How
to marry two households of furniture
Like
the ring itself, marrying two houses of furnishings is about
values, interests and compatibility. It's not critical your
new abode is a shining example of good design. What matters
is that you both determine your individual, joint and sometimes
children's needs.
First
determine your values not "Ours". This means the kind of home
is important to you as an individual. Does "home" signify
setting a sleek modern table that glistens with every individual
piece of silver you place on top of it? Does it mean sinking
into that old worn brown leather chair each time you pick
up the newspaper? Perhaps home is memories of turning on the
Tiffany lamp or snuggling under a handmade quilt you remembered
as a child?
Second,
have each person list the top five items of furniture you
cannot compromise on. If it's seven, list seven; but come
to some agreement depending on your new living space. Draw
a circle of love (a pie) and divide it by the number of items
selected. Combine both of your pies into one new pie. You
now see what is valued most and what must be part of your
new home.
The
third element, but no less important is the function of the
individual areas. This relates to how you spend your time
at home. Of course, we have cooking, sleeping, entertaining,
exercise, etc. However, there are only 168 hours in a week
and most of us work at least 8 hours a day plus commute time.
Take advantage of that 'off time' and create something personal
and enriching. He needs a cave and you need your meditative
or exhilarating space. This is where you use your favorite
color scheme, textures and objects to enhance your private
world.
In
the end, you may want to consult an interior designer or Feng
Shoi practitioner. If not, don't worry matching everything
you own. Remember balance, proportion and scale, play a big
part in creating harmony between traditional and modern pieces.
Relax about it and have fun. You'll discover your new family
life is created by a bit of the past, some of the present
and the promise of the future.
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