Happy Camper!!

Well, as I've stated before, we have invested in a new camper. We are pretty excited and I love not only the convenience of it, but the smallness of it...I feel as though I'm "playing house" in it and love puttering around in it, organizing, nesting, making it a home away from home. My sister, Wendy, has teased me saying that she just knows I won't be able to leave it as is... meaning I'll end up "redecorating" it. Well, initially I was determined to prove her wrong. However, the nutbar in me can't stop fantasizing about lightening things up with some paint, slipcovering the cushions, changing the cabinet hardware, etc. Why, oh why, can I not just let things be??!!

All camper photos from Berry Land Campers

Sure enough I headed off to the hardware/building store just to see what would jump out at me for prettying it up. Very quickly this snowballed into my making a list of things I could "renovate" and laying in bed with my mind planning and scheming on how to do so on a very small budget. I really dread painting it! The fumes will be great as I need to cover up some shiny fake wood and it needs to be durable (so, melamine paint it will likely be...). I was almost afraid to tell hubby about my "wicked thoughts" and I wrestled with the decision to just go ahead and make the changes or be up front and risk him being incredulous and making me feel guilty about being frivolous. However honesty, and the desire to be up front, won out so I came up with a plan: find and print off a picture of a similar camper with light coloured cabinetry and nice appliances to give him an idea as to what I wanted to do. Here it is: Then say, very quickly, that I was thinking of giving the camper a lick of paint just to brighten it up; but not to worry, I wouldn't be involving him AT ALL!!! Well, it went better than I thought. He did exclaim, "Linda, I wish you'd just leave it alone. Why do you have to do anything to a new camper??" He didn't, however, out and out put his foot down. Now before you think that I am a wimpy wife who lets her husband command over her, I'm not. But I have learned through the years that some battles are just not worth fighting and he has as well. We are both strong-minded people and we usually know just how far we can go on certain topics. So, inspired by his lack of fighting spirit on this matter, I continue to plan my renovation!!

Our camper is squeezed into our garage at the moment in the halfway-up position, so I decided to post some pictures of the identical camper from a camper sales site. I will explain my proposed changes as I go:

1. Paint the "wood" cream and add brushed nickel bin pulls to drawers. Then, it should look like so:

2.Slip cover the cushion in a sunbrella fabric (for durability and ease of cleaning) so I can hide the ugliness of this fabric:

3. I will leave the flooring alone, as hubby would pop a blood vessel if I suggested otherwise. However, when the day comes when it becomes damaged in some way, I will replace it with vinyl that looks like hardwood (did you know they make it with ridges that look like the wood joints?...really nice, for vinyl). ***See above photo with white cabinets***

4. I'm extra excited about what I'm planning for the fridge. I purchased one of those fake tin panel (in cream) to apply to the front of the mini-fridge. It will give it some character and be one less thing to paint. Also, I picked up some super thick wallpaper that looks like beadboard which I may use on the wood bases for the sofa area. It probably won't prove to be too durable, but, again, it will be less to paint for now.

5.For the exterior, I purchased navy indoor/outdoor carpet to help keep the grass out, nice antique-bronze solar lights to help us find our way in the night, lots of enamelware accessories/canisters for inside the camper, and I will take down the not so pretty valances above the curtains. Whew, I really am crazy!! I always say, a simple mind is a great thing to have and even better to lose...

For those of you who are thinking, "Doesn't she have anything better to do with her time?" I have this defence: I'll wait till the kids go back to school, and I have to have something new to blog about , don't I? Who knows, maybe I'll inspire those of you with campers to start decorating. It's always helpful to be inspirational, isn't it?? I'm always thinking of you...

True or faux...??

photo: Ralph Lauren Home

This topic has been on my mind for a while now, and I hesitated to write about it for fear of offending anyone. We have all grumbled about magazine photos and how they can make us feel inadequate and envious and wistful for the life that the homeowners in the accompanying write-up live in their perfect homes. Some of us say, " But where's the clutter, the stuff of life, the dog hair, the abandoned sweatshirt flung over a chair?" Obviously we really don't want to see all of that and it wouldn't help sell the magazines, but what about all the overly "posed" photos. You know the ones... the ones the prop stylists just set up for photographic effect and we ask ourselves, "Do they really think we are buying into that fairy tale image??

In my line of work, the staging component that is, lifestyle selling is what it's all about. A little bit of corny can go a long way; the trick is to not overdo it. We all know that buyers are savvy, but they also do want a little bit of guidance in showing what the living can be like in the homes they are considering. However, it all gets tricky when the focus is just decorating your home to live in it. I have seen homes where the "in-house decorator" is trying a little too hard to be in style and showcase a "perfect lifestyle". Heck, we've all probably been guilty of it. Case in point is the proverbial vintage bicycle leaning against the picket fence with wicker basket in front. Now, don't get me wrong, this does look lovely, but is it real?? Is anyone really buying it?? Do your neighbours really expect that you are going to hop on and cycle to the nearest corner shop for a sack of peaches?? If you have one of these and really do use it, then I tip my hat off to you. Not only are you stylish but you are environmentally sensitive (or from a place where this really is commonplace and expected...lucky you!!). For the rest of us, I'm not saying it's wrong, just maybe a little contrived...It can depend on the house, too. Some older homes are just beckoning for this nod to the vintage lifestyle.

photo: Country Living magazine

Another example of contrived decorating is the wicker beach bag "packed" and ready to go with a vintage (and rusty on the inside) thermos and floral or Hermes headscarf (a la Grace Kelly) waiting by the screen door for someone to sling over their shoulder and be taken on the sojourn...sounds so romantic doesn't it?? Okay again if you will actually do this, but if you have a carload of overheated kids and a styrofoam cooler filled with Kool-Aid and your beach bag is full of Spiderman towels, it could probably qualify instead as faux...

I personally like authentic decorating. That means (to me) decorating with things that you really might actually use someday and not vignette staging for imaginary photographers on a photoshoot in your home. There are exceptions of course... for example, there's nothing wrong with setting out umpteen candles near your bath in the hope that you actually might light them someday and,of course, seasonal decorating is all based on imagination. A plate of faux gingerbread cookies under a tabletop feather tree looks perfectly acceptable...how else are your children supposed to have "visions of sugerplums" dreams after all?? Indeed, there is definitely a time and a place for everyday vignettes...but before you show them to your visitors stand back and ponder them with this question in mind, "Have I just created a magazine picture where my viewers will roll their eyes and snicker to themselves on the car ride home?"

photo: House on the Hill.com

Then again, as I've said before, it's your home and if it makes you happy, then that's good enough for me!! I'm only one opinion after all...and I promise not to snicker!!

A house of many colours...

While you know I may be a huge fan of yellow houses, I am open to homes of a variety of colours... the more creative the better! In my town, we are all a little staid and predictable and you won't see a whole lot of creativity when it comes to "dressing up our homes" in bright colours. We are a reserved bunch I guess...

On our trip this past weekend, we visited a little town with a penchant for colour and creativity when it comes to painting their period homes. Lunenburg is a sea-faring town with oodles of charm and, apparently, homeowners with not only great taste, but a true sense of fun! I was delighted to see homes in a variety of shades including bright yellows, reds, robins-egg-blue, and even pink!! They all seemed like they were the colour they should be and made for a lively backdrop to the ocean views.

I truly believe the more creative the outside of a home and the more "decorated" it is, the likelier the homeowners are fun, happy people. This holds true for seasonal decorating. Sure a lush wreath and simple boughs in a window box is tasteful, but the more glitz I see and nods to the jolly equates for me, people who are light-hearted, friendly...and who don't take themselves too seriously. If I'm right, then Lunenburg (and places like it) is ripe with some fun people!!

***Because we were towing our camper, it was difficult to just pull over and take pictures of every home that caught my eye. I hope you enjoy the photos that I did get...and if you ever have the chance to head down that way, take the time to be a house stalker and get some good, inspiring photos. You'll be glad you did!!