oceandreamer56's Profile

I've lived my adult live mostly without a dishwasher, and when I lived alone, it was fine. I tend to not cook much (LOTS of salads) so I just didn't dirty too many dishes.

After spending the past 2+ years as my mom's caregiver with no dishwasher, I've decided that I will have one in my next place even if it's a small one. Gloves don't last very long and using lotion on my hands during the day just makes the next thing I put in the water slippery. The dishes NEVER seem to be all done and I hate doing them.

Like SherryBinNH, I'm a box collector. #3 looks very much (if not exactly) like one I inherited from my great-grandmother. Made me happy to see it, as most of my stuff is currently in storage while I live in my mother's house as her caregiver.

Nostalgia ... the desk in the first pic reminds me of the desk my grandpa built for me when I was in grade school - four divided wood fruit crates (two facing forward and two facing the sides) with two 1x12's cut to fit and nailed to the top. Looking back, I think that was actually the best desk I've ever had.

I love it! I probably wouldn't have considered dark cabinets before seeing this, but dark is now a contender.

Love the open shelving, too. When I moved into my mom's house 1 1/2 years ago to be her caregiver, she had sort of early american style cabinet doors that have a raised edge - about 4 little steps that were a bi... to clean. I got frustrated and took the doors off, and once I'd cleaned them out and rearranged them so my pantry supplies were over the counter, I like it so much better.

I also like the way you stepped the corner of the counter top instead of mitering it - honestly, I just really like your space. Great job - especially for under $1000. And the satisfaction of having built that yourself - can't put a dollar amount on that.

I knew the saying originated during WWII, but didn't know about the bookstore. What a bookstore!! It's now on my list of places I want to visit. Or possibly live. Yeah, I could live in that bookstore.

I've got to agree with every comment above - that little bit of work and money was well worth it.
Questions: Did you remove the old flooring or stick the tiles right on top? And how careful do you have to be with spills and mopping? I've thought about doing this, but worry about the tiles coming unstuck.

I have to agree with a lot of what has been said. I actually worked for a storage unit company for a few months.

Rules and policies vary by company. Be sure you actually READ your rental agreement, and any other rules/policies/papers they give you/have you sign. Insist on copies of everything you've read and signed, and get a receipt for each payment - don't just rely on your check. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, which is more often the case than dishonesty.

You can purchase an insurance policy from the storage company, or extend your homeowners insurance to cover the items. I don't know if you can extend your renters insurance. The storage company should tell you right up front that they are not responsible for loss or damage of your items, if you're using a "you store it and lock it" facility. I don't know the policies for places that move and store for you (example: PODS)

A number of people lived out of the area, and we had notes on some who wished to have a receipt mailed to them after we processed their payment. I even had people who were local that mailed their payment and wanted a receipt mailed back.

Each contract had the name, mailing address and phone number(s) of the person renting, and we requested an alternate name and phone number. At the place I worked, if we had not received payment by the end of day on the 1st of the month, that person was locked out of the facility until they came in and paid. A very large part of my day was spent calling people - sometimes the same person day after day - to "remind" them that their payment was due. A note was made on their account of who I spoke to, and what I was told, or whether I left a message, or the phone just rang, or I had gotten a disconnect message. After a week or so of not speaking to the renter, I started calling the alternate, asking them to have the renter call. Notices were mailed to the address on file; the third and all subsequent notices were "return receipt requested". We did make every effort possible to contact the renter before putting the notice of auction in the newspaper.

They had one auction while I was there, and it was heartbreaking to see some of the things that got auctioned off; when we opened some of the units, I could see baby items, boxes labeled "photo albums", etc - stuff that someone had cherished at some point.

There are a lot of reasons someone might need to store their things - just be sure you have a good reason, and take some common sense precautions.

It can't be said enough - get the snorer to see a doctor.

My husband snored loudly - I could still hear him in the guest room on the other side of the house. He also had sleep apnea, and would sometimes go so long between breaths that I'd nudge him to partially wake him up.

If he'd listened to me, I might still be a wife instead of a widow.

I can understand wanting something new and sleek, but I have to throw in with the ones that are begging for simple updates instead of a total gut job. I'm so hoping that my next place has a bathroom like this one, but at the rate people are ripping them out, I rather doubt that will happen. Oh, if you do decide to get rid of that gorgeous crystal doorknob, would you please send it to me?? :-)

You can also see the reflection of the turquoise curtains on the wood floor at the bottom of the picture.

Look at the sofa cushions - looks like someone's sitting on them. Also - looks to me like the 'reflection' on the TV could be a picture - I've used my TV to run slide shows of my favorite pictures from a flash drive.

And finally, the room itself; I've been liking turquoise lately so I like the changes - perhaps the space is rented and changing the wall color isn't allowed - because, yeah - I'd have painted at least one wall. But overall, very nice.