Memory

KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE: HOW TO PRESERVE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

To make sure family heirlooms are loved, respected and treasured for years to come, take the time to write out an explanation for the item. If the article is your great, great grandfather’s pocket watch that he received from his employer on his wedding day in Ireland, write that down. If you don’t and the story isn’t remembered, that watch just becomes an antique with no meaning.

Just take a note card and answer these 6 simple questions:

1. Who?
2. What?
3. When?
4. Where?
5. Why?
6. How?

If there is some emotional connection to the heirloom like a story, include that as well. If the family sewing machine traveled across the United States in the back of a wagon during the California Gold Rush, write it down. Any item that has been passed down from one generation to the next has stories to tell and it is up to you to preserve those as well.

Temperature

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Fluctuating temperature is a large factor for destroying family heirlooms. Old articles can’t handle incredibly hot or cold temperatures. For this reason, you should try and store your antiques in places that stay around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid storing your old items in the attic, basement, barn, shed or even near windows or heating vents.

Humidity

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Humidity can murder antiques, especially if it is furniture. If you bring an old piano or rocking chair from the dry desert of New Mexico over to the incredibly humid climate of Louisiana, you’re likely to have the wood split as it tries to pull in all of the moisture. Try to keep your antiques in relatively dry areas so they don’t begin to accumulate mold, but remember that too dry can also lead to things drying out and splitting. Keep heirlooms in an environment that they are used to being in and avoid intense humidity or dryness.

Light

Preserve and Protect Family Heirlooms & Treasures

Ultraviolet light can be dangerous for your antiques because it breaks down the chemicals in the pigmentation of photographs, papers, plastics, and other valuables. If you have old pictures that have begun to fade they might have fallen victim to this decay. Just keep in mind that less light is typically better for preserving your family heirlooms.

Dust

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Not only is dust bothersome, but it can also be detrimental to your family heirlooms. Dust can be wiped away relatively easily, but if it is left to sit for too long it can trap in moisture, causing mold to grow. It can also invite bugs to make homes in old books or wood, and it can weaken materials. Just make sure to be diligent in your dust removal.

If you are especially worried about keeping a family heirloom in good condition you can visit a specialist to help you in the care of your article. Most jewelers should be able to help you with watches and jewelry. Visit your local library or college for help in preserving books and documents. Good luck with keeping your families’ memories alive and preserved.

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Now, most amenities you could probably do without, but if you’re in a position where you’re moving long distance or pretty frequently, having a furnished space may be one of your must-haves, but a furnished apartment will come with its own downsides.

Moving

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Getting a furnished place is great if you want to avoid the heavy lifting of moving furniture in. It also means you can move in and out more quickly since you won’t need to spend time finding extra hands and vehicles to help you move everything.

However, getting a furnished place may become more of a hassle if you already have some or all of your own furnishings. You may have to find a space to store them in and, depending on your choice of storage, pay a storage fee you hadn’t been planning on.

Costs

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If you don’t have your own furniture already, you likely won’t need to worry about any storage costs, but you may see higher expenses elsewhere. If a home comes furnished, it will likely have a higher monthly rent, and if you choose to rent from a furnishing company, that will come with its own monthly charge.

You’ll want to compare this expense against the amount you would need to spend on purchasing any items you don’t have. You may find that it’s cheaper for you in the long run to have a furnished apartment.

Durability

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Trying to furnish your own space may mean scouring charity shops for pieces that are well-used but still in decent condition, but there’s no guarantee you’ll find what you’re looking for.

One major benefit of getting a place that comes furnished is someone has already invested in nice, updated pieces that will last. The only real downside here is you’ll be expected to take care of those pieces so they’ll continue to be in good shape, which may mean specific rules or care that come along with your lease.

Style

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Last but not least is the style and vibe of your space, and your furniture plays a big role in this. Chances are, if the apartment comes furnished or you’re outsourcing to a furnishing company, there will be a consistent style with each piece, meaning your home will look put together will very little effort on your part.

But it doesn’t mean that style will be to your taste. If the owner is furnishing it, you’re stuck with that style, but if you’re using a furnishing company, you may be able to choose from several style options to fit your own taste.

Open Communication

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Most property listings, like those on rooftoprentals.net, will tell you what items are and aren’t furnished. If you find a place you absolutely love that doesn’t fit your furnishing needs, it never hurts to reach out to the owner or property manager.

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You can find out if they would be willing to furnish some pieces that you don’t have or remove pieces to make way for your own.

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