I moved last weekend. Downsized. It was time.
As a young bride, I remember the first apartment and the excitement to buy the first furnishings to make it home - to make the personal statement. Lots of time was spent looking at magazines and going to flea markets and of course, some hand-me-downs were always passed on from various relatives.
Next the thoughts turn to the first home and saving begins as a young couple considers starting a family.
The first home purchase is a Big Deal. Now we have a yard and grass and flowers and bird feeders and more furniture is purchased for the additional space.
Growing up in the Furniture Capital of the World, everyone was familiar with names such as Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Hickory Chair. We knew these names stood for quality as so many of the townspeople worked in the furniture industry and took pride in their brands. Naturally, when it came time to shop, these are the brands we turned to.
So the babies come and the family is well underway, and we have purchased a base of home furnishings. Next our thoughts move on to the Dream Home. This one is big. It has more square feet with teenagers and a pool table and acreage. Life is good. We shop for more accent pieces. We have reached the top of the mountain, and the view is pretty good from up here.
And then.. before we know it...the teenagers go off to school and grow up and the nest is empty. Do we still need such a big house, we ask ourselves?
For a few years we continue on. We have the yard and lots of stuff and the house to maintain.
And then... we start to consider that the view is nice from this mountain top, but it wasn't so bad halfway up. Perhaps we could have more time for ourselves if we didn't have that big yard to mow. So now we start to consider a smaller home. In fact, the one we like has the same amount of square footage as the first home we bought when the boys were young.
Going into a smaller home, of course, requires reducing the amount of furnishings we have. What do we keep and what do we pass on?
In the last few weeks as I had to consider this question, I realized that I just can't part with my Henredon dining group, 18th Century Portfolio, which I have had for 35 years. I can't part with my Drexel Heritage Chippendale bedroom group which I have had for 30 years, or my Hickory Chair small secretary. My Drexel Heritage sectional has been reupholstered, but it is still with me, as is my Hickory Chair wing chair. It too, has been reupholstered a time or two.
It is true that as we purchase quality home furnishings that are classic and timeless, they do become heirlooms that are passed down from one generation to the next. Maitland-Smith was not a name I knew growing up as the company is only 30 years old. Working for Maitland-Smith for 10 years now, I have acquired a few pieces. Each of these made the move with me as I cannot part with any Maitland-Smith piece that I have. The quality and craftsmanship are exceptional.
We all go through seasons, and wherever we find ourselves in this process - whether starting out or downsizing - fine home furnishings are part of making a house a home and creating memories.
Elegant and Distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? www.maitland-smith.com
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