As we attempt to purge our clutter-filled homes of all things ugly, unloved and excess, Marie Kondo advises us to keep only those items that spark joy. My question to you is, what if far too many items spark joy? When it comes to thrifted and inherited dishes and vases, the current state of our dining room clearly demonstrates that you can have too much of a good thing.
Our dining room tends to collect the overflow, as we shuffle things from the kitchen table or the foyer. Once in a while, I'll focus my attention on the dining room, finding homes for all the stray items and then dusting the table top. But more strays inevitably find their way to the dining room soon enough.
And then there are the items always on display - perhaps a few too many of them - like all of these inherited goodies on the side table, above. There's the lazy susan from Blue Mountain Pottery that my mom always served special meals in, various brass pieces (also from Mom) and a cracked and glued platter that apparently came with ancestors from Ireland (I don't know how long ago). Can't get rid of any of those!
On the (dusty) dining room table, here are just a few things that can be found - my Nana's crystal lidded candy dish, a thrifted green pedestal bowl, a thrifted floral serving dish and that heated chip and dip bowl that appeared in a previous Vintage Bliss post.
The dining room armoire (bought at auction years ago) is full of wine glasses, our wedding china, my Nana's china and assorted thrifted and inherited serving pieces. On top you will find a squished assortment of thrifted vases and bowls, as well as a still life that was in my family's dining room growing up. And I'm afraid this particular shopper has attended one (or two) too many basket sales. One benefit of this cluttered spot - it occasionally serves as a great place to hide the kids' iPads when they won't do their homework or clean their rooms.
There's a very good chance that, as my 4-month household purge continues, none of these items will be getting the heave-ho. Although I lament the clutter, I am essentially unrepentant. In fact, I have long been in search of a GIANT sideboard and hutch to house more dishes. (That's in addition to the two cupboards in the basement that already hold rotating dishes, vases and accessories.)
Do you have too many things that spark joy?
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Now there's an idea I can get behind - my 'too many objects' definitely spark joy! A heated chip and dip bowl? Platter from Ireland? Your treasures are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed with lots of joy then right? I fear we may be bad influences on each other. ;) Thanks though, I'm glad you like my treasures. :)
DeleteJoann you put it so well, and I too keep items that spark joy, pack them away, take them out to enjoy, and repeat. Memories.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Joy! I can always count on you for support. :) Jo
DeleteI haven't made it to dish plates etc yet, mostly because they're all packed away in boxes because we have nowhere to display them. But I don't see myself getting rid of any of them :) I bought them on ebay, or thrift stores because they sparked joy :P I really do wish we had a display case of some sort so we can see and use them, but that's part of my purging here-- I'm planning on getting rid of one corner bench thingy and replacing with a glass front cabinet. Now that the kids are older and not running around swinging toys everywhere, I can bring out the old china cabinet. Except it's currently in the far corner of our 'junk room', which needs to be cleaned out first before I can even reach the cabinet...
ReplyDeleteI also have way too many items that spark joy! But I have junk I can purge so I plan on doing that in the next few months.
ReplyDeletexo Dianne
love my collections bring back memories gotta have that thanks for the link up
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I am with you ... too many lovely items that I simply cannot be let go of! I'm also in need of one more cabinet to house things, and even have the space to put it. Now, it's just a matter of finding the right piece. And then I'll have room for just a little more collecting!
ReplyDeleteI have waaaaaaaaaay too many things that spark joy!
ReplyDelete