Not missing my mugs or anything from my house! I like the freedom from attachment to our stuff- even if, after a cautious start, we have started to acquire more things, although only utilitarian: a good blender, a sewing machine, etc.
It’s a great experience to leave everything behind and go, but I appreciate not having to decide now when/ if we will return to Canada. I like not knowing: it keeps us slightly off balance.
In 2008 we sold our last home and 99% of what was in it to move into a motorhome to tour the USA. Now we live in a one-bedroom apartment that feels too big. And we furnished this apartment by going to IKEA and buying just what we needed for about $2000. We are old, our furnishings don't have to last forever.
This is something I hadn’t thought about before in my 75 years of existence. My wife and I have made a number of alterations to our home, only to suit our needs and wants. When my youngest son asked what this would do to the value of the house, we said “That’s your problem to deal with when we’re gone.” Our days of travel and adventure are pretty much over. Now we enjoy pursuing our respective interests, spoiling of grandchildren, and on occasion boarding grand-dogs.
As someone who is looking to move this resonates. We only ever get asked if we are looking to upsize. We have a three bedroom Victorian house with just two of us. How much more room do we need? Happy to be somewhere we'll be happy. Had a conversation with a friend yesterday about how in Italy everyone rents and has beaten up old cars. I might move to Italy!
I think the irony here is that often the homes that have been made to specifically suit the dweller’s needs, are appealing to buyers but there’s a perceived wisdom that the opposite is true. As an interior designer, I think it’s vital to encourage clients to make their home suit them and, as you say, not give a thought to ‘value’. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but I hugely believe in individualism and creating spaces that work for unique human beings.
What if we thought of houses and apartments as homes for human beings? Investors get bent out of shape when I say that. We have put basic needs out of reach. The house we sold a few years ago is now “worth” twice as much. Downsizing and getting out of debt is still far too unusual. We need a tipping point.
My major pet peeves about Market-Value Reflection are as follows:
(a) Those godawful "rain shower" shower heads that pour water at such low pressure it takes 10 minutes to rinse out shampoo and conditioner; I'm keeping my Shower Massage by WaterPik.
(b) The two non-countertop locations for microwave ovens: above your range's burners, which ends up quite often over your head. One hot bowl of soup in the face when your grip slips should convince anyone this is a bad spot. Next is at knee height in the kitchen island, which is more like a continent. One hot bowl of soup poured all over your feet when your grip slips... see above.
(c) The open concept kitchen / dining / living room. When cooking odors, dampness from steam and stains from oil particles of every size render your table linens and upholstery uncleanable, you might regret the lack of a dividing wall.
(d) Pot lights. Sure they are supposed to be equipped with "cool" LED bulbs that don't allow them to heat up, but many homes still are fitted with the very hot halogen bulbs, which can cause fires in your highly flammable plaster and drywall ceilings. I will not have ANY of these hazards in my home, despite their adding to its potential market value.
Not missing my mugs or anything from my house! I like the freedom from attachment to our stuff- even if, after a cautious start, we have started to acquire more things, although only utilitarian: a good blender, a sewing machine, etc.
It’s a great experience to leave everything behind and go, but I appreciate not having to decide now when/ if we will return to Canada. I like not knowing: it keeps us slightly off balance.
In 2008 we sold our last home and 99% of what was in it to move into a motorhome to tour the USA. Now we live in a one-bedroom apartment that feels too big. And we furnished this apartment by going to IKEA and buying just what we needed for about $2000. We are old, our furnishings don't have to last forever.
This is something I hadn’t thought about before in my 75 years of existence. My wife and I have made a number of alterations to our home, only to suit our needs and wants. When my youngest son asked what this would do to the value of the house, we said “That’s your problem to deal with when we’re gone.” Our days of travel and adventure are pretty much over. Now we enjoy pursuing our respective interests, spoiling of grandchildren, and on occasion boarding grand-dogs.
As someone who is looking to move this resonates. We only ever get asked if we are looking to upsize. We have a three bedroom Victorian house with just two of us. How much more room do we need? Happy to be somewhere we'll be happy. Had a conversation with a friend yesterday about how in Italy everyone rents and has beaten up old cars. I might move to Italy!
I think the irony here is that often the homes that have been made to specifically suit the dweller’s needs, are appealing to buyers but there’s a perceived wisdom that the opposite is true. As an interior designer, I think it’s vital to encourage clients to make their home suit them and, as you say, not give a thought to ‘value’. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but I hugely believe in individualism and creating spaces that work for unique human beings.
What if we thought of houses and apartments as homes for human beings? Investors get bent out of shape when I say that. We have put basic needs out of reach. The house we sold a few years ago is now “worth” twice as much. Downsizing and getting out of debt is still far too unusual. We need a tipping point.
My major pet peeves about Market-Value Reflection are as follows:
(a) Those godawful "rain shower" shower heads that pour water at such low pressure it takes 10 minutes to rinse out shampoo and conditioner; I'm keeping my Shower Massage by WaterPik.
(b) The two non-countertop locations for microwave ovens: above your range's burners, which ends up quite often over your head. One hot bowl of soup in the face when your grip slips should convince anyone this is a bad spot. Next is at knee height in the kitchen island, which is more like a continent. One hot bowl of soup poured all over your feet when your grip slips... see above.
(c) The open concept kitchen / dining / living room. When cooking odors, dampness from steam and stains from oil particles of every size render your table linens and upholstery uncleanable, you might regret the lack of a dividing wall.
(d) Pot lights. Sure they are supposed to be equipped with "cool" LED bulbs that don't allow them to heat up, but many homes still are fitted with the very hot halogen bulbs, which can cause fires in your highly flammable plaster and drywall ceilings. I will not have ANY of these hazards in my home, despite their adding to its potential market value.