Warning, the Danger of Home Improvement mags and books

[HappyHiker]

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.

[loosechickens]

hehehehehe....that's what those programs, books and magazines are FOR....to "sow discontent" and get you to buy things (advertisers pay bunches of money for that propaganda)....

good for you....your "almost no cost" nook sounds really nice.

[JaneV2.0]

I don't see the downside. You were inspired to rearrange the nook in a way that was more efficient and pleasing to you. I encourage you to check out another book or two, and maybe pick up a few paint chips next time you pass a hardware store...:devil:

A little discontent can be a good thing. Without it, we'd still be stalking the savannas.

[rosarugosa]

I'm with Jane. It sounds like you got past your initial longing to spend a bunch of money and instead used creativity to make your own space more livable, but this was actually inspired by the book. I love home improvement magazines, and I think that over the years, they have helped me focus in on what I really do and don't like. Our house is a very small cottagey type of place, but we love it. We've often adapted ideas from grand homes into more modest versions that work well in our more humble setting. I'll also mention that we're not trendy; we like what we like and generally feel no need to change things once we get them the way way want them. The magazines would probably be a danger if we were people who always wanted new furnishings and the latest greatest stuff.

[Kat]

Oh, I have to be so careful about this, too. I try to avoid HGTV and design books because they give me the wants and make me discontent with what I have. Even home improvements themselves can be dangerous territory for me because an improvement in one area makes other areas look worn and tired in comparison.

Good for you for using what you had to create the same feel. I love those Provence table cloths. So pretty and fresh!

[sweetana3]

I have been much happier since I stopped watching HGTV, reading decorating/building magazines and looking thru all those types of library books. I even got rid of my collection of magazine ideas.

The power of advertising and media is great.

[Float On]

I have to agree. I've spent much more time with my sewing machine since I picked up a few fiber magazines instead of shelter magazines.

[fidgiegirl]

Kudos to you for realizing what was happening before it was too late! We are in the same thing right now - thinking of moving. But do we need to? Or just to tweak where we are? The jury is out.

[HappyHiker]

Yah, that's a big one--to move or to not move. Moving's so disruptive, isn't it? I always think of the saying "bloom where you're planted" but sometimes it makes sense to move. Should we move now, it would be a move to a smaller place more closely set into natural surroundings and with more outdoor space. Right now we have too much lawn to mow and too many pine trees to steward--my, they are messy things, these pines, always shedding cones and needles...but our herd of squirrels enjoy them...

[pinkytoe]

Going through this right now with a bathroom remodel. I don't have cable so not tempted by those shows but still...the carpenter keeps trying to talk us into things we don't need and don't want to spend on - multiple can lights in the ceiling, one of those shower wand contraptions ($500), upgraded this and that. Why would we spend $135 on a towel bar? I did stop looking at the Pottery Barn bath site though as the carrera marble was mighty tempting...until I got the cost and thought about the environmental implications. I just keep thinking about all the mountains being carved up for travertine bathrooms and granite countertops.

[iris lily]

That's a great story, OP. Glad to hear you avoided the trap. I think the emphasis on storage for stuff we don't need is silly, too.

I love watching some of the HGTV shows (we don't have cable so I grab episodes here and there) but a steady diet of it is bad. For those shows to entertain me the properties have to be interesting, and that, to me, almost always means "old." One series of shows had young couples buying new low end builder houses and I was totally bored but I DID learn that double sinks are de rigueur even in track house land. Blech.

My friend has rescued a nice Victorian rowhouse with real plaster on the walls and crown molding and 9 feet ceilings in the basement with brick arches, really a nice rowhouse, and yet, she doesn't have a closet in her bedroom. There is a huge closet up the stairs and she is accustomed to using it, but our real estate agent friend says she needs a closet in the bedroom. Yet, think of the dozens of people who have lived in that house with no closet. This house would not pass muster on "Buying Houses with Crap You don't Need" on HGTV.

[Kat]

This house would not pass muster on "Buying Houses with Crap You don't Need" on HGTV.

I so know what you mean, IL. I am floored by the number of people who walk through houses 10 times bigger and nicer than mine complaining about the dumbest things. For instance, a kitchen automatically needs remodeled if there is no granite countertop. A master bedroom is out of the question if the closet couldn't house a family of four. Oh, only three bedrooms? Heaven forbid children should have to share a bedroom the size of my entire downstairs.

It annoys me.

[Float On]

I think my favorite show to watch on-line is HouseHunters International. Everyone says "We're looking for a nice, small little place (house, condo, apartment) in our favorite vacation destination". And then they spend the entire show complaining about how small the kitchens are or how tiny the bedrooms are, or the yards, or the lack or small size of closets, or tiny parking space.....in other words they'd like to take their American mcmansion, American wardrobe, and American SUV to their favorite tiny Italian or Costa Rica or Eastern European destination.

[JaneV2.0]

...
I love watching some of the HGTV shows (we don't have cable so I grab episodes here and there) but a steady diet of it is bad. For those shows to entertain me the properties have to be interesting, and that, to me, almost always means "old."

To entertain me, the properties have to be contemporary condos/houses, woodsy getaways, or especially charming urban cottages. And the buyers have to be free of small children. I don't think I've ever seen one of these shows where a young family looked at houses with any kind of style.

ETA: And my next house will definitely have at least one closet that can house a family of four. Chez Jane is woefully storage-challenged. I have bedroom closets under a steeply-pitched roof that were apparently built for a family of gnomes.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I have a friend who keeps her tv tuned to HGTV most of the time. She is constantly moving things about, redoing, buying new furniture, new fixtures, putting down tile, taking out existing bathroom fixtures and replacing, on & on - many projects for her husband to do. I have always linked this to her steady diet of HGTV.

[JaneV2.0]

I used to have a friend who rearranged her furniture all the time--and that was long before HGTV. On the other hand, I've watched my share of those shows, and my place remains unchanged. Apparently you need the inspiration, the will and the energy to re-feather your nest on a regular basis.

[HappyHiker]

I have a friend who keeps her tv tuned to HGTV most of the time. She is constantly moving things about, redoing, buying new furniture, new fixtures, putting down tile, taking out existing bathroom fixtures and replacing, on & on - many projects for her husband to do. I have always linked this to her steady diet of HGTV.

You also need a husband--or the budget--to make these constant changes! MY husband would not be willing to do these things--and I don't blame him.

Me? I hate living with the noise of power tools and the chaos and mess of interior home improvement projects...moving furniture is one thing but eating sawdust and spackle is another...

[ApatheticNoMore]

It's only propaganda, or rather a channeling of the artistic impulse (perfectionist and dissatisfied by nature) into expenditure (but always with a large dose of propaganda on everything else it will add to your life)


I did stop looking at the Pottery Barn bath site though as the carrera marble was mighty tempting...until I got the cost and thought about the environmental implications. I just keep thinking about all the mountains being carved up for travertine bathrooms and granite countertops.

yea all in order to imitate nature in our surroundings, but of course it doesn't capture the true grandeur. Should just get a houseplant :)

[Glo]

After remodeling two homes, I'm done with all that; I couldn't decorate anything if you paid me. I guess I'm burned out. DH recently gutted our half bath and did all the fixes himself as well as picking out everything. He did an excellent job and spent a little over $700, which I was very happy about. The bathroom was in bad shape and did need fixing.

[shawntheweaver]

I have also become a victim of these home improvement shows that sometimes sell us the idea and little do we know that these are expensive pieces of furniture. And like you, I managed to find an old book of Amish Furniture in our local library. It was amazing. I like old fashioned types of furniture, and I had our local carpenter do it for me. Apart from that, someone also told me to check out Brandenberry, an Amish Furniture Outlet, and I am glad that I did. I was able to find items during their sales that cost me almost nothing.

[sweetana3]

We always used to laugh at the $20,000+ workshop of tools used by Norm Abrams in This Old House.

Now a friend of mine has a sig. other who must keep busy to be happy. He did a huge amount on their home and, when they needed a big long dining room table, built one of mahogany. But he is the exception rather than the rule.

[SteveinMN]

We always used to laugh at the $20,000+ workshop of tools used by Norm Abrams in This Old House.
I always used to laugh at Norm spending an afternoon building "a special jig" so he could drill six holes in ten minutes. Then again, no one is watching me drill holes on national television.