Heat & projects

[linda/IL]

Turkey, just had to comment about the antiques.  A friend of a friend stopped & asked to see the "footprint" of our house as she is thinking of adding on to her house.  She is single & had a good job & has about 5 or so yrs. to pay for this before she retires.  Don't know this woman well at all; met one time.

I digress.  She asked me to come to her house to give opinion of addition ideas.  (Had her mind made up already-guess she wanted verification of ideas)  My friend had gone on about her antiques which would boggle my mind so I went.  OMG!  I never saw so many antique crocks & stoneware jugs all housed very orderly in antique jelly cupboards & wardrobes, etc.  If she sold them she could probably pay for 1/2 of her renovation but then again, as you say, the market changes.  But my gosh, it's like something out of Country Sampler.  I've never seen that many in any antique store ever!  All the dark patina isn't my style but it was something to see for sure.  And as I said, not cluttered and very orderly.  But a)just her living there & b)I use living loosely.  She sold her microwave because it didn't fit the style of her house & c) she has an apartment size stove which doesn't looked used.  She does have a refrigerator & washing & dryer but they are covered by a large table cloth to hide them even in the pantry!  My friend said there's probably not over 4 items in the fridge.  Not my cup of T but whatever makes her happy.

[Kay/NC]

That lady doesn't cook or clean her own clothing, IMHO. Who would move a cloth everytime they have to run a load? Unless she does wash once a week or less often.

I like collections like the one you describe, but some of them are sort of an addiction, too. Her taste sounds similar to mine...love ceramics and such, but really only the functional pieces like crocks and pitchers.

The patina of old wood is comforting to me. Where I have departed from that somewhat is in painting some less-valuable pieces. It is simple to assemble a suite for a bedroom out of several disjointed parts, when a paint color ties them together. You can really lighten or brighten up a room with this tactic, too.

When you use the carvings and textures with a knockoff " shabby" finish, it looks good in a rough older house like ours. I call this wabi-sabi, after the Japanese tradition of that name. It embraces old and imperfect things. Hope Mike vatches onto that philosophy....

[turkey feather]

Sounds interesting to look at but I am not into that type of decorating either. Our house is well used. We are having a short visit during the siding/window work from a relative who lives a totally different life than I do. I am sure she will be shocked at our lifestyle. She was here about twenty five years ago. I have too many other interests to be totally involved in my home.

[Kay/NC]

I get that. i enjoy house and furnishing projects, because they are structural and three -- dimensional. Four if you count the time dimension, which is important in planning lead-times and workflow on a project. It is challenging to me, and entertaining.

Ii think it is funny to read that the family/ back to the earth type of lifestyle is the hottest trend afoot right now. Guess we were all ahead of our time!