Southern Living: What To Do With Sentimental Family Furniture That's Not Your Style

I was recently featured in Southern Living to share how I help clients honor meaningful pieces that don’t necessarily match their current aesthetic. Here’s what I shared:

“A dressing table that sat in my grandmother’s room is now a princess poudreuse in my daughter’s bedroom. The drawers are full of crowns, gloves, and jewelry.”

“Mix the old with the new to get a rich, layered look. Intentionally placing those well‑loved, vintage pieces among your modern items is the best way to bring depth and soul to your home.” — Audra Samnotra, Social Swan Decor

Why I Love This Piece

Designing with heirlooms is one of the most powerful ways to create a home that feels refined, personal, and timeless. In the space shown below, the referenced vintage dressing table, once used by my grandmother, now lives on as a poudreuse in my daughter’s room—blending sentimentality and style. By pairing it with updated soft furnishings, a tailored velvet swivel chair, and whimsical wall decor, it becomes part of a layered story that bridges generations.

High-end interiors aren’t just about newness—they’re about intentional curation. Furniture crafted decades ago was built to last, with attention to detail and material quality that’s often unmatched today. When thoughtfully placed, these pieces elevate a space with a quiet kind of luxury—one that tells a story and anchors a room with history. Whether it’s a handed-down chest, a carved mirror, or a childhood bed, integrating family furniture can feel both fresh and enduring when balanced with modern textures, tone-on-tone palettes, and clean silhouettes.

Read the full article on Southern Living for more ideas and inspiration here.