This is a little vignette of a lesson learned...thank goodness...before silly amounts of money were unnecessarily spent (by me, foolish me).
I've mostly learned to avoid those home improvement magazines and TV programs 'cause they always make me WANT things or make me WANT to make improvements to my home that are not necessary. I compare my simple abode with what's depicted and my place comes out lacking in charm and cool-ness.
But sometimes I falter. Just yesterday I fell off the wagon and almost became a victim.
I took a book from the library about finding/creating more storage space in your house.
Who couldn't use more storage space, right?
Flipping through the pages, I came to an abrupt halt and completely and utterly fell in love with this built-in dining nook that was pictured. So charming. And great storage! It had full-length, built-in storage in the sides of the benches.
That nook!! So warm! So cozy and cottage-y. I WANTED it!! My 'nook was pallid in comparison. It lacked the built-in, hand crafted look. It was merely a round table with four chairs inserted will-nilly into our little indented space in the family room. The chairs were always sticking out awkwardly into the room.
A big plant blocked part of the window, hung over the table, hit me in the face sometimes. My nook felt claustrophobic and not cozy or cottage-y at all. Not sleek or hand-crafted.
Talked to husband. Told me it was far beyond his skill or tools to build. Darn. But we know a local carpenter who could do the job...so I pondered. Went on the 'net and did some research. A carpenter/builder said those nooks can be uncomfortable--you can't pull the chairs closer to the table. The backs of the benches have to be sloped just right to be at all comfortable. The bottom of the benches have to be softened with cushions...
More thought. What about those built-in drawers in the benches? Why did I need them? For more stuff? What if I just got rid of stuff? Then I wouldn't need more storage.
Contemplated my existing nook. Removed two chairs. Moved the big plant to the living room. Pushed the table closed under the window where it nestles quite contentedly.
Suddenly my nook has become cute, cozy and cottage-y. More intimate. Less crowded. Cost me nothing. Well, almost nothing. I'm springing for a new table cloth in French Provence colors of daffodil yellow and bright blue--just to brighten up my new nook even more. After all, I'd saved hundreds in materials and labor, right?
Voila! A Simple Living lesson learned.
The moral of this story is:
Avoid those magazines and TV shows--you know the ones...right? They sow the seeds of discontent.