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DIY Interior Design

Submitted by Virginia Watts on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 12:22

Whenever I feel a need for a change, I rearrange furniture or clean out cupboards.  When we were first married, this used to cause my poor husband some concern.  He couldn't rely on where the couch or the coffee table might be at any given time.  He pretty much likes things to stay where they are.  I pretty much like to move stuff around.

In any case, we have been in the same house for almost 40 years, and I have made at least one hundred changes during that time.  It works out mostly okay for him, since we are still in the same house.  However, he still can't count on where the furniture might be or what room is currrently our bedroom, or where I've relocated the big pots.  Marriage is compromise, though, so it is all good for both of us.

Lately I've been going through some real, internal redecorating -- I mean the psychological, philosophical, cosmological moving of the "furniture."  It has resulted in bursts of energetic outward reconfiguring, rearranging, reorganzing, and rethinking of the use of my physical spaces -- as well as times of grief, anger, internal chaos and complete lack of movement.  This kind of push/pull can be exhausting, and I'm sure my family is somewhat confused by this new do-it-yourself project I've undertaken. 

Of course I am not actually doing it all by myself.  I have some good support from those who understand the process and are willing to help me along as I explore some neglected corners of my psyche.  I am grateful for the company.  But in the end it is what I choose it to be. Things will stay or go, move or not, as I think and feel may be best or most comfortable or most useful.   And I know, given how I have approached this process before, it could all be revised in ways that may be even better as time goes by.

This week I tackled the kitchen.  I hope the herbs I've hung near the kitchen window will get enough light to thrive.  But if they don't do well, I'll just move them!