fulinlin's Profile

I've made vegetarian Kimchi before and just used a bit of soy sauce instead of fish sauce, maybe not the perfect option, but a simple one (and you don't have to buy an extra ingredient). If you haven't had Kimchi before or want to introduce it to new people, making a recipe with it (Kimchi fried rice or Kimchi pancakes for example) is a good introduction.

It really depends on the layout, doesn't it? In some cases, it might also be necessary for you to have enough storage. I really love several of those examples were no divider was used, but this NYtimes make-over is an example where I think a divider was absolutely the right choice: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/garden/24cheap.html?_r=0
Of course it also depends on personality and how you use your space. I could imagine that a divider might be nice if you share the space, so that you can get some privacy and maybe some sleep while your partner is working late on the laptop or so.

In general I do understand stocking up on things before moving if you're afraid to not find those things in your new location, but I am not sure why it should be more difficult to find used stuff in the country? Surely, there will be some charity stores and craigslist as well? I actually thought that it is often easier finding cool & cheap second hand things on the country (while in the city the good things often get snapped up by expensive vintage stores). In my opinion it would make more sense to stock up on big-box stores which don't have a branch near you ect.

Not everybodys parents only have "second hand garbage". Not everybody has the money to buy everything new. By reusing great things you can save your money to buy other good things, also its nice to have things connected with your family, reminding you of them and its also more ecological to reuse instead of buying cheap crap.
But I think according to you, my parents still haven't cut the apron strings, since in their beautiful home among modern abstract and expressionist paintings, a mixture of art nouveau and modern funiture, they also do have some pieces inherited from their parents.

I think its important to learn to imagine a piece (be it your parents old table or a table in a thriftstore) in your place, with your things surrounding them. You might think you don't like your grandparents couch, but if its your kelim cushions on them instead of the oldfashioned florals of your grandmom and combined with your modern coffeetable- it might look very different. Also, learn to imagine pieces with some changes, like a new paintjob or new hardwear- and learn to do minor diy. Not only for inherited or thrifstore pieces, but also Ikea pieces often benefit from small changes, like staining, changing hardware or painting. A good concept, like a good layout and knowing your style makes all the difference too.

Oh, and a beautiful kelim for the floor. Seriously, my parents have a big red couch and kelim pillows and an oriental rug and they work very well together.

Apart from white walls & colourfull accessoires, also think about adding reflective surfaces like mirrors for bouncing the light around. Different lamps can also help to create a "brighter" atmosphere.

As somebody else mentioned before, in Switzerland its completly normal to rent instead of own.
What I also find funny, on aparmtenttheraphy or other American blogs whenever somebody does something to his house, so many people seem concerned with the resale value. Why own your home when you're already thinking about moving out? Why buy a house when you still want do what you want but instead worry about the likes and dislikes of an imaginary future buyer?

@mschatelaine: nobody is arguing that they got every small detail right (like the hinges of the cupboards) since most of us wouldn't notice something like the hinges anyway. But that they would have a seventies owl or a seventies backlash? Sounds about right for me.

@mschatelaine: well, the series is set in the early 80s and not everybody remodeled all the time or was always following the newest trends. Kind of reminds me of the Bettys and Dons mad men kitchen which looked 50s and not 60s, but the thing is, they already lived there for some time and so it maked sense that their suburbia house would have a 50s and not 60s kitchen. Same with the Americans, it makes sense that they have 70s things leftover from when they first moved in/started to buy stuff in the US (which would have been in the 70s) and that not everything in their lives would be right on trend. There are plenty of 1980s, 1990s, 2000s things in my parents house and they got just rid of their 1970s pots and pans which I have now and if my life would be a series made in 2030 people would say how period inaccurate my pans are, "those are 1970, not 2010s, how could the set decorator mix up those decades!"