The Sentimental Home Decor I Treasure Most.
Every home contains things that are useful, things that are beautiful, and a few things that could never be replaced. Much of the sentimental home decor in my house has little to do with trends or monetary value. These are the family heirlooms, thrifted finds and longtime treasures that carry stories, memories and pieces of the people I love. They are the things that make my home feel collected over time—and things I would never part with.
My Mother’s Wedding China
My mother’s wedding china is a solid white Noritake pattern with delicate silver trim. It is simple, elegant and as timeless today as it must have been when she chose it.
My mother passed away from inflammatory breast cancer in 1999, so these dishes mean far more to me than their beauty alone. When I look at them, I see something she selected at the beginning of her married life—and something of hers that I’m grateful has remained with me.
Many of these pieces also reflect the way I love to mix old and new throughout my home.
My Grandfather’s World War II Heirlooms
Among the things I inherited through my father are a dagger and pistol that my grandfather brought home from World War II. According to family legend, he recovered both from a Nazi soldier who had been killed. My grandfather served as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge, and these items were collected while he was retrieving dead and wounded American servicemen from the battlefield. They are sobering reminders of what he witnessed—and of a part of his life that must have been extraordinarily difficult to carry home.
These are sobering pieces of history. I don’t value them simply as old weapons, but as a tangible connection to my grandfather, his wartime experience and a chapter of our family’s history that is almost impossible to imagine today.
A Book That Preserves My Family’s Story
One of the most meaningful books I own is a first (and only) edition of Lost Family, Lost Cause, the tragic account of what happened to my family in Southeast Missouri during the Civil War. Written by Ivan N. McKee, only 500 copies were printed, and mine is numbered, signed by the author and in great condition considering it’s age.
I found it on Abebooks for only $50 shortly after returning from a dedication ceremony that other family members and I helped make possible. At that ceremony, a marker was placed at the site of the Mingo Swamp massacre so that what happened there—and the people affected by it—would not be forgotten. The marker calls it the Battle of Mingo Swamp, but I have always struggled with that wording. When only one side attacks, “battle” hardly feels like the right word.
I have since seen copies of the book listed for as much as $500, so I like to think my ancestors were smiling down on me when I found mine. Its possible monetary value is interesting, but that isn’t why I would never part with it. To me, it preserves a piece of my family’s history and represents our efforts to ensure that their story continues to be told.
The 1860s Walnut China Cabinet
My walnut china cabinet dates to the 1860s and came to me as a gift from a friend in Winchester, Virginia. It once stood in her historic home on Cameron Street, and today it holds my mother’s china and my collection of Waterford crystal.
The cabinet is no longer perfect. Its feet are cracked, the glass is not original and even my puppy Sadie left her mark on a couple of corners. Still, it carries too much history and sentiment for me to stop loving it. Even if it eventually moves to another room, it will remain a part of my home.
The $50 Buffet Cabinet in My Entry
The buffet cabinet in my entry is proof that a piece doesn’t need to be an expensive antique to become something you love. I paid only $50 for it, but its shape, storage and character made it exactly what the space needed.
It has become one of the defining pieces in my entry and provides the perfect place for creating seasonal displays. It feels collected, practical and completely at home with my French country style. Of all the furniture makeovers and affordable finds I’ve brought home, this is one I cannot imagine willingly giving up.
And Then There’s Henri
Not everything I would never part with has a tragic story, an impressive pedigree or significant monetary value. Some things simply stay with you for so long that they become part of the family.
Henri, my large, decorative rooster, has been strutting around my home for approximately 30 years. He has survived moves, changing trends, countless seasonal displays and probably more than a few decorating edits. Roosters may come and go in French country design, but apparently Henri has tenure.
Someone else might look at him and see only an old rooster. I see a familiar face who has quietly followed me through three decades of life. Besides, after all these years, getting rid of him now would feel downright disrespectful.
Perhaps the funniest part is that Henri now has a relative. My daughter spotted a rooster just like him at a thrift store and bought it. Apparently, an appreciation for decorative poultry is hereditary. Along with the china, book and family heirlooms, we may also be passing down a small rooster dynasty.
These pieces may not all match in age, style or value, but together they tell the story of my home and family. That is what sentimental home decor means to me: surrounding myself with beautiful things that hold memories—and occasionally one very large rooster named Henri. 🐓
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