aidan_NZ's Profile

Is car free just for the kid-less? I'm happy to get by with one car, but carless just wouldn't fly with twins where I live.

I vote for keeping this as a feature too. And yes, the curtain width caught my eye right away. Good idea.

And is the hide any different than you eating a burger for lunch? You get to complain all you like (if you are vegetarian).

I would start with a moveable butcher block table in the middle, storage space under. That is the cheapest way to get what you are asking for. Also agree that your fridge door opens the wrong way for layout (this is usually adjustable without replacing fridge). I would put in floor to ceiling open shelves to the left of the fridge for more storage as well. Or if it's food you want to store more of, make it closed storage unit. Consider getting a built in fan/microwave put above your stove as a way to free up the butcher block you already have.

Great potential! I agree on a new light, even home depot would have some good options for this style house. I would go for a muted, not bright door color. Maybe red. New more simple numbers, put them on vertically instead of diagonally. New paint on the steps and railing. Window boxes can be expensive and more maintenance, I would redo the foundation plantings- either go with a repeated single variety (like smaller boxwoods and or lavender) or go crazy with naturalistic gardening- prairie flowers and beautiful grasses. Just commit to a garden style and go hard in that direction.

I took a trip around the world with only a carry on sized backpack- for 6 months. The best advice I can give is to mail things back to yourself- like souvenirs or gifts people give you. This also helped when we transitioned from hot steamy Asia to cold Europe (I sent a package home with the hot weather clothes, leaving room for a new warm vest). Also in cold weather climates, be sure to carry a hat, it will keep you warmer and is tiny.

I thought I could live without jeans, but no. I missed them too much. Though the travel type stores sell lots of polyester, wearing it is stinky (therefore needing to be washed more). Go for merino and cotton. I especially love merino undershirts, they are very small to pack and also keep you much warmer.

Ok, what's going on here for me are a few things:

The coffee table is very small on a big rug with a big sofa, so it's out of proportion. Maybe have it as a side table instead.

I agree that the throw covers on the chairs aren't so good. They feel college to me.

If you don't want to replace the curtains, at least keep them open, they won't be so noticeable then.

Dark brown looks good with some unexpected colors: lime green, baby blue, periwinkle. Pick one accent color and hit it hard, make the new art for the wall and the accent pillows highlight your accent color.

I could see a big old-fashioned movie poster looking cool above the chairs, framed if you can afford it, or unframed if you don't want the hassle. Get something unique. Don't buy art from Ikea.

Take the plants off the side table (move them to the other side of the sofa). Put a small lamp there instead.

Try another arrangement of furniture. Make the two chairs face the sofa for a more conversational area. This looks focused on a TV instead of social time. I agree with the above comment to put the sofa where the chairs are and make the chairs face them, perhaps a slight angles, so everything isn't so boxy?

Have fun and enjoy your time abroad!

Yes, there is hope. I think you need some art, an area rug, and a plant. Paint the walls a more neutral color. Kill the TV. Put in a stylish hanging bookshelf on the wall to create a non-TV focal point in the room. Add some throw cushions on the sofas. Try to restrict yourself to one color for this room, and keep everything else neutral. So make the art and rug and cushions all red for example. Personally I think you have too much couch in too small a space, so I would want to get rid of the futon or the couch, but maybe with the TV gone the space could feel more open?

Those windows are just calling to have low bookshelves put below them, if you can give up the big bookshelf. I've actually cut a large bookshelf (not IKEA) in half to make two long low ones, and it looked great. But if you must keep the big one, I would float the couch in the middle of the room facing the double windows, at a 90 degree angle to the fireplace. Get two club chairs to face it and put a coffee table and rug between. Then you have a conversation =-friendly room, but can still lay on the sofa and watch TV over your toes.

My favorite cheap art technique is to buy a frame from IKEA, and put in a piece of nice wrapping paper (the kind you buy in a single sheet, not roll from a nice stationary store). If you put maybe three of these in a row, don't be afraid to get big frames, with a different print in each one, behind the sofa it would look very nice. Choose prints that have the same color theme, even if everything else about them is different. Pick up that color with some new throw pillows too. Good luck!