ENTRYWAY TABLE OR BENCH - YAY OR NAY???
colorblind1961
4 years ago
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Shoes in the Entryway. Yay or nay?
Comments (46)I struggle with the "shoes off" in the house policy. In theory, that would be my preference. And certainly in bad weather, my kids all take their shoes off. However, I have four kids, and two of them are outside playing all the time. They come in and out for a variety of reasons, so requiring them to take shoes off each and every time just isn't manageable (especially since one of them has fine motor skills problems, so just tying his shoes is difficult for him). I usually take mine off when I come inside, unless I'm wearing sneakers and coming from the store where I have to make multiple trips to the car. That said, I also have three entry points. The kids go in and out through the garage, which is underneath the main floor. If they are coming in and staying in, they usually leave their shoes in the garage just outside the door (a huge pile which I'm trying to organize - used to be a big basket but too many shoes, so now I have an organizer to put together, but not sure they will actually put their shoes in each compartment!). I always use the front door and kick my shoes off at the front door - there is a basket there by the door, so if I'm going out again later, I leave my shoes there, but if not I bring them upstairs to my closet. I wear slippers in the house. We also have a mudroom but it is accessible from the back door. There was a time when my kids always used it after school/coming home from somewhere, but now my key no longer works in the lock so they always use the garage instead. The mudroom, however, seems to store whatever shoes they haven't left in the garage (as well as shoes that are not in use regularly, like cleats, church shoes, etc). They each have their own cubby, and a basket for shoes in their cubby. I find it perfectly normal here where I live to see a basket of shoes near the front door. The only houses where I don't see them are my friends' homes who have homes that are more formal (don't look very lived in), or if they have a mudroom or other main entry for family. I just read the two posts above mine and see that they both have four kids like me. I had to laugh at choclot b/c her battle sounds like mine! Mine each have their own cubbies and STILL I find their things all over the mudroom - coats laying on the bench instead of hanging on the hook, shoes on the floor *right next to* their shoe basket, socks they've taken off and left in their cubbies and then wonder why they have no socks after I do laundry! I do call them from wherever they are to fix their mistakes, but much of the time I'm off doing something else and don't notice right away. My kids are 8, 10, 12 and turning 14. My oldest has actually become very organized (she keeps all her shoes in an organizer up in her bedroom after years of using the mudroom), hangs her coat in her room, etc. My 12 y/o is a slob, but he is incredibly organized with his schoolwork, binder, etc and judging from what I hear from his friends' mothers whose boys are constantly losing things, forgetting to turn in schoolwork, etc, I figure I'll take that over him not putting his shoes away properly!...See MoreKitchen Table - Yay or Nay?
Comments (11)To me, your table area is calling for a nook or banquette. You can use ikea cabinets to inexpensively and not permanently create a banqutte. I used 12" ikea upper cabinets to create a bench and it served my kids well for a long time. After a while, we had a 15" upholstered top made for the bench (which cost significantly more than the bench cabinets). Here is a picture that is similiar to your space: And here is one with a single bench: And lastly, here is my cheapo ikea bench: If I was to do the ikea bench again, I would use 2x4 pcs. of wood to create a base for the cabinets or leave the doors off the cabinets and use baskets for storage. The way I had it, the cabinet doors scraped on the floor. Good luck! Its a nice table and I think you will use the table alot once your little ones enter the homework years....See MoreDisposable decor? Yay or nay?
Comments (71)I do think we live in a disposable world. When my parents were married, you bought really good stuff and you intended to keep it "forever"! And as you got a bigger house, you got more furniture. Now, with so many outlets selling so much "cheap" (inexpensive) merchandise, it is not a "forever" purchase but rather for the season or until one tires of it. I remember toasters and coffeepots were a "one time" purchase. Now they are disposable -- if yours stops working, you just pitch and buy a new one. Decor is like that too -- especially holiday decor (any holiday, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course, Christmas). It's what is trendy that year. I know one lady who buys all new Christmas decorations each year -- she has a theme (usually by color) and instead of packing it all away, she puts it in a garage sale in the spring. She wants it gone so she can come up with something different next year. I also have a friend who buys new living room furniture every three or four years. It's not worn, it's not broken. She's just tired of it and wants something different. And some of that disposable has something to do with trends in the marketplace. And that's what they want you to do -- change your decor to the "latest" and "greatest"! If you don't think "life" is disposable, just drive past a garage sale -- and see the stuff they offer for sale. Even thirty years ago, that wouldn't happen. Martha...See MoreYay or Nay on these mirrored panels?
Comments (42)Thank you so much everyone! I am overwhelmed with everyone's support and great ideas. I think the room is beautiful but awkward because it is not square but rather rectangular and off center. It is hard to tell from the photos I suppose, but the sectional is centered with the TV above the fireplace which leaves a large open area where the book shelves and bench are located. I would have loved to move the shelving unit behind the couch but if I center it behind the couch then half of the living room sits empty? I don't think any amount of art by the windows could make it look right. The sectional was probably not the right choice of furniture for the room but it suits our family functionally. Do I love the mosaic mirror panels? Yes! Do i think they are generic? Yes. Would I prefer an art piece I love? Absolutely. I may hang them for the time being until I find something in the future. Right now, original art is out of my price range. I looked up the etsy link Wsimons85 posted, but the art in that size would be $1500. Honestly, though an abstract art piece would work well, it doesn't excite me. Maybe one day I will find something I love and by then my entire living room will look different! Home Interior with Ease, I can't believe you remember my original living room and what it looked like!! Yes, I have come a long way. I actually really like those feather pictures but I believe they are not tall enough for what I was looking for. They are 38 inches in height vs the 48 inches the current mirror panels. By the way, the mosaic mirrors are from Pier 1, for Sara Sitardites. Thanks again everyone!...See MoreUser
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