Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Ode to All Things Worn and Weathered

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As I sit here this Saturday morning, I’m struck by how much of my furniture is weathered, chippy, and worn-around-the-edges.

This is by design. I’m drawn to old, used, gently worn pieces. Almost nothing in my home was bought new. The beds were, of course, as was the sofa in the den (which I detest) and the loveseat in the living room (bought when I was living in Boston) and the chair I’m sitting in, which may be the reason it is the only place I’ve been able to comfortably sit since my back was injured!

Everything else is vintage. Tables, chairs, cupboards, hutches, desks, dressers, piano, kitchen island, kitchen table – all of them were chosen precisely because they were old with nicks and scratches and chips and frayed edges.

When I was growing up, everyone bought new. No one would have entertained the idea of having something chippy and old in their home. This was post WWII – new homes were being built in subdivisions for GIs and their families – the baby boom had begun. My mother would never have anything like my weathered chairs or tables in her home.

Somewhere along the way, my taste took off in a different direction. I love old. I love imagining the story behind a piece. Sometimes I already know it, as in the case of inherited pieces. But sometimes, I don’t. I just know that a particular piece was used and loved.

And now we get to use and love it.

And it’s recycling at its best, don’t you think?

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Have a happy Halloween everyone. We don’t get trick or treaters out here on our country road. And, though I obviously loved Halloween as a child and love seeing children all dressed up in their costumes, I’m afraid dressing up as an adult holds no allure. I was a working actress for too many years. I’ve worn more costumes than I can begin to count. So has my husband.

This year’s costume? My flannel pajamas.

Comments

  1. Hi Claudia- love your weathered finishes! The color and chippiness of the bench at the top is so lovely! We don’t get trick or treaters at our house either- we go into town and trick or treat in the neighborhoods downtown. Enjoy your flannels! :)

  4. I’m with you. The old speaks home, cozy, nest, simpler times, family time. And I spotted the Eastlake drawer pull. Wanted you to know that didn’t slip past me (“

    Thanks for the treat.

  5. Hi Claudia, I love the old worn look! I don’t really like buying anything new anymore.They just don’t make that gorgeous style like they use to in the good old days!!I love all your pretty pieces.
    Happy Halloween!!

    Kathy

  6. I love this years costume! I think I’ll join you. Although before moving to This Old House we REALLY lived out in the sticks, no trick-or-treaters. Now we sit on a main road, even tho it’s still country-ish…and I’m hoping we have a few. :-) I’ll be giving out candy in my flannels.

  7. Ahhh… flannel pajamas! Love them. I live in my flannel and fleece (after work) all winter long.
    I love worn and chippy too. A lot of my furniture was previously loved. My first piece was my roadtrip find bed frame. My parents brought it home for me when I was in high school. I still sleep on it today!
    Hugs,
    Jill
    PS: I love, love, love the finish on your ice cream maker!!

  8. I am like you, what is it about the chippy worn appeal, to me it feels so homey, so loved, I really do hate shopping at new places, I rarely find anything I like!
    we also live in the country, my children still trick or treat…but there favorite is to go to a friends house and just hand out candy!

  10. I just love your pictures, Claudia. And the HYMNS wall piece. Reminds me of the church I attended as a young girl.

    Jillian
    Bella Rosa Antiques

  12. I thought you were writing a post about me when I saw the title! Ha!
    I love your loved pieces. We have a mix of old, new, and everywhere in between. Eclectic is what I guess you’d call it.

  13. I’m completely drawn to older furniture as well, Hubby on the other hand does not like it one bit. It’s a struggle furnishing the house… sigh

    Di

  14. Well birds of a feather…so they say. My Mum still wouldn’t have anything old and chippy – she still comments when I buy something well loved.

    Enjoy being in your costume:)

    Leann

  15. We don’t get trick-or-treaters here either. That’s fine. I’m just an old witch anyway. I guess we’re all a bit chippy and worn. Better than the alternative, hey?
    Brenda

  18. I feel the same way Claudia. My mother and sisters just don’t get me.
    I love your already loved pieces. I thank those who have made this style so popular. That is what I love about the British style of decorating. They don’t discard pieces when they get worn and tired. They seem to love their pieces as if they are beloved members of the family.
    Are you feeling better? I sure hope your back is healing up.
    hugs to you…

  22. I too love items that come with a history of their own, their story etched on the surfice in patterns of wear. Another benifit is recycling items and passing on treasures to places where they can be loved.

    Well I am envious, I dont have any flannel jamies to wear, guess I will settle for sweats.

    Wishing you a Happy Halloween,

    cyn

  24. Hi Claudia! Like you, vintage and slightly used furniture seems to fit more snugly into the corners of our farmhouse. If I could I’d rescue a kitten or puppy every week – instead, I rescue the odds and ends of other people’s lives and find a safe place for them in our home. There’s a comfort in an older piece, and a grace and presence that is non-existent in anything new. Don’t get me wrong, we do have some new pieces here at the farm, but they lack the soul that our older pieces have – like putting toddlers in a room full of elegant seniors! Ciao, bella!

  25. I like vintage and worn things too. I also don’t remember my family ever buying anything old – everything had to be new. Loved seeing your well loved items. We’re expecting just a few trick or treaters. We used to get quite a few and then a few years ago Halloween parties became all the rage around here. So most children do that or go to church sponsored events.

    Manuela

  26. I like vintage and worn things too. I also don’t remember my family ever buying anything old – everything had to be new. Loved seeing your well loved items. We’re expecting just a few trick or treaters. We used to get quite a few and then a few years ago Halloween parties became all the rage around here. So most children do that or go to church sponsored events.

    Manuela

  27. Hi, I just love all your wonderful weathered items, and yes it is recycling at it’s best. I particularly ejoyed the hammered stool!! No I do not dress at Halloween, closest I come to dress up is putting on one of my aprons….. as usual I loved looking at your pictures and reading every word you had to say!
    Sherry

  28. It’s a good thing to love weathered, chippy and worn around the edges. Anyone loving these things would love me, too.

    I hope you’re feeling better. Stay comfy in those flannel pajamas.♥

  30. Dearest, I love your home so much, therefore I’m moving in with you and your dear hubby. Goodbye San Antonio, and all the yucky traffic! Goodbye San Antonio with all the insane tagging! Goodbye San Antonio with all the hit and run accidents! Goodbye San Antonio with all…..oops, I forgot about Mr. Timeless Things!! I can’t leave him behind so I guess I’ll just have to admire your home from afar…real far!

    Deanna :D

  31. you are so funny claudia!! your pj’s. haha. i walked the kids around the block in a 1980’s vintage rose patterned dress. they were slightly embarrassed. hahaha.
    i love this post. i love your finds in your home!! everything in my house is old too…vintage, worn, cast-off, seriously scary, or seriously shabby. i have been this way since i was a little girl…collector of vintage things.
    my mom and dad had hand me down furniture in our home from my grandmother and i was always so excited to get a bag of hand me down clothes from my cousins!!! we did shop thrift when i was growning up…my dad had a garden and was a painter and my brother played in a band for years. i guess i was raised by gypsies for real..haha. i think it’s weird when i go in a house and don’t see eclectic pieces or vintage loveliness. i wonder where all the good stuff is????
    oh…it is in your gorgeous home!!!! i adore it.
    thanks claudia
    sue

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