Paul Stanley. My dad once dressed as Paul Stanley from the band KISS. It doesn’t stop there, friends. His buddies also dressed as other members of the band, and adoring fans paid money to see them perform (lip sync). It was a pretty big deal, and my dad is now essentially a lip-syncing legend. You didn’t hear it from me, but word is that photographic evidence and whispers of this epic performance are still passed around, even today.
Along with my dad’s love of music came a nice collection of records, which he stored in a couple of produce crates he was able to snag from the grocery store where he worked. I’m sure this long-haired young man, as he unpacked Sunny Slope Brand peaches and nectarines onto the store’s produce shelves and toted the empty crates home, would never imagine that, one day, he would have a daughter who would cherish those old, wooden boxes and display them proudly in her home. I inherited these treasures when I started collecting records myself, and my dad passed along his collection to me in, of course, said crates. Once my record collection expanded, I upgraded my music storage to a steamer trunk given to me by my Papaw, who used this in his Navy travels, but kept my crates because I knew I’d find another use for them. And, for those who may be wondering (because I know it probably has you on the edge of your seats), my records have now outgrown the trunk, as well. I have a lot!
Today, I’m sharing with you how I now use these antiques (sorry, dad, but they are!) in our home, along with a couple others I have since collected.
We have an adorable built-in right near our garage door and, although I’ve never had anything like this before, it’s something I’ll need in all my homes from here on out, because I L-O-V-E it! There are 6 cubby holes total, with the 2 largest being at the bottom. These particular cubbies fit my produce crates perfectly! Inside these boxes, I store reusable shopping bags, lunch boxes, and extra backpacks.
Next is an old 7-Up crate my husband found at a Goodwill outlet, where they charge you by weight. He got this puppy for less than $2! I have set it up on its end on the counter next to our fridge. It perfectly fits several bottles of water (around 23 at a time!) and it’s a nice way to store bottled beverages within easy reach for us and our guests, and without taking up all our fridge space.
Lastly is an apple crate I found at an antique show. Someone had previously put a little shelf inside, which was a nice addition! Initially I considered hanging this crate on the wall, but then no one could see the old label, which is the best part about it! I decided on placing it in on our entry-way bench. It currently holds our hats, gloves and sunglasses. And, when we have guests, I clear a side for their keys, accessories, purses, etc. so they stay right there by the door and aren’t forgotten.
There is nothing more satisfying than old, pretty items that are also functional and unconventional. What antique items do you have in your home that you use on a daily basis?
