Am I Going Insane?
seabiscuit68
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (43)
toddinmn
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRelated Discussions
Am I insane? Seriously, I need your opinion. (Kinda long)
Comments (11)Calistoga, I know I wont get a full coverage in only a year I just want it to look less like an empty lot and more like a recently planted semi-cared-for area. Empty spaces will get filled in (mulched!) with fallen leaves. If I start seeds now (I actually do have some creeping thyme and rosemary), IÂll have 4-5 months to grow them out in flats. Isn't that enough time? Or are you saying I should be planting outside from flats right NOW? That would be difficult, because the "soil" stays pickaxe hard until it starts raining regularly. Cagary, I briefly looked into hydro-seeding, but it would be quite expensive. A homeowner a few miles up my road did it last year and I didnÂt really like the effect it looked vaguely industrial/unnatural somehow. Besides, I love to garden, so that would take all my fun away! (And believe me, until we get to interior decorating, this will be the ONLY fun part of this project for me.) SusanC, indeed, when I realized how overwhelming the eucs were, I started to do research on eucalyptus understory. (The Australian National Botanic Gardens website is incredible!) I found a lot of promising plants, but most of the seeds were really hard to find, and I donÂt know how successful they would really be. If we were going to stay in this house for longer, IÂd be more willing to experiment, but at this point I think it's safer to go for plants IÂve seen growing well in the area. BTW, thanks so much for the referral to the Winter Sowing forum! I didnÂt even know it existed. IÂve been gardening my whole life, but grew up in NYC, so IÂve never had the seasons (or the space) to try winter sowing before. I'm inspired! Thanks to for taking the time to reply you guys; I really appreciate it!...See MoreNew hosta beds....am I insane?
Comments (5)I am on the other side of the fence too. I had the side fences replaced for privacy but the back one faces an overgrown drainage ditch so I left that one down just using the hurricane fence. I have always kept about 3' cut back and over the years have dumped my grass clippings ect behind the now gone woden fence. I added a bird feeder in my yard and now I have a preserve for the birds who are spoiled. I have started adding the plants that did not do well, some extras and the ones I may not have liked. This winter I am adding Crepe Mertle out there. Over the fence is great! No one is behind me and it is the citys. In 25 years they have cleaned it once....See MoreAm I insane to sacrifice only guest BR for an office?
Comments (13)Wow! Lots of great responses. I'm sorry I didn't get back to the thread sooner, but I had some sort of wicked stomach bug yesterday and lay semi-conscious on the sofa most of the afternoon and evening. Much better today, thanks! Let me clarify the guest room use a bit. It will get used for 6-8 days over Christmas for dad and stepmom. The other stays would be a stepson who is stopping through, or my mom if she comes out for the weekend (she lives here, just on the other side of town and doesn't like to drive in the dark). In other words, no fancy guests! Several have mentioned that we need to make more use of the living room. I don't disagree. But having thought about it, there isn't really a good way to do so. Our living room is part of a large room that includes dining room, kitchen and a garden area, so it cannot be closed off in any way. Here is a shot of the room -- LR is at the far end: I really don't want all the flotsam and jetsam that computers and paperwork, etc. entail taking over the living room. I would say we are in the office 75% of the time we are home together (and awake). We hang out in the office because it is where the computers are (PCs rather than laptops), with desks, good chairs and good light. Then I saw the idea of DH getting his things together in one room so that could clear up the old music/workout room for me without losing the guest room. This is not altogether a bad idea. DH could have the current office as it is the biggest room. But I don't know that it would all fit very well. And then poor DH would have his office area in the industrial zone with the workout equipment and instrument storage. He really likes how we got the music/workout room set up, and I have to say I do, too. It keeps all the ugly stuff in one place. (Also, a lot of the instruments are mine, so it's not really fair for him to take the brunt of the ugly factor). Here is the room. so you can see the enormity of said horn rack (roughly 6+' x 6+' x 2' deep): Also, I'm not sure then where my personal PC would be. DH and I like to hang out together even if we are both on our PCs. This arrangement would have us in different rooms. I think the new Murphy beds are very cool. I saw an ad in the new Metropolitan Home and showed it to DH. But I'm not sure we want to invest that kind of money in the solution at this time (looks to be a minimum of $2,000, not including installation costs). Using the current set-up to include work in the current office: This would be the easiest solution and is what I am doing right now. But this is only my first week, so I am making do. It would mean two computers on the same desk. It would also mean that if DH is between contracts (He is an IT consultant) that he would be home in the same room with me while I am trying to work. And it wouldn't allow for that psychological separation of "work" space from "living" space. I think after all of that discussion it brings me back to sacrificing the guest room. That way I'll have a nice clean, distraction-free environment in which to work. I will look at sofa beds though, as an alternative to the aerobed. Or, now that I have a job again, I can use the income to put guests up in a hotel!...See MorePurple Living Room, am I insane?
Comments (69)I haven't had a chance to come back here and say thank you for the extra encouragement. I really appreciate it. I haven't done anything yet, I had a situation pop up and I've had to pour all my extra time into it. A girl who I have been mentoring, her father died over Spring Break. He had been undergoing dialysis since the fall, but it didn't help. His death left basically three orphans, they have a mom, but she doesn't live here. I've stepped up to help the family who is taking over until the mom shows up. Whew, we've been busy. The person who identified the drapes as the issue in the room...you are 100% correct. The longer I look at them, the more I know that is truly the problem. I've looked a couple of times for a white linen type drape. I think Pottery Barn might have a set. I want to go by and look at them. Whatever color I choose, I think white drapes might be the best choice. Harrie: Your "Enchanted" paint looks very similar to my bedroom. I do love that color. It was my first room to paint and I still love it. I used "monet inspired" fabric for the drapes and I have a white "iron-style" bed with a white chenille bedspread. It's still the best choice I ever made. I finally put up the rest of the curtains in the green bedroom. I need to make the bed (oops!) and take a picture of that room too. I love it almost as well. I'm still contemplating painting the rest of the walls green, but until I have a moment to breath, I'm calling that room mostly done. Lisa...See Moretoddinmn
5 years agoSteve J
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoHomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoSteve J
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoHomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoRon Mexico
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoWindows on Washington Ltd
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoRon Mexico
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoSteve J
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoscargoz
5 years agoRon Mexico
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoSteve J
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoRon Mexico
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agotoddinmn
5 years agoHomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoscargoz
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoSteve J
5 years agoseabiscuit68
5 years agoWindows on Washington Ltd
5 years ago
Related Stories
FUN HOUZZEverything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey
Mind your manors with these 10 decorating tips from the PBS series, returning on January 5
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESHow to Go Geometric Without Going Overboard
If your home decorating isn’t adding up, consider angles and shapes to help solve the equation
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow I Learned to Be an Imperfect Gardener
Letting go can lead to a deeper level of gardening and a richer relationship with the landscape. Here's how one nature lover did it
Full StoryCEILINGSIn the Rotation: Ceiling Fans Go Chic
Who Knew Ceiling Fans Could be Lust-Worthy? Here's How to Stay Cool in Style
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNSee-Through Refrigerators Dare to Go Bare
Glass-front fridge doors put your food and drinks on display, for better or worse. See the benefits and disadvantages
Full StoryFLOWERSRudbeckia Mania: Go Beyond Black-Eyed Susan in the Garden
Branch out from typical nursery fare, with lesser-known Rudbeckia species that have delightfully unexpected features
Full StoryECLECTIC STYLEBeautiful Clutter? These 13 Rooms Say Go for It
No need to haul cartons to Goodwill for a picture-perfect room. You can have a well-decorated home and all your stuff too
Full StoryPRODUCT PICKSGuest Picks: Go Bright and Mod in the Home Office
Be inspired, organized and productive in a home office filled with sleek furnishings and colorful accessories
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESA Designer’s 8 Go-to Decor Pieces
Classic designs such as a Saarinen table and a Chinese garden stool will lift just about any room
Full Story
HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC