missusclark

We have dinner every night on my Gram's solid maple, drop-leaf table, complete with 6 ladder-back chairs. (Gram was devoted to the Colonial school) When I was in the hospital having twins and the moving van driven by my uncle arrived with huge pieces of Gram's furniture, my husband groused, "Great. Our house will be decorated in "Early American Grandma". But we didn't have much in the way of furnishings, so I've used, and abused, Gram's furniture happily. She had lovely taste, and this stuff was built to *last*! I used to feel terribly guilty when the babies spit rice cereal onto the gleaming wood or bashed toys into the legs of the table. But I know she would be thrilled to death to know my family is using her stuff. Also, we often have holiday dinners at my house, 'cause that table can seat 2, or 12, people depending on the configuration.

If you have inherited quality stuff, there's always ways to change or update it to make it your own. Replace old-fashioned hardware, re-do the finish, throw a slip-cover over it, etc. Lots of DIY sites for this sort of thing.

If you've got stuff you're not using, put it back in the stream. Someone will be happy to use it.

I swear I thought this question was "run in with the IN-LAWS" and I had a great story......

U2's cover of "All Along the Watchtower". All respect to Hendricks, but I like Bono's singing much better