On the other hand, I would sign up for this (Poggenpohl) kitchen in a New York minute. I find the simple clean lines and monochromatic scheme very soothing:Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
Attachment 2596
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On the other hand, I would sign up for this (Poggenpohl) kitchen in a New York minute. I find the simple clean lines and monochromatic scheme very soothing:Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
Attachment 2596
Well, I love your place!
It looks super easy to maintain, and I like that you have a big dedicated space for exercise.
It reflects your priorities.
If it were mine, I would probably have something to keep the bed off the floor (its warmer and helps keep bedding clean) and probably curtains to keep out drafts. I get cold easily, though.
I'm trying to downsize my wardrobe - yours is inspiring! I could fill that closet with just my t-shirts.
Thanks for posting :)
A bed doesn't have to be a fancy status-symbol bed.
Until just this year, I used a simple bed frame with a mattress on it, no headboard/footboard, just something to elevate the mattress off the floor. Before that, I slept on a futon on the floor, but when my wife got further along in her pregnancy, she decided elevating the sleeping surface to keep our Basset Hounds from pushing us off the bed was essential.
A mattress just thrown on the floor in an empty room however looks like a drug den,and may limit entertainment options :-)
(The reason my "mansion" has microclimates is that it has basically no useful heating system other than the wood stove, and not the best design for air circulation, so you get a choice of too cold, too warm, or just right, and no real way to alter the situation other than blankets.)
Our bed is just a basic metal frame with no headboard or foot board, although we do have a good quality mattress and box spring on top of it.
A mattress on the floor may develop mold over time. Be sure to pick it up and air out the floor and bottom of the mattress quite often.
https://www.nestbedding.com/blogs/ne...s-on-the-floor
Myself, I do sleep on the floor on a traditional Japanese shikifuton. Aired out several times a week and folded daily; when unfolded it is on interlocking foam mats. And no, I don't have any plans of entertaining anyone. My bed is mine and mine alone!
ROTFLMAO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
You have a life partner now, and you don't share a bed with them. (Harlan) I find it shocking you expect another one to share that twin bed with you.
Well, a homeless drug addict, might be what he is looking for, as they don't have a lot of possessions they care about, other then the substance/delivery system. That bed might look inviting.:laff:Quote:
Originally Posted by bae
The dry cleaner will take the hangers back. If you insist on dry cleaning, just thing of the hangers like library books - they belong to the dry cleaner and you return them when you get more.
Chiming in on the “ambience” your apartment says a lot of things. “minimalist” is not the first thing because it doesn’t look curated. It looks:
“broke”
”might have to disappear on a moment’s notice”
”my wife threw me out”
”my wife won’t let me have a dog”
“just got out of prison”
Besides the bed,
“Decorating for company”:
do you buy fruit? Do you own a bowl? Put the fruit in the bowl on the table or on the kitchen counter and get the spices put away out of the light. Return the hangers. Straighten up your clothes. buy a blanket and turn the heat in your apartment down a couple of degrees - cheaper. Pull Harlan’s couch out from the wall, maybe at an angle. Put the lamp next to harlan’s couch as if someone might read there. Move the table out into the room a little and put the chairs around it.
Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gardenarian
I can only speak for myself on this, but downsizing my clothing has been perhaps the most freeing part of living simply for me. Not that I had a lot, but I had enough for it to require quite a bit of annoying little decisions that chipped away and my mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gardenarian
A colleague of mine at work has been semi-jokingly suggesting we have uniforms at work. That would really simplify! haha
If you had actually done your due diligence and read the entire thread you would know that I was joking when I said "Got it covered." I also said previously in this thread that if I got a life partner I would buy a big, real bed. I have even told women I have dated this. Like, "If you are really good and play your cards right I will commit to you AND buy a real bed. So mind your Ps and Qs." hahahaQuote:
Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff
I am straight edge and teetotal as they get. So no junkies allowed!Quote:
Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff
Good idea! I bet they would take them back. But I am actually donated the shirts that needed dry cleaning. I have shirts that are wrinkle-free now, mostly polos.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
I LOLe so damn hard about this! My neighbors probably heard me!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
You are hired as my interior decorator!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
Also, you and my Dd may need to get together and trade social tips. She is living in Columbus and would like to meet some non-religious non partying guys in their early to mid twenties. She went line dancing and apparently chose YOUR venue because “it was all middle-aged black women. They were nice to me, but not helping.” (Apparently nobody offered to introduce her to their son)
I would suggest:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
https://www.meetup.com/HumanistOhio/...QgS48pK9K5eJxG
And...
https://www.meetup.com/Central-Ohio-...Theists-COUNT/
For decor, and this isnt your area of interest so you probably wont do it but I want to plant a seed in your head:
Think about fresh plant material, what you can get for free from around your neighborhood, and how you can use it in your space.
The great thing about fresh stuff is that you can compost it when its useful life is over.
My Christmas decor changes every year because I get bored doing the same thing year after year. Yesterday I set out to buy a small Christmas tree, but after going to three places and finding nothing. I came home, raided my basement, raided my neighborhood, and came up with this:
Attachment 2597
Only the lights cost something years ago. That big wreath made of twigs cost someone something along time ago but it didn’t cost me a dime because DH pull that out of the dumpster for me. I have been storing it in the basement for a while but this year I want to use it. I think it will become a permanent item above my fireplace mantle with seasonal trims.
On the mantle piece are all kinds of greens I trimmed from our community garden yesterday: Bluespruce, Magnolia, lavender. The smell is heavenly.
I think Chicken Lady’s idea about fruit in a bowl is it is a good one. I completely understand if this crafting-with-plants has no Interest to you at all, but if you think of it as an artistic endeavor to develop, It might give you another hobby.
But I also understand that if you like the completely spare look of your space that is fine too.
Wow, with lines like this I would expect you to have hordes of women lined up to move in with you! :laff:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
That was a joke! hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I do tell women I sleep on a futon, but if I partnered up I would buy a big, real bed. I am forthright and honest in my dealings with women.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
No way to tell your joking here. There are several valid points here, and viewpoints I would agree with (get the bed first, stop looking like your just to the left of homeless in the bedroom).
I read the thread, your as clear as mud and it comes across as better then tho attitude.
Beautiful, IL!! Off topic, but I love that color green on the walls--do you remember what it is?Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I personally don't see UL decorating with greenery, although I think it's a great idea. There's no function for it other than aesthetics, which doesn't seem to be a need in this case. Also, if it's a live, potted plant, you have to care for it.
sorry, I dont know the name if this paint color.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
agreed that UL wouldnt become Martha Stewepart, it was pretty sill py on my part to suggest this.It is just so foreign to me to live without plant materials all around, and believe me, I dont do houseplants! dH has all of our indoor plants as his responsibility.
There are lots of plants outside. I just go outside to enjoy the greenery. Though this time of year it is all grey, black, and brown.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
Your dog is cute.
Your apartment says "keep away."
There is no place for a visitor, apparently, except a hard dining chair, if the couch can't be sat on by the humans. And I agree, your bed does not say, "I want company in this bed,' but rather, "I prefer to sleep alone."
Just looking at the pictures, the place looks all hard edges, somber and bleak. That may or may not be a reflection of your personality, but that's the signal it is sending out.
Okay, so I was in a long-term relationship with a guy who was very minimalist. He had an airy studio apartment which had been the living room of an old Boston townhouse. So there were some huge floor to ceiling windows, with curtains, that let in lots of light. There was a fireplace and crown molding, which gave the place some character. He slept on a futon on the floor, which he folded up to make a sitting area during the day. He had a table and two chairs that his mother gave him, because she was worried about him. He used the empty floor space for his daily workouts.
But there was a row of books on the mantle of the fireplace. A few plants which he carefully tended, some cascading over the windows. The curtains were colorful. He was a writer as a side job, so he had copies of things he'd written that he loved to show off. There were family photos on one wall. Some sports equipment neatly stacked in one out of the way corner. A special bowl for his daily ice cream that his niece had made him. He might have had less stuff that you do--his kitchen was a quarter the size of yours--but his home was warm and welcoming.
When you entered his apartment, you got a sense of his personality, who he was, what was important to him. The only thing I get from looking at your pictures is that you care for your dog, and your kitchen counters are really full of stuff, so maybe you like to cook. That's it.
That may be what you want. But is it getting you the other things in life that you want?
Thanks! :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Why? I don't feel that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
There is not much of a place for a visitor. I don't really like house guests, to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Bleak! Wow! lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Sounds like a cool dude!Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Yeah, I do need to clean up this kitchen!Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Perhaps if someone came into my apartment they might think: "Nothing is important to him except his dog."Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Who knows... who knows...Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
I have noticed that visitors I have invited over of recent have taken some care to examine the titles of books in various rooms.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
That may be because I've only had folks over who are into reading, among other things.
Several have recommended to me other authors, and in some cases made a point to meet me to loan me a book, and then to discuss it later, which has been great.
This has however forced me to think about reorganizing the books a bit....
There is also not much space for a girlfriend. You have written often here about your search for a girlfriend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
Your living space says there is no room for one. Where would she put her belongings? She might have a favorite chair, a desk, a nightstand, that she would want to continue to use. She might have clothing that would not fit in the same closet with yours.
Your living space signals that anyone living with you would have to meet *your* standards of minimalism. I think there are many minimalist women out there, but not a whole lot who would be willing to let someone else determine what they can or can't own.
You say you want a girlfriend. But your apartment sends a different message. Your very bed sends a different message. Your unwillingness to bend the slightest bit from your list of "must haves" in a potential partner sends a different message. You have, consciously or not, created many barriers to getting what you claim to want.
MC, I totally agree with you.
What are your ideas for a solution? I am listening.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Furniture, artwork and curtains for a start.
How about two wooden rocking chairs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
Could I use my own artwork?
I don't really know how to put curtains up.
Your own artwork would be great. If your sister has any decorating experience maybe ask her for help. Hanging curtains is easy. I have done it many times. Your apartment doesn’t feel homey. It should feel inviting and comfortable. The 2 rocking chairs could work. You want to create a conversation area.
I want a gal like her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flm61-wHIMcQuote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellaneous
Or like this gal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RVgLlrI4U4
If you wind up with two, could you send one to my son? I think he's in the same market.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
He must be a cool dude! :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
I don’t have curtains.
or floors in some areas.
One armchair to go with the couch beats two rockers.
maybe Harlan could get a throw rug.
I like rocking chairs though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken lady
Harlan has his own couch, a blanket, and a tent. He is doing fine!
I was kidding about the throw rug.
rocking chairs would be nice. You could even drop down to two straight backed chairs for the little table if it makes you feel better.
i also still think you should get your own blanket. One with some color.
Van life sounds good - except i’d Want my own bathroom. So tiny RV would be best.
Tiny RV sucks after a month. Tiny bathroom really sucks.
I think a tiny bathroom works fine for tiny people. I would prefer a medium-sized bathroom.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
But I think I could be okay with a tiny one for a fairly long time.
These two are pretty amazing! And I really like their set-up.
Of course, the woman is totally great! And totally out of my league. haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOMvjxuIzgQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultralight
Okay. Would you be willing to add 10 things to the apartment?
In the bedroom:
A real bed. Something queen sized and comfortable. I'm cheating a little, because I'm counting the mattress, box spring and bed frame as one thing, because that is how it will read in the room. You could eliminate one piece by getting a platform bed and not getting a box spring.
New bedding. Two pillows, new sheets and comforter to fit the new bed. Two pillows--there's a bit of feng shui that says if you want to attract a partner, have pairs of things in your house. Also, would give someone who spends the night a place to rest her head. Again, a bit of a cheat because I'm counting all the new bedding as one thing. Get sheets and a comforter that coordinate--light gray sheets, dark gray comforter--that sort of thing. If Harlan gets on the bed, maybe a print comforter to hide some of the dog fur.
Two nightstands and a bedside lamp. Gives you a place for the lamp, a glass of water, alarm clock, a book you're reading, etc. And it's another pair--feng shui!
That's five things in the bedroom.
In the rest of the apartment:
One comfortable chair.
One attractive container--bowl, basket, old wooden crate with advertising on it, whatever. Then put something in it. In the kitchen, use for fresh produce. On the coffee table, use for the dog's toys, or a collection of fishing lures, or fruit. It can be both useful and pleasing to look at.
One thing on the walls. Art, if you like. Or a simple corkboard that displays some of your fishing lures, or cute pictures of the dog, or funny sayings you print out from the interwebs. Or fabric art. Even a bike on a wall-mounted bike rack can work as decoration if done right. Just no Indian bedspreads--reads too undergraduate.
Curtains or a rug. Curtains will help with privacy and light and sound control. A rug will help with noise levels and maybe provide better traction for the dog. Don't go too small on the rug. Ideally all furniture would fit completely on the rug, but if that's a problem then the front feet of all chairs/sofas should be on the rug and all 4 feet of the coffee table.
A wild card. Possibly another lamp. Again, think pairs of things. Put a floor lamp at either end of the couch. Now if you want to read there, you have enough light. Or a large plant, something that will add color to the room and a sense of living things. Or a throw on the couch or the new comfortable chair.
That's 10 things, but they would change the appearance of your place completely.
One thing about minimalism is that it allows you to chose the best of everything. If you have one chair, it should be the best chair you can find and afford--comfortable to sit in, a pleasing color/pattern in the fabric, a fabric that is nice to touch. A rocking chair should be well-balanced and easy to rock, comfortable to sit on and pleasing to look at. It takes time and a bit of money to achieve this sort of thing. You might want to thrift some of the furniture, or make it yourself, or find someone to make it for you, to get exactly what you want.
So when you go looking for new sheets, for example, find sheets that not only look good, but feel good. For me, good sheets are made of pima cotton, which is very soft, a thread count between 400 and 600, and a solid color or striped. (Or a solid color with woven in tone on tone stripes--stripes help you get the sheets going the right way on the mattress.) I find these are comfortable and breathable to sleep on, easy to take care of and last a long time. These are not what are considered the "best" sheets out there--those would be 100% Egyptian cotton with a thread count around 1000--but those are wicked expensive and the really high thread count sheets rip very easily because the threads have to be so thin.
It's not about adding useless things to your apartment, really. It's about evaluating the things you have and making sure they work for you, are pleasing to the eye, and add comfort, utility or convenience to your life.
Look at the interior of the vans in the videos you posted. There are colorful prayer flags, colorful bedding and cushions, a colorful rug. None of that is necessary, but they all add life to the spaces they are in.
William Morris, an artist associated with the English Arts & Crafts movement, once said: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.