Grandma's furniture

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Saturday, January 21. 2017

Family heirloom furniture - mahogany and mahogany-looking "antiques", handed down for a couple of generations, have declined in value over recent decades to the point where you have to pay somebody to take it away. Even the high-quality stuff from 1850-20th C.

American antique or semi-antique (ie "old") "country-style" furniture still retains some modest value, but it is not usually brown.

There is no market for "brown furniture" anymore, and the experts say that your kids will never want it either - even if they ever have room for it. If you want or need to de-clutter your home or homes, the best deal might be to donate it to a charity rather than paying $600 for somebody to take it away.

Today's precious thing is tomorrow's junk. I still like some brown antiques if over 200 years old, but a room usually can't handle more than one.

Why the Market for Heirloom and Secondhand Furniture Has Disappeared

Somewhat related, are you too attached to your stuff?

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:24 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

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I tried to donate a seven piece sectional sofa but the only people who would take it is the Salvation Army. I'm replacing it with leather from Ethan Allen. They're brown.

#1 oolioo (Link) on 2017-01-21 14:15 (Reply)

Yup, have seen this in action. Hard to sell my parents' furniture, even though it was high end. Being in small, rust-belt market didn't help.

On the flip side, we helped a neighbor clean out a house that was being sold. Lots of brown furniture of varying (usually low) quality. Went to every venue we could think of and kept prices low, and managed to sell all of it, splitting w/ original owner. But, we're in big, affluent market.

Trying to do right by kids and not hoard to much, but like the pickers we see the craftsmanship and design in things, and it's hard just to throw them away.

#2 DrTorch on 2017-01-21 18:48 (Reply)

Every time we hire a decorator she tries to persuade us that our brown furniture is too "heavy." Honestly, these fads. The same may have been true decades ago when we were picking up this stuff cheap, which is fine with me.

#3 Texan99 on 2017-01-22 10:13 (Reply)

Once the "global warming" hits, its gonna be every man for themselves.

#4 uk(us) on 2017-01-22 12:55 (Reply)

One reason no one wants anyone else's furniture anymore is because of fear of bedbug infestations. Having endured two infestations and spent over 15 thousand dollars to get rid of them and replace the appliances and furniture and other household items that were destroyed during the process (heating the house to 120 degrees), I will never take any used items into my house again. It is not worth the risk.

#5 Kathleen on 2017-01-24 10:23 (Reply)

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Saturday, January 21. 2017

Grandma's furniture