Let’s explore another corner of the cottage today – our bedroom. As always, this is photographed ‘As Is.’
What’s that piece of furniture? Well, there are two. The dresser has a story, as does everything in this house. It’s vintage and it has been in my possession for about 23 years. I was walking down Harvard Street in Cambridge, MA one day (I lived on Harvard) and I spied this dresser sitting out at the curb. The wood was dark but I liked the lines of the piece and I knew I could paint it. After I made sure it was indeed free, I ran back to my apartment building, enlisted my friend Annette’s help, and together we walked that dresser about 3 blocks to the building and then hauled it up 3 flights of stairs. I painted it a soft gray. After it moved to San Diego with me, it was painted a pretty yellow. Just last year, I repainted it in these colors. When it was yellow, I changed out the metal knobs to vintage green glass knobs. When I painted it last year, I replaced them with clear glass knobs. Come to think of it, where did I put those green knobs? I haven’t seen them in a while.
The wicker rocking chair is a favorite of mine. It needs some repair work. I got it for $60 in an antique shop. It lived on the porch, then in the living room, before moving up the stairs to its current home.
What’s on/in it? On top of the dresser: a lovely hand painted lamp that was my grandmother’s. I grew up with this pretty lamp and I’ve always loved it. A tea chest that belonged to my great-grandmother. It is handmade and is filled with mementos that were important to my grandmother – the funeral cards for her two adored sisters who died in the flu epidemic of 1918, a lock of her sister’s hair, my great-grandfather’s will. A framed photo of my late brother and me taken in my acting days. Favorite earrings. A Tiffany pill box. A vintage tea towel that I use as a dresser scarf. A piece of McCoy Pottery. There are also pieces of Roseville pottery but they are out of view. The pottery pieces hold bits and bobs, receipts, jewelry, photos.
The pillow on the chair is covered in a vintage linen napkin embroidered with the word ‘Nice,’ intertwined with flowers – embroidery by me.
What’s on the wall? A vintage pansy print that I discovered in an old shop in Kentucky. It has the prettiest frame. A letter D/hook from Anthropologie that holds my favorite necklaces.
Any challenges? Yes. The danged slanted/sloped ceiling. The ceilings in both of the upstairs rooms are sloped and sharply sloped at that. It means that furniture placement is always a challenge. And doing anything in those areas is a daily challenge as both Don and I are tall. I can’t tell you how many times I have bumped my head on the ceiling. The sloped ceilings are the reason that Don’s dresser is in the other room – there was no place for it in ours. (That has worked out very nicely, by the way.)
Anything else? The vintage dresser is charming, but the drawers sometimes stick, which results in some colorful language on my part. (Don’s dresser drawers also stick.) Ah, the charms of vintage.
Happy Sunday.
It has charming lines and I love it’s history. The lamp is gorgeous and such a family treasure. I love these little peeks into the corners!
hugs, Linda
Thank you, Linda! The lamp was in Don’s office/studio but I recently moved it when I decided it was meant for that dresser!
I haven’t commented much lately, but I do want to tell you how much I am enjoying your cottage tour and the stories behind your things. I always think of the things I have as nothing special, until I hear your stories. Then I realize that I also have those stories that make my things special.
Yes, I strongly believe that it is the stories that make things special!
How nice that you still have all those things that were precious to your grandmother. That’s great. PS – you should call the room with Don’s dresser “his dressing room.” First because it’s true. Second, because it will sound so cool to say “Oh honey, I left those for you in your dressing room…” :>)
Do you think his head will get too big if he has his own dressing room at home? (He’s used to having them at the theater!)
I really and truly love the slanted lines of your upstairs. I have yet to find a slanted wall I bump my head on. Over the years it has become a bit of a challenge to me. Being only 5 feet I don’t imagine I will ever hit my head on a wall. Or a tree brand either.
I love how you treasure your families history in their belongings. I have some of my family that way too. It kind of keeps them with us. I look at some of these treasures and have memories of my mom. She collected salt and pepper, and I remember once in a very great great while as a child being able to “play” with them.
Now imagine if you were 5 feet 9 and 6 feet 5 – like Don and me!
Always love the peeks into your corners!! I agree with what someone else said ~ that sometimes you make me look at MY things in a different way, too. We have several antique pieces and I tend to take them for granted… you seem to celebrate yours. I am trying to become a “celebrator” also. Have a great day, Claudia!
Oh yes, become a celebrator, Chris!
Good Morning Claudia, I also love your corners and I am trying to make my house look as peaceful as yours. thanks and have a great day. Doris
The living room is looking far from peaceful today, Doris!
Have you tried rubbing the edges of the “sticking” drawers with a bar of soap? My husband did that with a few of our old sticky drawers and it helped a lot…also, it smells nice!
Yes – I rubbed them with candle wax, which I assume does the same thing as soap. Didn’t really work for very long on these pieces. Maybe I ought to do it again!
Love the lamp. It’s something how those old vintage dressers get used everywhere. I found an old junk dresser years and years ago. It was painted black. I stuck it in a corner of the hall to hold extra household stuff, like new light bulbs, batteries and flashlights for storms. When we moved it went with us, and ended up in the bathroom holding linen. Another move and it was in my sons room. At one house it was in a very visible place in the dinning room. Now, some 30 years later, it sets next to my bed. Never did re paint it – that “old” look just seems to fit in about anywhere. Looking at your photos – so clean – I must go dust.
Smiles to you
Linda
Black is a good basic color – don’t decorators say that every room needs some black?
Sure is good to catch up on your posts Claudia after being away for three days. “Our” girl Barbara graduated from FSU with honors and in the top 4 percent of the graduates. On her way to the honors medallion ceremony on Friday she stopped in to take some books back to the campus bookstore. An accident outside the parking garage backed traffic up and she couldn’t get out. Her fellow graduates had already lined up and started inside for the ceremony when she came running up the street and just made it in time. We were so afraid she’d miss it. It was a great, crazy, funfilled few days but it’s good to be home and to catch up on what’s going on around your place. I think the little chair looks great as is in the dollhouse and I’m glad it’s not me having to deal with those slanted ceilings. Your home just seems so calm and peaceful. Looking forward to see what you’re up to next.
So glad to hear that Barbara made it to the ceremony, Janie! And that you had such a good time!
Living with vintage is always a challenge, but ut sure beats that cheap ne junk. Love your corner and the story it tells. xo Laura
Sure does! xo
Sorry to be so late..I was on the run most of the day as we traveled about an hour and a half out of town to buy a used riding mower..the other one finally died for good..When I was much younger I had a bedroom with the slanted roof on both sides..I liked it then because it was so cool to hang posters on them..I love your Grandma’s lamp and I’m pretty crazy over anything wicker..Also love the old print of pansies..so pretty!
The slanted ceilings can be a pain but they also contribute to a very cozy feeling.