A true-life creative writing piece by Carolyn J. Braden. This story reflects how my husband and I feel about all the vintage pieces we purchase and remodel. They all have a story. Some pieces we keep, some we sell. This is the story of our recently sold piece, the vanity.
The Vanity
I was born in Mayville, New York in the Kling Factories. While I don’t remember much about my childhood, I do remember being loved. I’ve always been loved. I’ve been used to store precious items, to help people get ready for special events, and more.
My favorite memory (so far) was when my owners, Tommy and Carolyn Braden, bought me at a thrift store around 2001. I was pea green in color when they found me, but they saw I had good bones, and decided to take me home. On their way home, my original mirror cracked right in half. Some would have seen this as a “bad luck” sign, but not them. As soon as they got home, they measured the old mirror and called a local glass shop to have them cut them a new mirror.
One day Tommy decided to see what was under all the green paint. It was going to be his first renovation project ever, and I am happy that he chose me to help him learn this process. He carefully stripped and scraped away the green paint only to find some white paint. He scraped and scraped some more and found my glorious wood under all the paint.
It’s kind of ironic that a vanity, something that many use to “paint” their faces in makeup, was beautiful with or without paint. Just like humans.
He continued working hard to finish my wood and the outcome of his dedication was simply awesome. Carolyn loved his work and helped him understand making something so beautiful of something so old may be one of his talents.
Tommy went on to renovate other pieces of furniture, as well as three houses. He learned that “new” isn’t always “better”. He also learned that sometimes “new” isn’t the best for the environment and has worked hard to restore many old things to save trees, money and more. He learned all that from me, and I’ve been blessed to be a part of his life.
Now Tommy and Carolyn are about to embark upon a new adventure in their lives. Carolyn loved having me be a part of her beauty routine for many years, but thought it may be time for me to start a new chapter of my life as well. My story will continue on in someone else’s home. My story will begin a new story with someone else. And I know no matter what, I will still always be loved.
The vanity was produced by the Kling Factories.
Interesting fact about Kling Factories: Kling Factories was operated as a family business between 1911 and 1962 in Chautauqua County, New York State, USA. In 1962, the family sold the firm to what is now known as Ethan Allen Inc. “Kling Colonial” and Kling branded furniture was produced by Ethan Allen from 1962 into the 1990’s. The original Mayville, N.Y. factory was operated by Ethan Allen until it closed in 2003. http://www.klinginfo.com/h1
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Designed and executed by Carolyn and Tommy Braden