came at the perfect time to solidify in my mind that I absolutely need to be holding on to my timeless pieces.