We have moved into the new place, and we're mostly unpacked (well, let's not mention the garage, mkay?). It's a fairly average place - they're all the same these rentals these days - 4 bedroom executive, 2 living areas IYKWIM. But I spit the dummy a few weeks ago and have decided that it's time I do what I said I was going to do a year ago. Start surrounding myself with pretty. Things that are beautiful (not necessarily expensive) and may serve absolutely no purpose other than to make me smile.
The boys are old enough now that I can stop having a house where children rule, to a home with things that reflect all of our personalities - not just things that they won't break. Tell me I'm not the only one who has managed to fall into this trap?
So. We're looking for new furniture. I'm realistic enough (or so used to having no money that having a little to play with is so odd to me) to know that this is a long project. I'm not going to get a single thing on credit. It's save up or get lay-by (almost the same thing, no?). We are determined not ever again to get back into trouble with the 'interest-free' trap that we fell for 10 years ago and took us an inordinately long time to recover from.
I'm scrapping the colour scheme that we've had for the past 6 or 7 years - I know Chocolate/Espresso colour scheme is 'in'. But it was never me. The greens and reds that go so well with that - not even nearly me. It looks fantastic in some homes, all of our siblings (Joel's side - I have no freaking idea what my brother or sisters have) have it. But I was never a brown, green or red person.
I'm white. I'm pink. I'm yellow and turquoise. But not really the beachy style. All farmhouse furniture rather than 'shabby chic'. Old refurbished furniture if I could find it. I found a dining suite today that took my breath away from a moment. I was walking into the bank with our bond and it was in the store next door. I sat there for half an hour in the bank and could not stop thinking about it. I was so impatient to go and touch it, see if it was as amazing as I'd imagined it.
It was. And it was exactly the amount of money I had in my hands - the bond on our last home. I couldn't do it. There is another dining table at IKEA. It's not the same. Not even nearly. It doesn't have the old wood distressed effect on the tabletop. But it stays true to the style, without breaking the budget. It may have to do for now, until I find something perfect.
So I moved on. And came home and found that a website I'm subscribed to had these little lovelies on special for half price. Even at full price I'd have jumped at them. They have heaps more, but these were the tree I selected.
