As a newlywed, my husband and I are continuing to figure out what is our combined interior home design style. While my husband, Mike, loves mid-century modern and I tend to default to a more country farmhouse style, we have started to figure out that we both have a true passion for restoration and preserving the past.
Through estate sales and online auction houses, Mike and I have started to curate a collection of our combined style to create a Southern Traditional home. From family heirloom Japanese block prints to oil paintings by local artists, we enjoy displaying items that tell a story, bring joy into our home, and make a our guests feel welcome.
We were gifted my aunt’s Billingsly Rose Spode China as a wedding gift and proudly display the pattern in our dining room. Although we love the history of the Billingsly Rose pattern, we wanted to find a second set of China that spoke to our combined style with a bit of chinoiserie flare. To our pleasure we stumbled upon a complete set of J. & G. Meakin Indian Tree China at a local estate sale. A few of the pieces were chipped and stained, but we absolutely could not resist the brightly colored dishes and unique pattern
Coalport originally debut the Indian Tree China pattern in 1802 in their Shropshire England factory. Our set is stamped with the “J. & G. Meakin” logo on the bottom of each dish. J. & G. Meakin is also a English pottery company established in 1851 and exported the Indian Tree China pattern to the United States. Although this pattern has been widely distributed, we are excited to use this set of China at our family gathering.
Don’t forget about your entry way! Adjacent to our dining room we have displayed another family heirloom, a rustic dresser from Mike’s grandmother. Over the years this piece has been in many our our family’s homes and we are using it as a entry way table and storage for miscellaneous items, such as our dog leash!
When guests walk through the door, it’s important to create a space that feels welcoming and creating a floral arrangement to display not only brightens up the space but the aroma is beautiful. This floral design is from our friend and very talented florist, Tricia Barksdale. I used a extra chair tie to add a dramatic element to the antique pitcher/vase.
Displaying your estate sale finds throughout your home will spark conversations and make your home feel inviting and cozy. As we continue to decorate our home with vintage finds and antiques, we will find the joy in bringing life back to other family’s precious treasures.
