One of many distinct options of Grandma Jennie’s eating room was the intricate lace doilies that coated her wooden furnishings. Hand crocheted by Grandma, the fantastic cotton items adorned her sideboards, tables, and even the cabinets of her china cabinet.
These ornamental objects have been fairly frequent within the early- and mid-Twentieth century. However they weren’t simply decorations, in addition they served a practical objective. Doilies set on picket surfaces protected the furnishings from scratches that is perhaps brought on by vases, dishes, and different objects set on high. Not solely did they shield the surfaces of items that have been meant to final a lifetime however in addition they may conceal small mars and scratches on these surfaces.
Whereas I respect their ornamental and practical worth, the old school look of doilies doesn’t enchantment to my tastes. I desire to make use of sturdy material desk runners and mats as an alternative.
Grandma wanted to rigorously launder her doilies to keep up the fragile lacework. However my vibrant material runners and mats are simple to take care of. I can toss them within the laundry with the remainder of the wash.
And it’s simple to swap out colours and patterns for different seasons. I may use pastels for spring, snow-white for winter, or a leaf sample in russet tones for autumn. There’s no must buy an costly desk runner; a colourful scarf or material remnant can serve the identical objective. I may even trim and hem an outdated mattress sheet to make a table runner or mats, making one thing helpful out of material which may in any other case go to waste.
I like the concept of utilizing ornamental material to assist shield our furnishings so it lasts a very long time. It’s only a bonus that this stuff — whether or not they’re Grandma’s lace doilies or material desk runners — can add a way of class or a pop of shade to the room as properly!
