My kitchen layout would be completely different. If two of us are trying to get around we're always smacking into each other. I was complaining about this again tonight. Overall I'm good with the size house we live in and thankful we have adequate storage. I'd have hardwood throughout and a fireplace and built ins in my living room. I'd like at least 9' ceilings and I'd have better finishes overall. Better windows, trim, etc. My rooms would look lighter in color but not completely void of it. As much as part of me still likes my paisley sofas they're limiting. I think my style is somewhat the same just is being revised much like I do my makeup, hair, and clothing from time to time. I notice the rooms that I've consistently really liked over the years do have more stuff in them than what I can actually live with. Though a lot of the houses also have better bones and can support the extra stuff.

If I were starting from zero today, I would probably have a more casual look. I love my furnishings, but they are feeling a bit too formal for me now.

No substantive changes for me. The house changes over the years as we acquire new things or make some adjustments, but I love the overall style. I am conscious of the importance of keeping a few current elements here and there.

I feel like I could of written the original post! Just last night I was looking at the living room and thinking that I wouldn't miss a single item if it disappeared. Lots of "compromise" pieces. For example we moved to a house that needed drapes on the windows in the two story living room. BUT they had to coordinate with the current sofa which we no longer loved, but couldn't be replaced immediately. So we bought the custom drapes and within a year ended up replacing the old sofa (but now the new one HAD to coordinate with the new drapes).

My start over house wouldn't have brown or gold! I'm so tired of it.

There are several homes that I've seen here that I adore, although they are completly different from anything I've ever had (Rockybird's, for example!)

I know exactly what you mean! But I didn't really know how much I'd accumulated and how much wasn't really "me" until our house fire.

We did lose lots of stuff, but I was also brutal when the movers came to bring our stuff back. I stood on the front deck and said "no, don't bring it in" to every piece that I'd ever had doubts about. Especially the stuff people had given me. I had the perfect excuse and no longer needed to feel guilty about not being the one to keep great grandmas ugly table or the very chic but not my style vase we got for a wedding present.

The real upside is that because we changed the interior to be a bit more open and got rid of so much stuff, it is also really easy to keep the house clean. So much so that we got rid of our cleaning service and I no longer have that stress that the build up of clutter caused me.

Another upside is that I no longer spend money on decor books and mags. I can honestly say that my house exactly my style and I no longer feel that urge to always be tweaking something.

Not recommending you burn down your house, but maybe a dumpster in the front lawn for a week or two and toss that which is keeping you from being happy with the current style?

Yes, daisychain, one of the few good things about a disaster is that it wonderfully clarifies your mind on all this stuff.

I live in an evacuation area for hurricanes, and during one of the 2004 storms all the media were reporting that everything on our part of the island was destroyed. I was really surprised at what I missed and what I didn't.

Luckily, that turned out to be a false report (you rarely see a parking lot full of grownups all crying for joy), but I filled my station wagon 8 times with the stuff I sent away after things settled down.

But even just living in a hurricane area, we always go around saying things like, "I saw some dishes today I'd really like if I lost all mine in a storm."

I'm really sorry about your fire, though. At least a hurricane gives you a chance to decide what to save and attend to that before it begins.

Wow, Daisychain, sorry that happened to you! I admire your resolve in not letting stuff back in, and it sounds lovely to have a house that really feels like "you".

Re: the dumpster idea, ha! Love it. I am starting a bit smaller for now. I have listed lots of stuff on craigslist and sold most of it so far, sold tons of books online, and begun the task of going through old photos and things with a vengeance.

I think that having the fun planning of how I can start over with colors and fewer pieces is making it much easier for me to part with sentimental items.

amj, I am also tired of all the brown. Yes, holds up well to kids and dogs, and it's one of my favorite colors, but...I'd like it in smaller doses.

Shee--I know that kitchen bumping situation very well. I hope to eliminate it by never again having a galley kitchen to serve 6 people, lol. But the main thing I am going to hold out for in my downsizing is windows, windows, windows. I never want to live in such a dark house ever again.

I dream of downsizing someday to a lakeside cottage, near my family back in Michigan. DH says that no way is he moving back to Michigan with it's gray and gloomy, long Winters. But, I still do dream of it. I'd love a simple 3 bedroom (as we're downsizing now) white cottage with green shutters. Cozy overstuffed chairs and sturdy Cottagey furnishings inside. At least one fireplace. An eat-in kitchen with white cabinets and appliances. Covered porches front and back. Hmmm, this is sounding very, very much like the summerhouse we had when I was a kid (LOL). I miss it so much still! It has always been my perfect house. I'd have to sell all of our Southwestern paintings, statues, furniture, etc., but I'd be up to it. And then I could buy more art, but this time it would be more in keeping with a cottage on a Northern lake. Colors? Probably brown leather upholstery with red and green accent colors, same as here, but then again, perhaps navy blue and white with a few red and yellow accents.

I am seriously trying to talk DH into a Michigan cottage on a lake for Summers and Fall, and then a smaller one wherever our adult kids end up, once DH retires, for Winters and Spring.

The biggest change I would make is choosing lighter wood flooring. I have the very dark espresso color and wish I would have chosen something several shades lighter, like a natural warm cherry. 5 cats and a dog is my logic, but am sure I would still vacuum every day. It's a minor thing, but I also wish I would have upped the standard 6' arched doorways to 8'. I love everything else about my house!

We redid the downstairs 5 years ago when we remodeled the kitchen. I only kept the DR furniture. New LR and FR furniture....different color scheme. I've discovered I am very fickle when it comes to decorating. What I love today......not so much two years from now. How do you deal with THAT when you can't afford to get all new stuff every few years?

When DH and I were going through a rough patch, I looked around at what furniture I could realistically hope to claim or would want to. In the end, it came down to about 5 pieces and none of them very large. Most of it represents a compromise where I did not speak up about my gut instincts forcefully enough (or at all) or family pieces of his family. Some of those family pieces are not bad but area far cry from anything I would willingly spend money on.

So, if I were starting from scratch, I would hopefully have those few pieces that make my heart sing. Then, I would go out and purchase a tufted back, leather recliner in oxblood and a fantastic lamp to put next to it. I would also find a good basket for some throw blankets and a side table to hold books and drinks (in glassware in a shape I prefer!). Then, I would take my time to accumulate the other pieces, only buying something I truly love, probably a mix of some traditional pieces and definitely including some fun pieces.

I'm going to Michigan with Lynn. :)

...I would build my own home - easy to maintain, small, efficient, and with a sunny, flat backyard

...I would have about half the stuff (working on that one!)

...I wouldn't have cats that wreck every piece of nice upholstered furniture I own

...I would have spent more on my kitchen cabinets or gotten them from IKEA

...I'd have bought more teak when it was uncool

I actually love my house and even though it is only a short stroll to shops, zaggot rated restaurants, school, beaches and my marina , I would love to hear the water slapping the hull of my sailboat from my bedroom window if we were to move. I will only start over for that change at this point in time.

I haven't read all the responses yet, but this has been on my mind a lot lately as we are semi-, sort of, looking for our "empty nest" house. We have 2 years before our youngest goes to college, but we could move before she graduates because we aren't leaving our town. (Some of you may recall the drama when we almost made an offer on a house a couple of months ago.)

For whatever reason, this is the house that I've stumbled upon that inspires what I'd like my next house to feel like. Mostly the first 2-3 photos.

https://www.houzz.com/projects/23780/antique-cape

Otherwise, I have a loooong list of requirements for this next (and hopefully last) move.

In terms of what I have now that definitely goes with us? About 8-10 pieces of furniture that I love, most of the art that we have, and a lot of books and pottery and travel mementos. I want an entire wall of built-in bookshelves for all my books and doodads, so the rest of the space can be uncluttered.

One thing I realized when we looked at a couple of houses earlier this year: I need one living space that includes a TV, and one that does not. The house we almost bought had a very nice living room, but that was the only room where the TV could go, and the only place to put it was over the FP. If it had had a den or some other room on the first floor where we could have a TV, I'd own that house right now.

And we don't need a large master bedroom, but definitely need a master bath.

I spent a year after I retired preparing to downsize from 4 BRs, 2.5 baths, 2-car garage to a 2 BR/2bath/1-car garage condo. I did so well with consignments, I lived on that income for 10 months. Now that I'm in the throes of unpacking, I realize I have a sleeping pillow (not pretty décor pillow) fetish, a lamp fetish, and a small dresser fetish. All my major pieces are just what I wanted to keep, but I'm still having trouble letting go of my grandmother's circa 1950s pixie-on-a-leaf ash trays and the like. Salvation Army is coming this week.

Sueb - I love your inspiration home. It's lovely, inviting and full of all those little touches that make you say HOME. Had we moved when we were younger that's a place I would have drooled over too.

We're in the middle of what I thought was 'starting from scratch' and I had a vision of calm, clean and uncluttered - however that didn't exactly happen.

In a month we'll be moving into an over 55 community about 8 miles from our current home of 30+ years. We're anticipating the freedom that comes from no lawn care or snow removal, no pool to maintain or trees to prune, or the constant care that my landscaping requires. Even though we hire people to perform most of these tasks we still have to stay on top of it. We are downsizing - from 3600 sq ft with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3/4 acre to 2200 sq ft with 3 BR and a loft, 3 baths, living/dining combo room, family room on a small lot. We waited to buy until we could find one that backs up to the woods so at least we have a very private back yard and patio.

Our new home is only 10 years old but we've gutted the kitchen and 3 bathrooms and removed a partial wall between the kitchen and family room. After years of enjoying our dark cherry kitchen cabinets and formal living and dining rooms I wanted a simpler and lighter look.

I did achieve that vision in our kitchen and family room. There are 3 six foot by six foot windows on one wall plus a French door and we added 2 more windows flanking the fireplace. The cabinets and backsplash are cream colored, the Ice Flake quartzite countertops are a soft, subtle oatmeal shade with flecks of grey and beige.

But as we started to plan the furnishings DH surprised me by saying that he didn't want to replace our formal cherry dining room furniture. We ended up having the living room camelback and wing chairs reupholstered in a less formal fabric along with the dining room chairs. DH doesn't care for what he calls 'spartan' and most of our new furniture has cleaner lines but not 'modern'.

We have ordered new bedroom and family room furniture that I really like. But I find that we still both like darker wood. The upholstered pieces are smaller and since we now have a more open floor plan we're avoiding bold patterns or colors and going with more muted shades. We'll add color with art and decorative things.

Our traditional bedroom furniture will go in the guest room on the 2nd floor. But we ordered a very traditional tiger maple highboy for our new bedroom and a wrought iron bed. We have great closets in the new place so we don't need a dresser and a chest.

We are trying to get rid of those things we haven't used and keeping the next phase of our life simpler. Once we move we hope to spend more time at our vacation home or traveling.

Since this is an over 55 the light switches are a little lower so that you can reach them if you were in a wheelchair. Using that as an starting point we are installing a zero lip shower in the master bath with a large door and 2 shower heads - one fixed, one that can be adjusted and hand held, grab bars and a moveable teak bench.

I'm getting the chance now-we recently bought a vacation home that will probably become our retirement home in a few years. In my case, a lot about the new place is upsizing, not downsizing. More and larger bedrooms and bathrooms, a pool which I've always dreamed of having, and a nicer layout for a couple with very different sleeping patterns (no more ranch house with bedrooms directly adjacent on a short hall).

The kitchen however has surprised me--it's a much larger U shape but I really don't like the layout nearly as much as my galley that I designed to be super efficient. Funny note: husband told me last night he thinks the new place's kitchen is so much nicer because we aren't cramped when we are both there....and I responded he might not feel that way if he had ever actually tried to cook or prepare meals in the new v old!

Anyway I am being very conscious about one big change for me which is incorporating some color. My natural tendency in our home of 30 years has been neutral, calm and quiet perhaps because the past 30 years were the child raising, dual income, volunteer, family and friend gathering spot time of our marital life! Calm and soothing was very much what I needed but facing a life change in which most of the hustle n hassle will be gone I'm finding I sorta kinda like some happy colors around me :). I'll still never be a raging color fiend but it's a nice switch.

Within the past year I've had to clear my MIL's house completely to rent it out, and dismantle my daughter's rental when she moved and it's made me realize what a blessing it is to have gotten our next house while we have ample time to unwind our current place! Although the vacation house was partially furnished we've taken some of my MIL's items to the new place where they fit, but I'm not sure at all what of my furniture will and won't work down there. I definitely will be discarding a lot when we finally do move. So once I finish digging out from under the relatives' miscellany I am determined to slowly start making my way through this 30 year collection of stuff so I don't have to experience another 6 months of frantic sorting and tossing!

It looks as if I'm going to be doing so to some extent. I just was given notice at my place. I love it here and do not wish to say goodbye. I hope to leave at peace with it and in anticipation of my new place. For now I am grieving. Yes tears are involved.

Oh yeonassky, I hope you find a place that will feel like home.

If I could start from scratch, I would have separate rooms with DOORS! Kitchen, dining room, living room, study, den, ect. Not a wiff of open concept anywhere.

Sherry - We gutted our house 7 years ago and I won my fight against doing open-concept. We have doors. I have not changed my mind. I like having doors.

I did get a chance to start from scratch and it was so much fun. I love our house and how it came out. DH and I still remark on how perfect the layout is for our lifestyle. I don't think I could re-create it again if I tried. It was just that at that time, somehow we were working on all cylinders.

But most people would not decorate our house the way it is. We used a lot of wood and warm colors to keep it cozy. While I like the light-bright look of all the pale grays, it can go cold for me, especially in winter. DH is big into cozy, so we're happy with the warm color scheme.

If I got to start over, I'd actually hire a decorator, or just walk into a store and pick my favorite room layouts and order them for delivery. No more "this is from grandma's house" even if I liked it at the time, no more "this is from the previous house/3 previous houses ago/bachelor days". New, coordinating, and above all, DONE. So I can move on.

When I read the question, I took it to mean the interior decoration of the house- the furniture and such. I am totally happy with what I have on that score. When it comes to the architecture- not so much. I am in the process of moving. My new house is my dream house and even then I am being picky and redoing the kitchen and bathrooms, because I have lived with suboptimal for so long the time has come for me to be happy with the whole package. But furniture and such, I love it all. Fortunately for me I love all my hand me downs, they are much better than anything I could afford for a very long time.

Rita, I agree that many of our hand me downs are better quality than I could ever afford (or even than anyone could find) these days. My No.1 treasure is an oak rocker that has lasted 75 years and it's as good as new. Can't even imagine that from anything today. I had a Pottery Barn lamp that quit working after 24 months and they declined to issue a refund, as if that's a normal lifespan for a $100 lamp.

SueB, I love that inspiration house, too. So homey!

My DD had a 900 square foot apartment that I dream about as the perfect condo for when we are ready to downsize. Well, maybe just a little bigger. It was on the top floor with a balcony, high ceilings, and floor to ceiling windows. One bedroom. Functional kitchen with a large island and pantry, so the lack of upper cabinets wasn't a problem. If I could talk my children and their cousins into finding a home for all the family stuff I accumulated, I think downsizing would be liberating. I have no problem divesting of things I purchased, it's the items I inherited or were given to me that I am slow to let go of, like Daisychain said.

The only thing that would give me pause would be leaving my garden.

Thank you blfenton! It looks doubtful that we'll be able to remain in Vancouver. I'm never going to be able to retire and money is difficult to hold on to...and there's our disabled son to consider.

To paraphrase.

"The road is long.... So on we go..."

that would depend on where I'm going

for example I love dark and wallpapers and dream to do them one day(I grew up with wallpaper so I'm nostalgic lol)..but if I were to go where I really want to-I see it there less, somehow. even though who knows. will depend on a house..

would stay pretty much the same but I'd change some leather for some velvet(wishful thinking)..and I'd buy more art..:)

I'd really like to take most of the stuff we have right now with us..we gathered it and all..and I love it. It's also not like I had it for a long time..:) except books and art, partially-I started from scratch 7 years ago. And I'm very particular about things. I mean I look for a long time and all. I need to love them. Unless something like a guest bed-should be versatile for guest room. Really versatile. Gives options, and stuff. And good mattresses. So either several K, or I love it less stylistically..but it works great..and I found a very nice coverlet on eBay lol..and a new throw pillow..and put my favorite curtains next to it..in short made it work.

but that would be an example of something I'd be able to leave behind.

75 percent I'd be very tempted to take.

If I can't take anything-well I'd just repeat my drill. Books and art. These follow me.