Do you have a drop zone in your house? It’s one of those handy areas, usually near the entry, where you can “drop” things as you come in. Mail, keys, purse, receipts, stray paper.
Our drop zone has been set up for a long time, but I realized recently that I’d never shared it with you.
Maybe because I don’t consider this spot “done.” I continue to mull over the pieces I used in this space–and if we ever proceed with my big reno plan to move the front door, the drop zone will definitely relocate.
However, our drop zone is a great example of two of my favourite home decorating lessons: 1) buy what you like and you’ll find a way to make it work 2) use what you have. So despite thinking of this layout as temporary, it deserves a moment in the spotlight.
The standout piece is the table. This is my very first solo auction purchase. Usually I went to auctions with my parents and my Dad bought for all of us. Then one day my brother and I headed out to an auction just the two of us. When the table came on the block, I bided my time and then jumped in. I had $60 as my cutoff and went one more. I got the table for $65. (Auction lesson: most people will pick a round number for a cutoff. If you can go one more–just one more, don’t get carried away–you might be the winner.)
I can’t remember exactly when I bought this, but I might have been in university–maybe even high school. For years my parents moved it around their house, trying to fit it in with their furniture.
Even when I moved out, Matt and I didn’t have a spot for it in our first house. But when we moved to the farm, this little wall was the perfect dimension for this table. See what I mean about buy what you like and it will work out?
I am totally a child of the nineties. Remember dark red cherry-ish wood? Back then, I totally envisioned a house with cherry kitchen cabinets, a cherry sleigh bed with matching dresser and nightstands. I love this dark red wood.
But one of my stumbling blocks with this table is the dark red wood. I’m not sure it really works with our house. It doesn’t seem “farmhouse” or “country” to me. I feel like I should maybe paint it. But I love the red wood. And if I don’t like it white, it will be hard to take it back to the wood thanks to all of the deep carvings.
For now, I’m happy to keep the table as it is.
The rest of this little spot is things that we already had. The basket on the bottom holds receipts. Every so often, Matt does a tally so that we keep track of all of our household expenses. The shallow wood saucer on the tabletop was made by my Dad. It’s a spot to drop mail or other papers and it usually holds a flashlight. The rest of the surface stays relatively clear. Usually my camera bag is sitting here, where it’s easy to grab.
Above the table is a little mirror that my cousin gave us for our wedding. Again, this was something that we didn’t have a place for at our first house, but it fits perfectly beside the light switches. The mirror is something else I mull over occasionally. The wall could accommodate something taller, and the gold frame doesn’t exactly say “country.” I have visions of making a simple barn board frame for a taller mirror… maybe.
Despite its shortcomings, this is a very handy spot. It saves things piling up on the kitchen island most of the time. And I’m happy to see my table finally find a home.
Do you have a drop zone at your house? What are essential features of a drop zone for you? Do you have any furniture that took awhile to find its home? Would you paint the table?
Home on 129 Acres 
OH NO !! Pls don’t paint that beautiful wood!!
It is just gorgeous. I think it is lovely where you have it. I too love the deep red color. It is so elegant! You have such good taste. 👏🏻👏🏻😊
Lynn
It appears we share the same taste, Lynn.
I’m Lynn’s lesser half 😊 Believe it or not, we agree more than disagree. I would not come within a 100 miles of this table with a paint brush. Close look at the picture seems to indicate a lot of hand carving in the detail. Leave it alone. IT WORKS as is.
You’re right Howard. It does appear to be hand carved. The detail and skill are impressive.
Well, I’m open to either possibility…I also love the cherry wood, but think this piece would also make a wonderful country piece if it were white. But for now, the gold mirror works beautifully with it, perhaps better than barnwood with the original cherry finish.
That’s a good point, Jan. I like thinking of this zone as one complete area, rather than the individual pieces.
My drop zone has drawers, which can be dangerous.
Don’t paint the table! It sounds like you love it as it is, and it’s one of like 2 things that don’t exactly fit the aesthetic you have in mind. I think having a couple things that are a little off makes things more interesting. And plus, I think the current deal where “brown furniture” is out of style is going to be an aberration and it will regain value again later. If you want to paint traditional style mahogany or cherry, look for 1940’s junk furniture. This piece looks well made and in great shape.
And as for making furniture find a home in my house, I was lucky have furniture I’m happy with fall into my lap and all work well together. (Partly because I was content to use mostly undervalued “brown furniture.”) But my bedroom has rather 2 rather ornate marble-topped pieces and I’m still pondering how to work with them. That room came out just a bit more traditional and formal than I envisioned and I’ll probably just keep it that way.
That’s a good point, Chad. I’m already seeing trends come back around. I also agree that a mix is much more interesting.
I can certainly see your dilemma, I have always been a fan of cherry wood, but I think a rustic white small table would look good with that mirror. Maybe like Chad said, find another piece that you wouldn’t regret painting?
As for our house, Steve has a drop point, but I don’t. I just set my purse on the counter and that is a bad habit and is always in the way. That is something I should be considering!
I like the point of finding another table entirely for this spot if I decide I want a more country look.