When I was young, when I got tired of a room, I’d run to the hardware store, buy a bucket of paint, change the color of the room, and move the furniture around. I’d peruse the Sears or Penney’s catalogue for new curtains and presto/chango, new room. None of that is possible anymore.

I’ve been wanting to paint my kitchen.  I’ve been in this house for 27 years and I’ve re-wallpapered the kitchen once, painted the walls and cabinets once, and it is time once again. It’s the main room of the house next to the living room. But I’m not as young as I once was. I’m hiring it done this time.

Before my husband and I were married, we visited a used furniture store and spent $75 on the table and chairs in the picture.  My mom came up with the buffet later.  A friend refinished them. We raised our kids on them and we are about to have our 51^st anniversary.  They’ve been around awhile.  They’ve been in the kitchen and dining room.  I’ve worn out countless tablecloths trying to keep the table in good condition and I’m so tired of tablecloths. 

I thought about painting the dining set. Just the tops and then putting a glaze over the paint so it was waterproof and I wouldn’t have to keep the tablecloth clean.  I know my husband would have hated it. Instead, I took pictures of them and put them through Google Lens to see what they were worth. I found they are 100 years old.  They were made in the early 1900s. 100 years!  A century! That deserves respect.  That deserves a new tablecloth and some furniture polish.

Okay, I won’t paint them. But I will hire someone to get rid of my florescent lights in the kitchen and paint the walls a new color.  I’ll move some art around (I have plenty), buy some new curtains, and change things up a little.

Change is good.  But a century old piece of furniture that has been well loved and well used—that is a treasure.