DD said we needed new curtains in the dining room............

our sitting room opens up to the dining room so I had the same new curtains in both rooms and a re-organisation.
My neighbour came round and said 'Are you going for the minimalist look?'
Unfortunately, most things have crept back in again now.
And I have decided I don't really like the curtains now anyway.

I keep attempting to de clutter, I've introduced for myself a one book in one book out rule (wish I could impose that on himself). I've found myself going to second hand furniture stores and vintage stores with one of my daughters, who is moving into a large old house. I haven't yet managed to come home without picking up a ceramic 30's vase, a reconstructed lamp and a sundial for the garden.

We decluttered the garage recently which has made a great space to declutter rooms into so it's gradually filling up again. It will soon be time to empty everything out of the living room to replace with Christmas clutter which will have to be stored somewhere. If I buy new curtains or cushions or even just some flowers it gives me the incentive to have a good sort out. I will be stripping the sofas this week while my OH is away so that will mean stuff all over!

I have a friend who recently decided to buy a new three piece, well actually a sofa and three chairs.
They stripped the large room down to plastered walls except for the fireplace,
Everything was then replaced from wallpaper to light fittings.
Apart from the cost ,they surely must have had some favourite and loved pieces, she gives it all to her family, not C, so it must be like going back home when she visits.

It will soon be time to empty everything out of the living room to replace with Christmas clutter which will have to be stored somewhere.
The clutter ornaments, photos etc, go into the boxes that the Christmas ornaments are kept in, then retrieved when the Christmas ornaments go away again.

annsixty I knew someone (a new neighbour when we all moved into our new houses) who came round 'to say hello' - actually to have a good nose around .
She was astonished to see 'them old vases' on my mantelpiece and remarked that she 'chucked everything out and bought new every time they moved/re-decorated.

'Them old vases' may not be worth much but have great sentimental value.

I love it kittylester

My dad had his little LA bungalow refurbished late last year and according to him, his bossy daughter (who me??) made him (yes made him) buy new curtains, a new rug, new cushions, new cooker and a new fridge freezer!

As if I would do that? I got heavenly intervention from my mum who was telling me to make him do it! It looks fab though and he even admits it himself.

annsixty sounds like me,we always go back to bare walls when we decorate and usually buy everything new,carpet,curtains. cushions AND furniture.It never goes to waste though my daughter is always happy to have it.We did the dining room in the summer and bought a new table and chairs for it,when we got it home I didn't like it so DD got the new table with the old(maybe 6yrs old) chairs and we kept our glass table with the new chairs .She has been known to tell us that a suite would look better in her house and before you know it thats where it is and we get something else.Spoiled ...just a wee bit...her Dad always tells her thats what dads are for

I don't think any of mine are going to want 'them old vases'

I'm the opposite padding! I love old stuff. We have gradually replaced our dining room with 1960's Danish furniture which we couldn't afford when we got married so we had Habitat white dining furniture.

We have Dyrlund table, chairs and sideboard and ladderax housing the flipping books. I love modernist pottery and collect denby plates too.

Now, anyone want 20 Jean Plaidy books? And, I knew that I loved Poldark but 6 original copies of Ross Poldark and 3 of Demelza - really!!

Have you all got money to throw about and no treasured belongings? I never change anything if I can avoid it. I don’t even know how old my sofa, chairs, carpets and curtains are. They’re still fine (apart from this chair I’m sitting in, which could do with a new seat, but how could I manage without the chair while it was being repaired?).

padding - bloody phone! Paddy!

I have loads of treasured belongings G70s but I like to keep things moving around too!

On a sad note, I've just found photos of DS1's wedding in Japan. He looks so happy and well. I had hidden them and still can't decide what to do with them!

Kitty does your DD live at home?
None of our DC would worry about our decor / furniture let alone advise us.
Just replaced some curtains in the hall, but dread to think how old the old ones actually were, and had a devil of a time finding new ones that I liked, so that won’t be happening again for a long time ( ever ) !

No she doesn't LG but she likes to keep us up to date

Actually, she was right! and the new ones (one of a selection of samples she sent us!!!) have made a huge difference and made the room (which is a bit cavernous with a high ceiling and the stairs going up from it) much more cosy. She has a really good eye for design - I hate her!!

Oh, you didn’t tell us that you had a Baronial Hall Kitty sounds like some antlered heads would go well there ( and you are lucky as they are all the rage now!). I can see your wood pannelling in my minds eye, and am

In a garden centre near here I saw some antler heads with lights....that the look you were thinking of LG?

You think that's funny LG.

DD3 (the same one) brought a crowd of friends home after a night out and one of them went back to College the next day and told everyone that we must be rich because we had a baronial hall and a grandfather clock.

The room is not that big, the clock is only a grandmother not a grandfather (though the chimes are Westminster chimes) and we're not rich!!

I fancy an Antler's head with lights!

DH should have inherited a grandmother clock from his uncle but somehow it disappeared with 'the other side of the family'

Oh dear, you lot have got me worried now. Here we have no carpets and no curtains, so what are we going to do when we return to the UK next year?

Underfloor heating and no carpets!
and privacy window film?

The minimalist look

I'll send DD3 round - keep her out of our hair for a bit!!

Maybe this would do Kitty? He's half way up the stairs and watches me like the Mona Lisa of the venison world every time I descend ? (£15 in Dobbies last Christmas )

He's shy.....

Have you all got money to throw about and no treasured belongings?
Yes, lots of them, but I didn't treasure the old suite or the carpet (stubborn stains just would not come out however hard Itried) so they had to go.

I still have 'them old vases' on display

I love that Marmight, DH on the other hand..........!

Can we see 'them old vases', jalima?

We've had our suite for 41 years - it's been recovered 3 times and one chair 'extended' to make a 3 seater. The suite cost a fortune (£600) all that time ago so I expect it will see us out.