cpurnell's Profile

That was definitely weird, but it really only became an issue when vet issues arose. (Monster became ill about a year ago and is now okay, but he's on a serious and permanent set of medications, which complicates matters.) Not having much of a say in such a big emotional and financial issue was a sore spot for a while, but luckily, my boyfriend is a good communicator, the ex is reasonable and nice, and Monster is a sweetheart, so we were able to work through it.

Meg actually made that. She's one talented lady! I know she used to custom make them, but I'm not sure if that's the case anymore. It couldn't hurt to ask....

@jmarquephoto and tequila red: Thank you so much! I had to try to do their awesome space justice!

This is a great idea. I don't know anything about online auctions, but I might look into it for the interest of a future piece. Thanks for your input!

These are all really awesome questions, and I would like to think about them more. The minimalism question I raised in the first paragraph is answered by Batchelor with the concept of "generalized whiteness"--that we perceive white even where it's not present because minimalism is more attached to form than to experiments with color. But in general, it's an interesting question since we it's true that we seem to equate a lack of clutter with homogeneity of color. I wonder if this is because it tricks the eye into not seeing as many discrete entities or if this is just because we have so many associations in tow that we don't apply the category of "minimalist" to interiors that don't fit the pre-existing notion. Good stuff to think about, even if I have no answer!

I completely agree with you, and I think it's really important to document the finished spaces AND the spaces that stilll need work. It's what makes homes feel real. The reason that I (and I assume other contributors) don't always do so, though is twofold: for one, we don't always have the questionnaires back by the time the photo shoot happens, so it's hard to match them up precisely, and two, people already feel a bit vulnerable having their space posted, and I try to make them as comfortable with the process as possible, which sometimes means leaving out a messy corner or an unpainted bathroom.

That said, I will totally try to keep this in mind when I shoot my next tour, since I think you're right!

@FabolousLauren: Yes, it's definitely okay to get rid of them! I recycled mine.

@lindaDmyers: I considered digitizing mine, but honestly, my collection is so big that I didn't want to spend the time doing it, and my computer takes forever to rip a DVD. Also, I didn't mind having a half-shelf with binders, as long as everything was easy to find. But if you're willing to spend the time on the project, or if you would rather spend the money to have someone digitize them for you, then I could see this being a good solution as well.

My only suggestion would be that you have them on your portable as well as backed up in some other format or on some other drive. If the drive crashes and you lose it all, then you'll wish that you had the binder! (Sadly, I speak from experience with part of my old CD collection, which I digitized long ago.)

@qtcrondesign: Thanks! The centerpiece was incredibly simple. It's some napkin rings repurposed as tealight holders, surrounded by some trimmed eucalyptus branches. I bought a huge bunch of eucalyptus at Trader Joe's for $4.99, and it was enough to make the centerpiece and fill two other vases. I just trimmed some sprigs and draped them around the tealight holders/napkin rings and layered them until they looked right.

@biolabchick: Thanks so much! It's the first room I ever painted, and I was pleased as punch. The color is Twilight Chimes by Behr. While the name sounds a bit ominous, I find it the perfect amount of moody. And yes, I'm expecting some Chibi lovers to be disappointed, but I was afraid of being the chinchilla-owner equivalent of the crazy cat lady who only ever shows pictures of her pets. But trust me, he's looking as dapper as ever. :)

@aldershof: Thank you so much for all your sweet comments! I'll admit that I was nervous to post that cluttered photo, but it's nice to get such a great reaction from people like you :)

@talby: Oooh, in all my scheming and Ikea trolling, I hadn't even thought of the Trofast. I'm off to fetch my tape measure.

Thanks for all your comments!

@polsia: The shoe cabinet is from Ikea. It's the Ställ. It holds a ton of shoes, and I love the lacquered finish.

@Matilda: Thanks for the suggestions. I agree that it still looks a bit cluttered, especially over by the TV and fireplace area, which is also serving as a holding place for some items that are too large for the outbox (I'm looking at you, giant, homeless mirror). I tend to like open furniture for easy access, so I'm going to try our luck with some more pruning and some cord covers, but if that doesn't work, I like your suggestion of a Velcro solution. Thanks!

@lynnindc: Chibi sometimes makes a chirpy noise like this, but it's rare. Mostly he's quiet or makes tiny, barely audible squeaks (until he starts chewing something, that is). And the dust bath is a little house with dust in it that he gets in and rolls around in from time to time. Chinchillas can't get wet because their fur is too dense, and the water can get trapped and cause skin irritations, so they bathe by rolling around in a fine dust. It's not that fun to sweep, but it's pretty cute to watch, and the dust bath helps minimize the flying dust.

@amanda223399: Thanks! I love that print. I bought it at a flea market when I lived in France a few years back. It's made by a company called Deyrolle, and I know that you can buy them from their store for a fair chunk of money (although that said, if you get a chance to go to their store, definitely go!), but if you happen get a chance to troll any flea markets over there, I've seen them turn up for significantly less. This was one of those happy instances.

@biolabchick: Nice to hear from a fellow Chicagoan! I'm a transplant here, but Ed's a native, and I would never be able to convince him to live anywhere else. It's a great city.

@KStew: Thanks for the advice on the cord box. I tried to make sure that they had some breathing room in there, and I left the ventilation hole in the back fairly large, but it's always nice to be reminded that I can't just throw cords wherever I feel like it (even if it's tempting). And good luck with the DVD storage issue if you decide to tackle it. I feel your pain!