Our FavoriteThings: Heirlooms

We often have clients who ask us to incorporate their treasured heirlooms and antiques into their updated rooms, and we understand how they feel. Vintage furnishings give us a connection to the past, - even if they didn’t belong to our family! – and they infuse warmth in our rooms. This week for “Our Favorite Things” series the Sweet Peas Design staff names their favorite heirloom or antique.

Beth Kweton, Senior Designer: A steamer trunk from my great-grandmother with the original identification and travel stickers on it. I love it because it tells a story.

Jennifer Cioni Tarello, Senior Archiectural Associate: Two orange, Modernist chairs from my parents. I like mixing modern with my traditional pieces, and the color is wonderful. I never thought I could or would incorporate orange into my home, but I did, and I love it.

Lauren Benditzsky, Associate Designer: A lamp that was my grandmother’s. It is made of Lucite with a brass base and white linen shade. It’s so contemporary you wouldn’t believe it is almost 60 years old!

Laura Bianchi, Public Relations Representative: An oak ice box from my husband’s Italian grandmother. It occupies a corner of my eating area and when I look at it I think about the days when the ice man went door to door delivering huge chunks of the frozen stuff for these “refrigerators.” I love every nick and stain on it.

Susan Brunstrum, Principal: Even though it isn’t from my own family, I love the oak dental instrument box an ex-boyfriend gave me for my 21st birthday. We got engaged a few years later and never married, but I still have the box. I keep keys in it instead of scary, tooth-prodding tools!