We’ve never been the sort of family who wandered into a furniture store and picked out a “themed” room. Frankly, it’s not our style, nor did it ever fit our budget.
Take, for instance, our living room: there are several chests for storage. One is an antique that came over with my wife’s great-grandmother from Norway. The other chest is a folk art decorated piece made by a friend of mine who was a dairy farmer. It is fancifully decorated with birds, flowers, and greenery. The walls have installed artwork by that famous woodcarver Lou Carreras. One of the pieces is a large carved portrait of my father’s favorite ship, the SS President Tyler. Near the media screen is an antique rocking chair gifted to my wife during the first pregnancy. The room is rounded out with IKEA bookshelves, and the woodstove we use as a heat source in winter.
You’ll find no puffy couches, but during the winter the family gathers for the atmosphere and warmth around the woodstove – after you’ve pushed the dog and the cats out of the best spots.
Growing to adulthood, this was not the case. In my parents’ house, the dining room and living room furniture were a coordinated ensemble of Danish Modern pieces in walnut. Pleasant, but to my mind a bit boring. I did not inherit that gene, enzyme, or taste for the style, or the need to coordinate things to that degree. I admire it in others frequently. It’s just never been our “thing” in our house.
The rest of the house is the same: some antique pieces we bought cheap but refinished ourselves, and newer pieces. All are in our “Classy Carreras Anarchistic Style“.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sounds like my home. What’s in it has some meaning or story…refinished antiques, or built by my late husband. I know my more conventional friends don’t get it, but I’d rather be surrounded by what makes me comfortable than living up to some trend or standard.
Trends and standards are always changing. Who wants to be on a merry-go-round?
I cannot imagine going into a furniture store to pick out ‘the living room.’ My house is comprised of pieces I have picked up over the years from antique shops, thrift stores, estate sales, pieces I’ve refinished myself…most every piece has a story. Comfortable in the best sort of way.
And unique to your style and taste. Not something out of a magazine.
I always though that my house should be my most relaxing place on earth, so I furnished it that way. Apart from that, there are no rules.
It should be the most relaxing place. People who design their homes as show palaces and complain that they can’t relax have only themselves to blame.
I had a bit of a style when I lived alone, but then it merged with Pedro’s different style. Luckily it all looks pretty good together. Except in our TV room, where all the leftover mismatched stuff got stuck. I am looking forward to when the kids buy a house, then I think we will “gift” them all this wonky stuff crammed into the TV room, and make a purchase that fits our needs and the space. I feel grateful to be able to afford that kind of decision.
They may be savvy to your tactic and not be home the weekend you deliver!
I really like you, Max. You can come visit any time. Come in the front door, and we’ll be very glad to welcome you. Bring your humans if you want to. Please tell your human that our human just has a room full of stuff she likes. I have no idea what that means. Your pal, Teddy Bear. T. Dog.
Max is good around furniture. But he wants to know if you have a woodstove.
No, Max. I’m sorry. You’re still welcome, though.
You all have made a house your home.
I think it is the conversations, the gatherings, the little things picked with love that make a house a home and not the fancy decorations 🙂 Your home seems such a perfect warm place especially with the fire place adding warmth to the warm conversations and company.