Between the kitchen and wood is a thick padding that m7 82 yr old mom has tripped on. I wish the carpet was back but that's how the leasing office wants itI always feel like I have things more together if my floors are vacuumed and swept. I don't like things TOO "clean" for some reason though. DH never liked anything on display before and it just didn't feel nice at all. Very cold and sterile instead of comfortable and home-like. Of course that's because his father is the never throw anything away type; bordering on hoarding things like junk mail and who knows what. (I don't go in his house...)
We purchased some new cabinetry to make our school area tidy and functional and it's made a HUGE difference in how this part of the house looks. There's still things to go through; but now things have a place. I have a love of books; so they needed a home. Both my kids have proper bookshelves for their rooms now. We also got a nice tall pantry cabinet in the kitchen (basically the same area) and it looks wonderful. I can put some larger things in that that didn't fit in my other cabinet. Once our homeschooling days are over we can probably downsize several pieces. But for now it's made things more livable.
My cousin is kind of like DH in wanting her house more minimal. She's always been into organizing things. BUT she also grew up like DH with a parent who was a borderline hoarder. And now is from what I hear...again...we don't go there because of it. I know it's because my Aunt has always carried a ton of stress personally and professionally; but it really shaped my cousin to be the opposite. My old youth pastor is meticulous and likes nice things because he grew up very poor. It's more than just liking things one way; it's being shaped by your past. Its really not a bad thing either. Unless you turn to judging other people because they do different.
DH and I want to keep the bedrooms and main hall carpeted. The foyer is a vinyl plank and I don't love it; but it's better than carpet in there. Our house is semi-open and the builder put light gray carpet in the dining room.You can imagine how that has held up to little kids, cats and just foot traffic. If you come in the back door your stepping right on the carpet. (My kids know better when they are dirty or it's wet/snowing out!!) We have an encapsulated crawl space and the kitchen and bathroom floors stay ok in winter. Wood might be colder. DH and I don't really go barefoot in the house anymore because of some foot pain issues we've had before. But hopefully it would be ok. I'd probably put an area rug in the living room. But our kids aren't playing on the floor aged as much anymore anyway. I just want things to look nice and be easier to keep looking nice. I'm tired of getting on my knees and scrubbing spots with Shout and Cheesecloth.
(A technique learned from my other cousin from that aunt
)
Area rugs made me nervous for my grandma when they got older and she'd had a couple strokes. She insisted on them of course. And they got the no slip things for under them; but that wasn't going to help if she wasn't picking up her feet well. After Gram went to a nursing home Grandpa got rid of them and it seemed easier for him walk safely on the hardwood because he could slide his feet. He had neuropathy in them and couldn't feel as well. They did have the Life Alert type system in the house and all; but still. He used to still go to the basement to do his laundry too! Neither were ever "sit still" kind of people. He made the decision to go to an assisted living before they had to resort to adding a laundry connection upstairs or anything. I'll always be grateful he had the presence of mind to make those decisions himself.
that national weather alert on the tv is so annoying and loud
