I've always considered myself a "non-decorator."  I am more of a function over form person and happy to be so (or so I thought.)  Please don't get me wrong, I like decorated homes, especially when people let their personality show through, I just have never put that much effort into it myself.  I don't really have a personal style...I guess you could call it eclectic.  Or is "eclectic" a term used as an excuse by those of us who cannot commit to a style?  I'll let the designers decide that one.  Please do chime in.  You are far more qualified than I.

I have always had a shoestring budget for decorating.  Well, not just a shoestring, but an old, worn out, almost ready to break shoestring.  To give you a little idea of my non-decorating skills...

•        I have never purchased a piece of furniture new from a store.

•       My "china cabinet" consists of 2 converted gun rack cabinets placed side by side.  I didn't put the shelves in them, I found them that way and they fit in my home.

•       To quote one of my all time favorite movie lines (from Bedknobs & Broomsticks,) "We ain't exactly burdened down with frillies."

•       If a vase isn't ready to have water and some flowers plunked into it, then I do not want it in my house.

•       I look at "stuff/knick knacks" as just more things to dust.

Now I do have actual china in my "china cabinet."  My father gave me a set and I use it for my everyday dishes.  Yes, we are careful.  I figure what is the use of having it if I'm only going to use it twice a year.  Besides, I like eating off of it and it turns out china is easier to wash than other types of dishes.  Go figure.

My family and I live in a small house, only 900 square feet, 2 bedrooms, and 1 bath for the three of us.  We actually like it that way...it cuts down on the "stuff."  Space is at a premium and everything needs to have a place and multiple uses in a small home.  We did paint every room when we moved in.  I have an aversion to white walls and need a little color.

Last night I finally put our new rug and kitchen table in place.  Now the rug was only replaced because it was worn.  The table was replaced because it was too wobbly.  I found a new one for $20 at a garage sale in beautiful shape.  $20 is my magic price limit for furniture.  Ours is a 12 x 12 eat in kitchen that opens up onto our 12 x 12 living room.  Interestingly, I was worried that the new table might make the kitchen feel too cramped.  It is 4 inches wider than the old one and about 3 inches shorter.  Much to my surprise, once installed, it entirely opened up both rooms.  The new table is an oval, where the old one was a rectangle.  What a difference!  Oops...did I just decorate?  OK, maybe that is more staging than decorating, but either way it felt good.

 It was also a little eye opener for me that maybe there is more than I had previously thought to this whole "form" thing.  Maybe FORM can meet FUNCTION more than I thought.  Maybe I have been an ADS (Anti Decorating Snob.)  Hmmm...time to rediscover the concept of decorating and design.