2 min readAll things heirloom-worthy are having a serious moment right now. House Beautiful’s editorial director, Joanna Saltz, recently sat down with Marissa Brown, the director of design at historic furniture retailer Stickley, to discuss the creative vision driving heritage brands and how shopping with an heirloom-focused perspective fits into modern design.
Inheriting a storage unit full of furniture is one thing, but when you’re searching for your next great home find, it pays to think beyond what looks good right now. Consider how a piece will age, how it’s made, and whether it will stand the test of time. Many of today’s most sought-after antiques weren’t just built to last—they were designed with a timelessness that transcends trends. That’s a mindset worth bringing to your next home-shopping spree. After all, the last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on decor that quickly falls apart or feels dated.
Ahead, Brown shares her top three tips for legacy-minded design.
First, you should always consider your home’s needs before buying, no matter how excited you are about the find. Brown suggests you think less about an object’s prospective sentimental value and more about practical placement.
“I am thinking about space a lot when I’m designing,” Brown says. “I live in Brooklyn. So, sometimes the pieces are a little smaller in scale.” A piece well-loved is a piece worth passing down, and buying with intention ensures that the joy of owning a particular decor object won’t fade over time.
Next, while it can be tempting to chase trends, Brown keeps endurance top of mind.
“I try and keep them (decor pieces) as timeless as I can,” Brown explains. That’s not to say you should buy bland. The things you own should resonate with you. But it’s worth asking yourself if you’ll still be as excited about the piece in a decade or two. After all, trends will constantly cycle, but legacy is forever. You want your selections to channel that.
Her final tip? Don’t just splurge for the aesthetic value. Instead, try to envision how each piece will play in your day-to-day life.
“It’s not only design, but it’s the storytelling that goes into each object. That story can be told and passed on to your children and grandchildren,” Brown says. “Then it becomes special. It becomes something of your family. It’s a part of your home. It’s a part of your existence with that object.”
That sentiment is what makes these pieces impossible to part with, and what sets an “old” object apart from a true heirloom.
