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By Ava Lewandowski

“I think our personal treasures, and the stories behind them, add pleasure and character to a home.  A home is far more than architecture. It is the assimilation of our history and our experiences.” ~ Sharon Hanby-Robie

No, I am not talking about the TV program “In Plain Sight,” but the furniture in your “plain sight” that can be used to meet your decorating needs.

Our belongings are our personal treasures and they do have stories behind them.  I’m sure if you looked around your home, you would see furniture and accessories that you started out with, items that you inherited or a loved one gifted to you, or fabulous finds and bargains found when you were shopping.

Furniture is expensive and if you think about the versatility of a piece when you purchase it, you’ll feel better about spending the money.  One example:  a 34” round table can be an elegant night stand in a bedroom, a perfect end table in a living room, a cozy writing desk, a game table, a dining table for two, or an accent piece in an entryway.

An Interior Redesigner is trained to reuse, repurpose, or recycle your personal treasures.  Yes, we are trained, but God wired our brains to naturally think that way, too.  I thought it would be fun to ask a few of my redesigner friends for some of their ideas on how they have repurposed or reused some of their personal treasures within their “plain sight.”

Question: What piece of furniture do you have in your own home that has served your decorating needs in different ways?

“I have an antique bookcase given to me by my mom.  It’s about 5’ high and 12” wide.  I’ve used it in my bathroom to hold accessories for the bath…soaps in a decorative dish, bath salts, etc.  In the bedroom I used it to hold books.  When used in my dining room, it held my collection of teapots and cups.  I have used it in the den with decorative items on it, and finally it has been used in the foyer with plants and accessories.”  Linda Petway/Simply Redesigns

“My sofa table is a great piece as it has many uses:  daily I use it to display pictures and such and when I entertain, it is a perfect place for food and appetizers.”  Sandy Knutson-Grebner/Look Again Redesigns

“Nesting tables…I have used them as end tables, of course, but I have also used them as a coffee table.  The larger ones can be separated from the smallest for tight spots.”  Barbara Bain/Redesign-Today

“I have a couple of pieces that have been around a long time.  A small side chair that has been in the living room, dining room and now is in the bedroom.  It has a wood frame with an upholstered seat and back….love it!  Also, I have a small telephone table from my mother-in-law that she used in many rooms and is now in my powder room as an accent piece….painted black with new crystal hardware for some bling.”  Linda Sluiter/Interior Artistry Redesign

“My console table…it has been used as a sideboard, a sofa table, and now it is in my entry.  I bought it at a consignment store because I loved all the detail but the color was all wrong.  It was a pastel, which didn’t last long once I got it home.  I painted it black to bring it up to date and make it more versatile.  The black goes with everything!”  Marybeth Barrett/Addressing Spaces

Shop your home. You just might have that piece of furniture to fill the need right within “plain sight.”

April 15 – Décor Secrets Revealed …. For easy and inspiring ways to bring style into your home join the decorating gals (Marybeth Barrett, Addressing Spaces and Ava Lewandowski, ReDESIGNS by Ava),Thursday, April 15^th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at Meg Brown Home Furnishings. Space is limited.  Cost $35. Call Ava (712.0515) to reserve your spot.