[LSPoorEeyorick]

Fun! This reminds me of a LoT thread I've been considering. So many of us don't live near each other, or haven't seen each other's homes. I'd like to see pictures of how people choose to decorate (or store, heh, Lindy) - I think it really gives an interesting perspective on people. Of course, I would only want to take my pictures when we've spiffed our house before a party; we're clean but we're not always tidy, and I do think everything here looks better tidy and put-together (I just don't always have time.)


25. Toilet Rugs - this was huge in Michigan and I was shocked to discover it's kind of less than classy when I arrived in CA six years ago. Never bought one since, because - on consideration - eww!

24. Too Many Photos - right now we don't have enough! We've been meaning to do an elegant stairway display with vintage pictures of family, we just haven't gotten to it.

23. Ignoring the Foyer - what foyer? When you walk into the condo, there's about 3 square feet of tile before it's "hello, living room."

22. Undressed Cables - ours are mostly tucked away but there is a little bit of cable running along the lip between our wood floor and our little square of tile foyer. It's pinned in and mostly covered by a bamboo rug, though.

21. Out-of-Place Themes - I don't know if I agree with this one; my parents love lighthouses and it's OK that they're decorating with them in Michigan - they can't get out to see any anymore. DP has a fun tiki section of her house and I think it's a riot and expresses who they are (I don't think it matters where you are.)

20. Outdated Accessories - OK, so our cabinets could be nicer. I might consider painting and putting on cool hardware, actually, because we can't afford a whole new set of cabinets. We're thinking about painting a lot; it's on the to-do list. But... our actually "outdated" accessories - that's part of who we are! We love retro, so we have lots of great furniture from the 50s and 60s (and some new furniture built to look like it is.) And I won't apologize for it!

19. Lopsided Furniture Arrangements - nope, we're pretty balanced.

18. Keeping Something You Hate - I'm looking over at a knicknack I was given this Christmas. It was #1 on my list for selling at the yard sale today (before we realized we couldn't go.) It's going to go soon.

17. Too Formal - not us. We're not fond of a cinched-up style. We like comfy, liveable swank.

16. Uncomfortable Dining Chairs - This is probably our biggest heinous mistake. But... would HGTV like to buy new ones for us? (Actually, HGTV probably funded the ones we have, since Tom edited for them for 3 years.)

15. Lack of Traffic Pattern - used to be, but due to this year's reorg, pretty open.

14. Everything Matches - well, everything moves towards coherence, but we've blended modern with vintage to give a distinct feel. Nothing really matches, it just goes together, I think.

13. Following Fads - we're not following a fad, we're following our taste. Comfy retro swank. It isn't classic, really, but it's something that makes us happy. And it feels like us. Isn't that the point of decor? (Otherwise we'd be living in identical, plain pods.)

12. Furniture That Doesn't Fit - we may kind of be guilty of this. It'd be better if our living room was just a tiny bit bigger. But you can walk through comfortably without bumping so maybe it's not that bad.

11. Too Many Colors of Patterns - we have a bit of pattern, and lean on about 5 main colors. (Red, gold/yellow, black, forest, a little plum.) Our plan is to eventually ditch the forest (having our antique settee reupholstered) but right now it all goes together pretty well.

10. Floating Rugs - the only rug we have is the aforementioned bamboo one which leads guests into the living room (and covers the wires.) It butts up against our bench, so I don't think it's really "floating."

9. Improper Lighting - indeed. I hate our lighting setup, and that's on my list for eventual retooling.

8. Frames Hung Too High - Nope.

7. Tacky Couch Covers - well, our IKEA couches are covered, but when they're in place (always when we have guests) I don't think people can even tell they're covered.

6. Pushed-Back Furniture - we have an entertainment viewing area and a working area, and only one couch and one desk is against the wall.

5. Ignoring Windows - alas, I hate our windows. Sliding-glass doors flanking the fireplace, and if you open the vertical blinds (blech) you get the majesty of our iron bars and the back of the neighboring condo building. I do love living in Hollywood, but the windows definitely frustrate me. I don't know what to do with them to make them whatsoever better.

4. Fear of Color - not us! But we're not tack with it, either.

3. Knickknack Overload - I'm not that fond of knickknacks; I probably have about 5 total in the home. Tom has maybe 2.

2. Too Many Pillows - not really. Two on either side of our long vintage settee, two on our IKEA couch. Four and a bolster on the bed. Oh! Wait, maybe. We have a bunch of beautiful chinese-patterened slipcovers on small pillows on the couch in our office. They are really pretty though, and I'm not doing away with them.

1. Fake Flowers - Call it wasteful, but I definitely only display fresh flowers and fruit. Oh. Wait - there is one place I have a single silk flower, but that's because it's a vase sconce on the wall that I replace with fresh if we're having guests (but don't choose to afford to replace every week.)