WWYD - keep this chair?

[Girlo]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so please feel free to move it if needed. :)

I have a dilemma. A year and a half ago, my brother made Alex a child-size bentwood rocker. It's really nice and he put a lot of time into it. My issue is that Alex NEVER sits in it and it's just taking up space in our living room. :( I'd love to sell it, but I don't want to hurt him when he sees it isn't in our house anymore.

He and his girlfriend (who handmade the cushions for it) don't come over often....maybe a handful of times a year. They may or may not notice if it's gone. It's been about 15 months since we got it.....so I feel like we've put in our time. :heee: If we do get rid of it, I'd need some good answers to the possible questions.......

This is so hard for me because he picked out the rocker (salvaged) with Alex in mind and spent lots of hours restoring the wood. Then, he trashed the original seat and back, and his girlfriend hand-made new cushions for it. They did this all just for Alex and the sheer thought of selling it makes me feel incredibly guilty. :(
However.....it doesn't go with anything in our house and it's just taking up space.....it's clutter. Alex sat in it once and hasn't glanced at it since. Every once in a while, a visiting kid will sit in it, but because of its bentwood design, it's not very comfortable for a small child. It goes WAY back and just isn't one of those chairs that you can just plop down in for a quick rest.

So....what would you do? Keep it because it has sentimental value or sell it and clear up some space in our home?

I have a couple of photos on my camera......I just haven't uploaded them yet. It's a miniature (child-size) bentwood rocker with hunter green padded seat and back.

[Shanna]

Is it something you could use as decoration on your porch or anything? Maybe put a small potted plant in the seat? I'm like you, I'd have a hard time getting rid of it and would just try to make a different use for it :lol:

[Clare]

I would not sell it. As you said, your brother and his girlfriend put a lot of love and effort into it. You don't have to have it on display in the living room, but I think you need to keep it. Can you put it in the attic or somewhere?

[AmyS]

I would keep it. My family has a similar chair for the children that is passed down through the families. I like the sentimental stuff though :)

[Alyssa]

I think you might really regret getting rid of that, and hurt your brother/his girlfriend's feelings. I am anti-clutter, but pro-sentimentality. :)

Could you move it to his bedroom so it's less in view?

[Girlo]

I uploaded the pics from my camera....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dc30b3127cce812f0768078c00000015108AZNGjlk2cNY
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dc30b3127cce812f0759868d00000016108AZNGjlk2cNY

I could probably find another home for it. :) It could easily go in the storage area in our garage to be stored for another time. Alex's bedroom is small, so this would take up even more valuable space than it does now.
With as much as it rains here, it would get ruined if it were outside for any length of time.

[Shanna]

I think it's a gorgeous chair, Shannon :aok: I know it's hard to find a spot for it, but I would definitely do it :nod:

[Cami]

I'd keep it, in the garage or wherever and bring it out when needed. Maybe he'll even start to use it again if it's been away for a while. (my kids do that)

My parents had a little rocker for me when I was a baby. My mom has the story of how my dad was up late at night, painting it before I was born. She saved it all this time and now it's in my daughters' room. It's got a stuffed animal sitting in it most of the time but I couldn't get rid of it.

[MrsPeacefrog]

Does he have a cubby house out the back? I would put it in there if he does. Or put it in storage until he does have something along those lines.

I agree with the others, I absolutely would NOT sell it. Too much effort went into it for you to do such a thing.

[Dennis]

I agree with everyone else - definitely keep it. If you want to move it out, put it in the garage.

[Karri]

I would keep it. You could find a plastic storage bin and store it in the garage. :dunno: It could be something Alex could give to his firstborn.

[Mary DK]

Oh Shannon, I agree with everybody else, I would keep it. It's beautiful... your brother & his GF did an awesome job! It's definitely something to keep so he can pass it on :nod:

[Melissa]

Ditto everyone else, it is one thing if it is some cheap thing that someone gave you, but when it is semihandmade and so much time and effort went into it, I'd have to keep it.

[Alysia]

I would keep it. :heee:

[Nichole]

I agree, keep it and store it somewhere. :nod:

[Jen]

Another vote for keeping it. I think the gesture was well intentioned and even if they don't visit much, I would feel terrible getting rid of it. It really is beautiful!

Perhaps you could get some slip covers made so that the fabric matches better with your decor, then you could pull them off when you know your brother and his girlfriend are coming to visit.

I like the idea of using it to store stuffed animals or something but if his room is too small, you could put it in storage for now. I'd bring it out when they visit though. Maybe Alex will appreciate the craftsmanship as he gets older.

I think you got lucky, it could have been much worse. At least it's not something huge that is hideous that you have to keep forever. :awink: