Decorating your new home
Although moving to a new home is an exciting stress, I have to admit that I’m kind of apprehensive about the shopping. The basic furniture pieces are already taken care of, such as bedroom furniture and a dinette set, and now I’d like to decorate and add frills to my humble nest. However, if I’m going to splurge on home accessories, factors such as square-footage and available space, practicality, and, of course, my budget, need to be taken into account.
I’ll start with the den; it’s the room I look forward to all day and creates my most pleasant family memories.
A close friend, Susan Schorr, recommends clintonbrothers.com, a home decorating website which she claims will have the answer to my window-treatment dilemmas. They carry decorative window and curtain valances, sheer curtains, Roman Shades and balloon shades, as well as all the necessary curtain hardware including the iron drapery rod with finials. I think I’m down to either choosing the faux-wood 2-inch blinds, or choosing the Wellington Damask pinch pleated curtains. Now, for the sofa, I’m definitely taking one of those contemporary stretch sofa slipcovers such as the stretch grid loveseat slipcover. I would also like a large area rug (Like the hand-tufted traditional Saba area wool rug!) to add that cozy atmosphere. Susan claims that an indoor fireplace, either the Avalon antique white gel feul fireplace, or the Grenoble classic mahogany electric fireplace, will have the same effect. Personally, I love living-room fireplaces, if only to display my favorite photographs, hand-painted statues and sculptures, silk plants, and even decorative clocks. Maybe also one of those pleasant-smelling scented candles.
There is a vacant wall approximately 10 ft. wide opposite the sofa, where I think an accent table or console would look great, topped with a decorative wall mirror. Since this spot is right near the entrance, an elegant coat rack and wrought - iron umbrella stand will definitely come in handy.
Except for a contemporary lighting fixture, such the Brunswick chandelier, I definitely want a striking table lamp, as well as a brushed Nickel or Tiffany-Style floor lamp off the side of the sofa. Speaking of the sofa again, I better remember some comfy fringed, silk, or ruffle throw pillows.
I’m unsure of one thing though, and that’s wall décor. I’m wondering if delaying the purchase of framed wall hangings and wall art for now is such a mistake? I really should take it fully one room at a time, but I feel quite overwhelmed by getting everything I’ve mentioned thus far together. Shopping for ornate home décor and home accent pieces is a lot more difficult than it seems!
Whoever said, “I love my garden, not my kitchen”, hasn’t been to my kitchen! I’m absolutely thrilled with the LG refrigerator and stainless steel gas range, which was delivered last week. I’m looking forward to buying an assortment of other kitchen appliances such as a toaster oven, microwave, food blender, coffee and espresso maker, and the Kitchen Aid or Cuisinart food processor. Actually, since I’m a working mom most of the week, a stainless steel slow cooker would be ideal.
I have a weakness for kitchen linens and décor. Especially for the kitchen décor products I saw while browsing at clintonbrothers.com, like the kitchen and dining chair pads, chair cushions, kitchen linens, elegant serve ware, flatware, dinnerware, cookware, bake ware, and glasses and bar ware.
Come to think of it, I could definitely use some handy kitchen storage solutions like the kitchen canisters, a wine rack, a kitchen cart, food storage products, kitchen shelves, trash cans, and surely, a heartwarming cookie jar.
For the patio, I already purchased a Wolfgang electric grill, although maybe I should have also taken the George Foreman grill? Never mind. I’m on to dreaming about patio sets and furniture, as well as outdoor lantern lighting to set the mood in the evenings.
So long for now, as I suspect these extravagances will leave me quite a bit of time before I replenish my financials, and enable me to go on another home decorating spree!