Entering the less is more style

It is definitely a challenge to remember to limit the things I like to the things I luv!  KISS

First I chose the best colour and not what I necessarily wanted.  But I do like the colour.  It is greige which is a neutral.  I have options now and I definitely luv options!

If I'd known I'd not be putting the large mirror back I'd have positioned the art mirror before priming.  It is meant to hang with the blocks in a diagonal position but I luv it in this asymmetrical arrangement.  Thank you, dear Rooster, and we did it with only one extra nail hole and only a few *^#+@#'s!  ;^)

The end of the banister only holds so many coats so the coat hooks have to stay.  :{  I am so happy with the small chandy but the naked light bulb is a problem.  Ugly shadows at night!  I bought a dimmer switch and found a frosted bulb so here is hoping!

I was looking for a tray for the top of hubby's cubbies!   I'm still looking but actually most of his clutter is hidden.  I do think I maybe shoulda brought the aqua bowl home but how much aqua do I really need.  I debated about the sconces but they make me happy.  The chest is from Ten Thousand Villages and another 'luv' but also useful for mitts, toques and scarves.  The garbage can may switch to the other side and in the corner.

And I'm not sure if the tree art is done but it works for me.   Hmm, I shall be tweaking this for a while.  Too bad there is no electrical plug on this wall.   The bane of old houses!  lol 

This wee cupboard is another thing that makes me happy.  So last night we got it fixed in place.  After the house painting is complete I'll be turning to fibre art and the screws for the hanging rod are above the bench and were in before the priming.  I am learning!  The pillows are maybe too big but washing may soften them.  And that lamp...??? 
 

But I am very happy with how this has come together and all the options I will have for the coming seasons.   I think I am entering a great decorating season!  :)

an Epiphany

It is a long walk from my first attempts at decorating.  My mum let me pick the paint colour for my bedroom.  I chose based on the furniture, drapes and bedding available to me.  And it seems that I have been making choices on what is on hand ever since.  That is why I collect stuff.  :O

As the journey continued I was influenced by magazines with the latest trends and DIY projects.  I tended to keep the stuff I liked but I'd try to interpret it in new ways. i.e. The Stash

With a lot behind me and unfortunately stored in the basement,  I am more aware of words like downsize, simplify, etc.,  I am having a closer look at what I have and slowly I have been letting stuff go. Its a start, a beginning.

And then I bought a book.  I've been following Emily Henderson's blog the last few months and I like her attitude.  I bought her book and I can't resist a quiz which is a big part of her beginning chapters.   It says I'm a minimalist.  what???  I have way too much stuff to be a minimalist.  But when I study the categories on each side and then the alternatives-  voila!    I AM!!!

What the heck!!!

A conundrum.  A dichotomy.  An oxymoron.   a puzzle...

I may be slow but I can eventually catch on.  I have lots of likes and I collect what I like.  Then I surround myself with what I like.  But the term global thinking, big picture is not something I easily grasp.   It takes a while but an AHA! moment happened -  In keeping the stuff I like I have sabotaged what makes me happy.  I'm a prairie gal.  I need space.  Empty space.   vbsigh

SO:   The Rooster is not a saver and better at reducing clutter than me.  He has had us working on 30 years of farm stuff outside.  We have begun inside.  He evaluates the designated spot and says 40% needs to go and whoosh;  it is gone.  I seem to have to do it 10% by painful 10% but it gets there.  :}

I'm not sure if it looks that much different because we are not capital H hoarders but by golly, the house  feels so much better.

I started blogging this month about beginnings and as I pursue my luv for home decorating I want to begin at the entrance.  The above picture was taken during our warm spell at the beginning of December.   The veranda was not attached well to main house and we have managed to get it to stop shifting but it needs some work. 

Remnants of my folk art days.  :{    But definitely not in keeping with  my new motto, kiss

The entrance to a home is the first impression, the introduction, the welcome to visitors of who lives in the home

I want it pretty.  The Rooster wants it functional and he tends to view it as a mud room, tool shed, extra pantry for cooling his food related hobby,  ETC.  :(  The compromise is I get rid of clutter and he will figure out a built in cupboard that will become  'another' summer project.  But that's on his list not mine.  :)

 I bought some small, clear lights for around the yellow door.  Then I got another strip for the bottom of the front window.  At night it gives a wonderful ambiance to the front room.  The messy clutter in the veranda has stuff I like but it sure doesn't make me happy.   The simple, warm glow in the biggest window in the house makes me sigh with happiness every time I look up or out! :)

I'm not redoing the veranda when it is 30 below.  But I'm looking forward to carrying this new beginning throughout our home as we continue to  'get it right'  and Keep It Simple!

You Are Welcome

First Impressions

When people come onto our property they need to know where to go and what to expect from the home owners. This doesn't happen accidentally. It is by design.

Before we had the fence and the grass was less than a lush green carpet, we had people drive right up to within 5 feet of the house. Building the fence, which is just a line and doesn't actually enclose the house yard, set a boundary that said "Please park your car here!". The next problem has been that people were confused as to where to enter.

There is no specialness that shows where the gate is. I've since dangled a basket and come summer I put a planter of flowers at the gate, but I knew I needed something more. Knowing that the fence needed some repairs, last fall we drove in large posts to inset the whole gate area. We'll add a bench and some plant pots but that should entice people in the right direction.

The next problem is the path. Grass allows two to walk together and is great for grass cutting. No trimming. But it does get a bit muddy and it is very hard to maintain a path come winter. So we need an acceptable alternative. I do know it will not be cement set in a straight line. It will curve slightly to encourage visitors to slow their pace, catch their breath, and anticipate their welcome. I luv the sound of gravel crunching as you walk. I have it at this gate and it is around the house. What a pain! It scatters all over and into the grass. Part of the reason for the insert is to get the gravel on the driveway side of the fence. So no gravel. Flat stones, even substantial ones, give fits to elderly feet as I've learned when they step anywhere but on them as they pass thru the flower bed to get to the front step. I replaced them with pavers but I'd need a lot for the whole path. For the moment, the well worn foot path leads the way and there is a mat to dry the shoes at the step.

There were 2 doors visible which sent mixed signals. The small basement entrance was too small so we began using the front door. It never had a proper step and when we did the house siding we covered over that unused door. The old wooden front step faced the road so we changed it for better traffic flow. The front entrance isn't in direct sight but all signs lead to it.

I luv my veranda. It is where strangers are met and given directions/assistance. It is where friends are welcomed and drawn in.

It is much harder to lay out the welcoming path here in blog land. If you have found the gate and are on the path to my front door, please come up the steps and into my veranda. You are very welcome!