non covid-for fun. biggest mistakes/regrets home, furnishings, decor, etc.

[elaine]

DH just put in wrought iron on stair rails on 2 story balcony overlooking great room. I wondered if it was too trendy, but a number of model homes in our area had them. DH did it himself, so just $2500 for high quality forged iron rails. It looks fabulous esp. compared to medium brown wood rails with same color wood floors--too much brown everywhere. So I decided big deal if it's out of date 10 years from now.
I like stainless fixtures and classic real marble for bathrooms. Been around for at least 100 years. See it in most old world hotels.

 

[klpca]

DH just put in wrought iron on stair rails on 2 story balcony overlooking great room. I wondered if it was too trendy, but a number of model homes in our area had them. DH did it himself, so just $2500 for high quality forged iron rails. It looks fabulous esp. compared to medium brown wood rails with same color wood floors--too much brown everywhere. So I decided big deal if it's out of date 10 years from now.
I like stainless fixtures and classic real marble for bathrooms. Been around for at least 100 years. See it in most old world hotels.

I think that the wrought iron will always be classic - you can't go wrong with that. I also love the modern railings with the steel cables, but I think will look time specific. If you love it, it doesn't matter.

Funny that you mention the marble in bathrooms. In my mind it always takes me back to public spaces in the 1960's so that's what I link it to in my brain. When we were doing our kitchen remodel back in 2013, my decorator brought out some marble samples for the counters and I just couldn't do the ones that reminded me of the 60's. She's about 5 or 6 years younger than me and she didn't remember it from her childhood like I did. We had a good laugh about some of the current styles that brought back memories for me, but were fresh and new looks to her. On her suggestion, I wound up with a quartz counter that is like a cross between the marble look and granite. I was unsure then and I still don't love it but it's very durable. Others love it so it is just me.

 

[pedro47]

When we built our home over thirty years ago . We should built a three car garage.

 

[pittle]

When we built our home over thirty years ago . We should built a three car garage.

When we built our house late 1977 - early 1978, we made 3 of the best decisions ever.
1. 3 Car Garage
2. 1st floor Master BDR/bath
3. 1st floor Laundry

The first was hubs most important thing and the laundry not in the dungeon (basement) was to me. We both agreed on the 1st floor Master as a friend had recently broken her leg skiing and they lived in a tri-level house so she had to stay on the level with the bedrooms and bathrooms for several weeks as even going up or down 7 stairs was a challenge. We decided that we did not want to take a chance with that as we were living in one of those when we chose our floor plan.

Our biggest regrets on that new house were that we did not make the basement deeper, put in better windows and kitchen cabinets. We chose the standard ones because we were on a tight budget. We had already purchased the 5 acre lot though.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Built our house in 2005. Not many regrets, but it is getting to the point where things need an update. Which leads me to my next thought: in 10 years, what current trends will age quickly? I see so many people putting up "barn doors" and putting shiplap on walls. Personally, I see that going the way of the Mauve-everything of the 80's. In 10 years, I think those houses will stick out like a sore thumb -- "Oh, I see they redecorated this place in the late 2010's."

Any other thoughts on current trends that won't age well?

Kurt

My sister had a house built in Erie Village, which you might be familiar with. The houses are on the west side of County Line, a little north of the little town of Erie. You live north of Denver, so I assume you maybe know. Anyway, the builder talked to them about round corners or not. My sister had a tough time because she said, "People are going to see those corners someday and say, 'So early 2000's.'" Our son's house is in Parker, new build by Toll Brothers, no round corners.

The houses in Erie Village are supposed to look "old" but they are newly-built victorians.

 

[bbodb1]

Wait a minute here......

My sister had a house built in Erie Village, which you might be familiar with. The houses are on the west side of County Line, a little north of the little town of Erie. You live north of Denver, so I assume you maybe know. Anyway, the builder talked to them about round corners or not. My sister had a tough time because she said, "People are going to see those corners someday and say, 'So early 2000's.'" Our son's house is in Parker, new build by Toll Brothers, no round corners.

The houses in Erie Village are supposed to look "old" but they are newly-built victorians.

 

[elaine]

Speaking of mattresses. We had a good mattress that was getting a bit lumpy and slightly sagging to our bodies. 15 years old. We’re Moving in 2 years so we didn’t want to buy a new king.
The other side is essentially cloth covered cardboard-as double-sided are a rarity now. So the back is very firm-like a board. I got the idea to get a decent foam topper $300 on sale at kohl’s for $200. Flipped old mattresse put on topper and voila it’s a firm for back but soft to lie on fabulous bed again! It’s as comfy as a Marriott pillow top bed and I saved a landfill of another mattress.

 

[bbodb1]

Wait a minute here....how can we be discussing mattresses without a Godfather reference?

 

[Glynda]

lots of regrets !

I regret not telling my mother to throw stuff away or give stuff to others before she moved to an assisted living facility. I'm dealing with that now

I went through that when my mother moved here but she finally got the message and we got it down to a reasonable amount.

 

[WinniWoman]

Well, gee, we are only two months in here- in this new little house and I think we should have had a window put in the garage and another window in the second bedroom. Would have been nice, but nothing essential.

I hate the chest freezer we bought and I knew I would because you have to take everything out of it to find something. I should have spent the money and got a stand up freezer for the garage. I hate our smallish counter depth refrigerator but in order to have a full size one I would have had to give up major counter space and I would have regretted that so I would not have won on that either way.

I didn't know when I bought our couch a few years ago that we would be moving here and gray would have been a better color than brown for this home. Making it work.

I do wish I had not gotten rid of our antique punch clock as I now see we had a good spot for it. Also, I regret getting rid of our stackable side table.

We learned a lot from all our years being homeowners since age 21. We did have a plaid sleeper couch many years ago but eventually replaced it with leather theater seats in our former home, but those are gone now as we have no room for them here. We also had double sinks in two out of three bathrooms and we were rarely in there at the same time and with the last remodel our sinks were free standing off the wall- no counter at all and worked for us just fine.

We could do a lot of things to this house but we are keeping it simple this go around. It's just not worth it. I guess we could have built the bigger model in case our son would need to live or stay here, so maybe we will regret that- or maybe regret not finishing off the basement, but right now - no. We don't want any more expenses, more rooms to clean or more things to maintain.

 

[WinniWoman]

We just bought a king Serta I Comfort (memory foam) mattress with 2 snowflakes (for coolness). So far so good. Replaced our 15 year old Dormia memory foam one. We did not buy the box spring/base. Kept what we had which lies on a frame with a decorative headboard. We bought 2 MYPILLOWS as well.

We are using the bedroom dressers from when my son was a child (32 years old) and they fit perfectly in the new master bedroom. The other ones we had in our 42 years of marriage were humongous from Ethan Allen- dark pine. The people who bought our home kept them.

 

[WinniWoman]

The coffee table and dining table we brought here from our other home are way too big for the rooms but I don't care. They are fairly new and I am not getting rid of them. I am also keeping the ugly chandelier the builder put in, which is off center above the table and some other light fixtures he put in. We are keeping the paint color also for now. It is growing on us, though certainly not a color (cream) we would have picked. Plus it is that horrible flat paint.

We have made due with what we have and getting use from them. I have even brought the paintings from the other house and found places for them so as to not have to buy anything to decorate with.

I think my husband would have liked to keep his leather recliner but again right now we are using the newer living room furniture, which includes a big chair and ottoman. Someday when it wears out we maybe can get a recliner to replace it.

 

[Glynda]

@Glynda - given your location, this is interesting: Why this regret?

It's really big for our space and I'd rather have more room for sitting and milling about parties. We use the outdoor kitchen and table space, seen in the second photo (when it was new, there is now more foliage) far more than the pool. The pool was used when we first bought the house by granddaughter and her father and then for granddaughter's sleepovers with girl friends and birthdays parties. At about 15 she got to the "I don't want to get my hair wet or ruin my make-up" stage and hanging out with the grandparents wasn't cool. Also her father built a heated pool with spa, outdoor huge screened TV and pool house at their house. I've been in our pool maybe 4 times in 8 years. Hubby goes in about three times during the summer. It's pretty to look at from inside the house. Hubby has quite the light show going on out there at night. Just too big and under-utilized.

 

[Glynda]

Oh yes, and my cabinets are also too light. Done in 1997. So needs to be re-done. Easier to move!

I have to agree with "easier to move. I watch HGTV shows where the realtor or spouse is always saying, "It's just paint." when one doesn't like the color of the cabinets. Or when a house is at or above the buyer's price limit and the buyer doesn't like "chrome" yet every door hnob, cabinet pull, faucet, lighting, tub and shower trim is chrome and the realtor says "Just change them out." It's hard to find someone to re-paint kitchen cabinets. There are places that will take the doors off and paint them but don't want to paint the boxes. And it's not an easy "do it yourself" job. We're facing having to re-do ours and I still haven't found anyone who will do them reasonably or who wants to do the whole job.

 

[Glynda]

I thought historic looking (maybe even authentic period pieces) vs trendy pieces. Plus you get emotional attachment to things.

I think he meant the pool. You are right though that I don't like the "trendy pieces" we added very much after a relatively short time. But even more so, it's the lack of quality of newer furniture even if it is by the same "better" named brands as those we bought years ago. Also, I think interiors stand the test of time if the furnishings are not all bought at one time or are of one style, but are pieces added over time. I'm finding that interiors are lovelier when they are layered and personal, though not cluttered. I thought that I was tired of some of my furniture, and I was then. Some became impractical like the high off the ground four poster rice bed that couldn't be lowered. We're not getting any younger. As we continue to downsize, more pieces will actually have to "work for a living" rather than just look good or hold things not used or really needed.

 

[Beachclubmum]

It's really big for our space and I'd rather have more room for sitting and milling about parties. We use the outdoor kitchen and table space, seen in the second photo (when it was new, there is now more foliage) far more than the pool. The pool was used when we first bought the house by granddaughter and her father and then for granddaughter's sleepovers with girl friends and birthdays parties. At about 15 she got to the "I don't want to get my hair wet or ruin my make-up" stage and hanging out with the grandparents wasn't cool. Also her father built a heated pool with spa, outdoor huge screened TV and pool house at their house. I've been in our pool maybe 4 times in 8 years. Hubby goes in about three times during the summer. It's pretty to look at from inside the house. Hubby has quite the light show going on out there at night. Just too big and under-utilized.

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I love your pretty pool! We need a TUG pool party!

 

[Beachclubmum]

I think that the wrought iron will always be classic - you can't go wrong with that. I also love the modern railings with the steel cables, but I think will look time specific.

I have to laugh about the wrought iron railings. Growing up in California during the 70’s it was everywhere. When my DH and I were married in the mid-80’s our first house had black wrought iron all the way up the “grand” curving staircase. I hated the stuff! Was so happy to move to the east coast in the early 90’s where they had proper wood bannisters and newel posts. Times change! And I do appreciate a well done wrought iron staircase all these years later.

 

[LisaRex]

I make tons of flooring mistakes.

In my old house, I installed trendier frieze carpet (the kind with piles that go in all different directions) instead of plush carpet in a monochromatic brown. It looked like dirty shag carpet from the minute it was installed. Hated that carpet. In the same house, we also DIY'd bamboo click flooring that ended up getting scratched to hell and back by the study chair. Ended up ripping it out and paying professionals to install Brazilian cherry.

In our new house, I installed prefinished Cumaru flooring in most of the first floor. While I absolutely love the look of it, we hired a small company owned by one of our neighbors to install it. They did a horrible job. The flooring should have been allowed to acclimate for several days but they wanted to get the job done and installed it before it had shrunk. Now there are gaps that you can fit a quarter in (on its edge). While the flooring is still beautiful, the gaps are bothersome.

 

[klpca]

I think he meant the pool. You are right though that I don't like the "trendy pieces" we added very much after a relatively short time. But even more so, it's the lack of quality of newer furniture even if it is by the same "better" named brands as those we bought years ago. Also, I think interiors stand the test of time if the furnishings are not all bought at one time or are of one style, but are pieces added over time. I'm finding that interiors are lovelier when they are layered and personal, though not cluttered. I thought that I was tired of some of my furniture, and I was then. Some became impractical like the high off the ground four poster rice bed that couldn't be lowered. We're not getting any younger. As we continue to downsize, more pieces will actually have to "work for a living" rather than just look good or hold things not used or really needed.

Funny that you mention that. My daughter is furnishing her first home. She loves an eclectic look and found some French Provincial nightstands that look to be quite old. They are Drexel - so much better than anything that you can find now. We're both excited - me for the quality, her for the style.

 

[WinniWoman]

It's really big for our space and I'd rather have more room for sitting and milling about parties. We use the outdoor kitchen and table space, seen in the second photo (when it was new, there is now more foliage) far more than the pool. The pool was used when we first bought the house by granddaughter and her father and then for granddaughter's sleepovers with girl friends and birthdays parties. At about 15 she got to the "I don't want to get my hair wet or ruin my make-up" stage and hanging out with the grandparents wasn't cool. Also her father built a heated pool with spa, outdoor huge screened TV and pool house at their house. I've been in our pool maybe 4 times in 8 years. Hubby goes in about three times during the summer. It's pretty to look at from inside the house. Hubby has quite the light show going on out there at night. Just too big and under-utilized.

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I would kill to have my own pool! If I was rich I’d heat it year round and would be in it everyday!

 

[Glynda]

I would kill to have my own pool! If I was rich I’d heat it year round and would be in it everyday!

It's 30,000 gallons. That would be very expensive indeed! Maybe I'll go in it at least once in the upcoming summer for you!

 

[klpca]

It's 30,000 gallons. That would be very expensive indeed! Maybe I'll go in it at least once in the upcoming summer for you!

I love your pool too. 30,000 gallons is a big pool! Ours is under 20,000 gal, but unheated so we don't go in very often, only when we've had a long hot spell. I like it warm - at least 82+ degrees and on it's own, it usually stops at about 76 - 78. Our last Lab, Buddy, used it more than we did but the new dog doesn't go in at all. We looked into removing it but it was cheaper to keep it. We did get a pool service and now I don't mind it as much. For about $40 more than we were spending on chemicals, we have a pristine pool every day of the year. What a luxury. When we DIY'd it, we had weeks where we couldn't quite get the chemical balance right.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@Glynda What a beautiful pool area! I wanted to install a pool and outdoor kitchen when our kids were young but the landscapers wanted mega bucks and we had stretched to purchase our new home and install landscaping.

Mixed regrets on a pool. I would have enjoyed looking at it but we would never use it now and would not enjoy maintaining it. Plus water bills in California are very expensive. Our neighbor spent $300,000 installing a pool, kitchen and bocce court in their backyard. It's gorgeous but IMO I don't think it would add $300,000 to the value of the home. I would have expected something you would see in a luxury hotel for that price but it is fairly basic. By now we would need to resurface the pool so another maintenance cost avoided.

 

[elaine]

so much better than anything that you can find now

my neighbor has painted traditional cherry pieces that she got at thrift stores. She did cream chalk paint and then some type of oil rub on a sideboard leaving the top cherry--looks great. Looks like old world furniture--not shabby chic-I think it's the sanding after painting and oil rub finish. She did grayish sliver also with oil rub on night tables and end tables. Every room in her house looks like it's from a magazine. I'm going to try on 2 end tables and a low boy buffet when I get up the nerve.

that's also why I kept the plaid sofa for 25+ years with 3 different (home-made) slipcovers. It's a Century and is so well built and comfy. Our dog sleeps on it now-as I have a washable slipcover. If I still had young kids, a washable slipcovered sofa/sectional would have been a priority.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Speaking of mattresses. We had a good mattress that was getting a bit lumpy and slightly sagging to our bodies. 15 years old. We’re Moving in 2 years so we didn’t want to buy a new king.
The other side is essentially cloth covered cardboard-as double-sided are a rarity now. So the back is very firm-like a board. I got the idea to get a decent foam topper $300 on sale at kohl’s for $200. Flipped old mattresse put on topper and voila it’s a firm for back but soft to lie on fabulous bed again! It’s as comfy as a Marriott pillow top bed and I saved a landfill of another mattress.

Bonus! I bought one of those foam toppers for my stepdad because my mom loved a hard mattress, but it wasn't working for him in his 70's and now 80's. He loves his bed again.

I might get one of the new pillow-top covers from My Pillow for our guest room's queen bed. But my aunt slept on that bed for a week and loved it. She also said you shouldn't make guests too comfortable. They may want to stay. She is only 2 1/2 years older than me.