For me, it's just about anything done in gingham or checks. I could sit and stare at this random photo of yellow checked shades forever, I think. They remind me of my childhood. I was 12 when my brother was born, and I moved out of the room that became his, into what had been the guest room. The bedspread and curtains that I "inherited" in the guest room were a happy green gingham. In my baby brother's room, pastel gingham accents abounded. Anytime I see gingham checks now, I feel instantly nostalgic. (Oh yeah, my grandmother also had red gingham curtains in her kitchen window!)

For me, it's English Cottageware. They're ceramic pieces made for kitchens back in the mid-1900's, mainly by Price and Kensington. My grandmother, who I adored and was very close to, kept some pieces in our family's summerhouse. I loved them then and when she passed on, I inherited her small collection . . . and have been adding to it since then. Whenever I see them, it takes me back to my childhood, sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with Gram and my mom laughing and chatting together nearby. Happy memories!
I keep my collection displayed above the cabs in my laundry room now. This is a few of them:
Lynn

I can't remember a time when they weren't in our dinng room. I am lucky to be the current caretaker of them.

Just yesterday, my 10 year old granddaughter was visiting and noticed one of the vases in my china cabinet for the first time.

Her gasp and excited; "that's the prettiest thing I have ever seen!" surprised me and warmed my heart. (It pretty much sealed the deal on who the next caretaker will be.)

Remember the gift wrapping contest? I used checks, of course! And I won. :)

Here is a lady's page I check (good pun!) daily for inspiration.

Each one tocked to its own time, so from about 2 minutes before the hour until 5 after, the house was filled by a succession of chimes, bongs, bells, and cuckoos. We learned to sleep right through it, but guests often had a hard time sleeping through the night.

As a teenager, for one brief moment in time (a year?), I had my own room with a single white iron bed, pretty ice blue bedding, and an antique mahogany wood dresser. So different than the plain bunk beds I always shared with my sisters. I had a love for shabby chic before I even knew what that was :-)

My DD now has an antique white iron bed with girly bedding and I have a small mahogany dresser converted into a vanity in my powder room :-)

Let's just say I have that plus a few more pieces now! :)

It's hard to pass up anything in green glass for me.

My favorite part of the British Museum was all the Green Glass in the Roman display cases!!! I had no idea they had glasses back then. (Always pictured them with metal tumblers) Let alone that they were ALL green. The minerals in the glass apparently. So it seems the very FIRST glass was green.

These are my own photos:

Green Glass. From 150 BC. It's a classic.

Lynn, I adore Cottageware! I've got one of the little teapots that my Mom gave me, and it's treasured! I can see how yours are extra special since they belonged to your Gram.

Maddielee, what a gorgeous vase! The colors are just beautiful! And how sweet to have found a future caretaker in your granddaughter. That's exactly how I came to inherit some of my Grannie's pieces - my commenting on how wonderful I thought they were when I was still just a little girl.

Roarah - glass door knobs! Oh, how I love those! I wonder why they aren't used much anymore? Now I want to replace some of mine!

Oakley - thanks so much for the link! Yes, we do have very similar tastes and likes! :-)

Fun2BHere - I completely share your love for Tudor Revival homes. I'm living in one myself, built in the 1940s, and even though it's got its fair share of older home "issues", I still feel so fortunate to have a little old place with its own fair share of charm!

Chibimimi - What a wonderful collection your Dad had! I too love old clocks. My ex had a collection of "only" about 15 mantle clocks - but once they were all ticking and bonging, it was quite something!

Cabinbuilder - Yes! Love the intricate woodwork that is so rarely seen in new construction. Really makes you appreciate the craftsmanship of bygone days.

Jamies - Black/white diagonal tile is such a beautiful, classic look! I love it too!

Bumblebeez - You have painted a mental image of an absolutely stunning space! Another classic look, for sure!

Francypants - Isn't that a wonderful nook! I'd love to have those shades in my own house!

Greenthumbfish - Love your response! Actually, I can't say I've seen it in many years, but I think blue shag carpeting (about the color of the blue Muppet!) would invoke a certain nostalgia in me. That was in the bedroom I had in my later teen years.

Sis3 - What a dear memory! The pretties got shined up and you made memories to treasure in the process. Love it!

Juddgirl2 - Ah yes, white iron beds are so incredibly charming, aren't they? Last year I stayed in a 17th century renovated Cotswold cottage and slept in a twin white iron bed, which made me want to return home and redo just about everything in my house!

Bungalow_house - Yes! I can completely envision that! Sounds so simple, so homey, so cozy!

Javachik - Those lamps are amazing! Absolutely perfect in that setting too. What a great, retro-but-still-oh-so-cool look that is!

Biochem - Now you've done it! The British Museum is one of my favorite places in the world, and now I wanna go back there! How fascinating to see glass that is that old! And still so beautiful too. WOW!

Grandmaof3 - Oh, I love houseplants too and wish I didn't either kill them (or have the cats finish them off for me). African Violets make me feel particularly nostalgic. My parents still have a room full of them, and my Grannie grew them in her windows too.

Late 40's my parents built a new house and had barkcloth wall to wall drapes made. The colors were garish - various large plum (aubergine) and green tropical flowers and foliage on a grey background but as a child I thought the new living room was really something. Color scheme was grey and plum predominantly and all new furniture. I'm immensely attracted to vintage barkcloth and occasionally look at sites that have it expecting to see the same pattern altho wouldn't choose it. I may find a print with colors that would work in my home to use as cushion covers.

Interesting thread.

You know, I think you might live in my home town. Are you near University and Forest Park?

From November 7, 2011

Gsciencechick, I love the look of 1940s blonde wood! There's something so very chic about it. Chic, yet still very nostalgic! I like the way you're paying homage to your Aunt Mary!

Luckygal, I adore barkcloth! At one time when I was going with sort of a tropical look in my guest/workout room, I seriously scoped out sources for barkcloth drapes. They were pretty pricey (even on eBay), so I opted for a number of barkcloth pillows on the daybed instead. I can envision the drapes just as you've described them. So very cool!

Fun2BHere, I am indeed living in your home town! Not in the TCU area, but just north of downtown. Are you still living here, or have you moved away? I was born here, moved away, but now I'm back. It is, and will always be, home!

Oh Pesky, they're not awful! They're wonderful! I absolutely love those so pieces - they have tremendous personality! Where have you displayed them?

Flyleft, those pieces sound fabulous! And how wonderful that they were crafted by your grandfather. Even though you never met him, they surely make you feel a connection to him. What history that table and chair must have!