bindy's Profile

EEKNS, that's quite a moralistic statement to be making. If we really want to 'live within the means of our planet' we wouldn't be reading apartment therapy with its constant push to 'update' things that are all actually perfectly in working condition, but dated, or buy new products, etc. the whole site is about consumption, just gussied up under the theme of 'we need to live smaller'. And yet, most of the homes featured here are for couples living in 1200 sq. feet (or single people living in 600 sq. feet). And all these houses are filled with 'stuff' that people ooh and ahh over. This family will have five people in it. multiply 600 by 5 and you get 3000. So why the moral superiority?

amsterdam's (outdoor) black contrasts mostly marvelously with the jewel tones of tulips. and now, 'tis the season. Oh, I wish I could visit that great city again. It's been 15 years. much too long.

when we lived in The Netherlands as students we'd buy the cheapest toilet paper: it was completely grey. think something between newsprint and conventional white toilet paper. Worked fine. Knip brand. ahhh the memories!

don't even *think* of bringing me a potted orchid unless you think that willing me a month of sneezing, wheezing and coughing is a good christmas present. The things are HORRIBLE for my allergies, even if they are beautiful to look at.

I think of this every time someone says "make your home a haven of calm; and white is the best way to ensure that"... and then I look around our colour filled house and I smile. Yellow, red, blue, turquoise, pink, orange, splashes of colour, bold swathes of colour. Nope. none of it would win a single design competition. And most of the anti-Ikea folks would sniff and turn up their noses. But it's a happy making house. And every time I'm in it, I am reminded of why I love it so. It brings me peace, joy, and wonder. And that's what matters.

worried about tattoos and not worried about any *other*aspect of barbie and her world? That's weird.

I'm sorry to be a downer, but the post prior to mine is unbelievably arrogant and patronising. Who appointed you the master (or mistress) of taste snarky dog?

this doesn't apply to only first homes - it applies to any home. Take your time, consider things that are offered to you for free, buy second hand, and use paint. Yep. all checked. And now living in at least the 20th place since leaving my parents' home.

- curtains: check value village or a thrift shop for fun fabrics: our son has curtains made out of an old Ikea duvet cover. we have curtain made out of sari fabric. Bought for pennies at value village and nicer than most curtains you can buy new.

- furniture: keep your eye on kijiji or craigslist. and keep a list of thing syour'e looking for. It'll pop up befor eyou know it. Our dining table, our side board, our family room furniture, our dressers, our bathroom cabinet... all from kijiji. and all work together.

- allow yourself ot have empty space. empty space is ok. and it lets you get ot know your house.

hah - we sold our baby gates to a pet owner, for her dog!

my parents went ot look at a house once where a woman had been murdered by her husband (and he'd then killed himself) a little over a year earlier. small town. everyone knew the story and the house had been on the market for a year. I was totally creeped out because the murdered woman was my science teacher.

my parents didn't buy the place, but I suspect that now, 30 years later, there are no issues with the house or anyone that lives in it.

Many houses - and particularly old ones - have at least some tragic histories. Death is a fact of life. It happened even more frequently in earlier eras with higher mortality rates and no reliable birth control. Violent death, too, was - and is - common. I suspect that if you went looking into the history of any 100 year old house you'd find some violence and some tragedy. But you'd also find laughter, joy and blessings.