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The house we lived in prior to this one was smallish but decent - 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage - but in a slightly deteriorating neighborhood. It was a starter home that we built when Shannon was 2 1/2 years old; we enjoyed getting to know all the neighbors as they moved in and although Shannon was older than all the kids that would be born there, she was the older sister to all and loved playing with all of them. But, the house had no area for "older" kids to congregate - fine when it was only girlfriends congregating in her bedroom, but Shannon would soon be in high school. So six years ago, after most of our neighbors moved on to bigger and better homes, I was finally able to drag Brian, kicking and screaming, into buying a somewhat bigger house in a nearby neighborhood. We now live in a two-story, 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, with a gameroom upstairs and a huge backyard - perfect for high school socializing, I thought...
The house was built in 1984 and previous owners had made "improvements" - mostly questionable ones, so we had our work cut out for us. Over the past years we have updated the kitchen (replaced formica countertops with granite, plus a composite granite sink and a flat-top cook surface). I also ripped out the ORIGINAL wallpaper and texturized & painted the walls. Next came the fireplace; previous owners had painted the brick white, which Brian despised. We found a company that sculpted concrete and created a "stone" fireplace surround - looks pretty darned good! I have painted in every room except the master bedroom and bath. Last fall I finally had enough of the scarred panels in our kitchen cabinets so I inserted glass panels (yes, I did it myself!) and that looks pretty darned good, too! Our latest improvement, thanks to money from Brian's dad's estate, was to refloor the entire downstairs. There was 3 types of carpet and 4 types of tile (!) plus carpet on the stairs - all ripped out. We had one kind of tile installed throughout the downstairs, new carpet in our bedroom, and wood laminate on the stairs, and it looks, great, too!
Along with all the improvements have come things that needed to be fixed...plumbing, ceiling leaks, air conditioning problems, rotted siding, dead trees (we had more than 50 pines in the back yard alone when we moved in; 14 were removed a throughout the last couple of years and the drought/beetles have killed more this year) - these things and more - the kinds of problems you have with a house 28 years old.
So, our home is a work-in-progress. It would never be featured in a magazine. We have lots of family pictures on the walls; in fact, I don't think we have a bare wall anywhere with all the "stuff" hanging there. We have lots books we have actually read on the bookshelves. We have knick-knacks all over - all of which mean something to us and are not just accessories chosen to add to the decor. We do not have fancy designer furniture. We have organized clutter in some places - like Brian's "area" in the living room and the desk top where I am using my laptop right now. Our kitchen counters are not empty and if you were to drop in, chances are you would find the ironing board up in the living room (yes, I still iron). It is lived in; it is homey. It is ours.
So, why write about it? I would imagine there still are homes that look like ours and feel like ours (and many that are much worse!), but it seems like the trend in decorating is to have your home look like a builder's model, straight from the pages of a designer magazine. I have friends whose homes are absolutely lovely and beautifully decorated, and they make me...uncomfortable...and, well, somewhat envious. There, I said it!
I know those friends do not spend big bucks on decorating - they find bargains at Kirklands, Hobby Lobby, and the home section at Ross, TJ Max, and so on. Many homes built today have large wall spaces and beg for large wall decorations, so many have a variety of large metal "things" on their walls - not family photos. Those photos are generally found on one tabletop in smaller, artsy picture frames. The family knick-knacks have been replaced with small metal and aged-looking "things" that complement the decor; books are purchased for what they add visually and not to be read. Wall sconces, huge silk plants, wrought iron wall hangings, oversized candlelabra with oversized candles, "casually" tossed unusual scarves or shawls, large & dark furniture, decorative metal crosses. Window coverings - no! Where needed, wide-slatted plantation blinds. Darker, earthy paint on the walls, often faux or textured.
I guess I missed the memo about modern home decor.
Our home is from the era "lived-in; make yourself comfortable." Maybe I have different priorities; maybe it's the age difference; or maybe it's just I would rather surround myself with things that have meaning to me & my family, not just decorative accessories. Believe me, I am not belittling staged decor; rather, I think it is a sign of the times where, especially in the area in which we live, people tend to follow certain looks or trends. Perhaps being a little bit older than most of my friends and co-workers, I am just more comfortable with the cluttered, personal look that so many others strive so hard to avoid.
Hmm, I wonder what their closets look like? Or is everything in a storage unit, where monthly payments ensure the clutter stays out of the house??
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OK, I have said my piece...now maybe I should bring this clutter of a blog entry to a close. Who knows, maybe one day we too will have a showcase home...ha! Probably not - where would I hide all the photos, the knick-knacks, the books, the collection of old LPs...the memories of a lifetime...
