Scheming Colors----What Color is Your Happy Place?

That sounds beautiful, Penni !!! It had not occurred to me to use an oriental atmosphere, but I can just imagine how rich it seems.

Breaking up the floors with a rug had crossed my mind, but I couldn't piece it in my mind what type of pattern to look for. I'm favoring a contemporary effect, something warm and friendly but not flashy or overwhelming. There's a bookstore I've been watching all summer that is using glass blocks with thick glass shelving in the windows, and I really like the clean, clear lines, but I can't see that blending in well or breaking up the white noise. On one sits an unusual pair of ceramic hands, separate pieces, that are holding a chic masquerade mask. It's been in the back of my mind to see if she'll sell them to me, but I've not asked her about them just yet.

I've learned that my fairies and nymphs and butterflies and hearts will have to be limited to my quarters. The kid had a fit when she found out that I was thinking of incorporating "girlie" things. :)

Sorry about the nymphs, fairies and butterflies -- maybe she would let you have a few butterflies in the main room?

Her idea of interior decorating is carefully strewn dirty clothes and loose art work scattered everywhere, so if I sneak a few in, she might not notice them too terribly much. Now, to figure out how to go shopping alone...... :)

We are getting a scanner next week, and I will finally be able to feature her. Also, have been shopping and shopping for cameras, but WOW.... The prices are just not reasonable. Someone did give me one a few weeks ago, but, of course, it doesn't work.

Pawn shops, indeed !!! I've seen 3 in the whole blooming metro, and they are very inconvenient to get to. I know there has to be more than that here. Maybe when we get moved I'll have more time to devote a day to it. Really do hate to miss all these great pics and reality footage, not to mention grandma's gonna be mad if I don't send her some of these shining moments.

I'm watching Black Friday sales ads, and have went to Wal-Mart x3, Office Depot, K-Mart, Walgreens....

There's probably more pawn shops here that I've just not paid enough attention to, but this has been put off way too long, and I've got so very much to get done, so...... Sure could be nice to find what I was looking for at a decent discount, though.

Thank you thank you thank you.....

I figured there were other places, but I'm gunshy about shopping online, and only look at places that I'm familiar with or have good references. You're a good reference. :)

Go to the paint store and look through their samples. You'll find shades that please you.

That's a sound hint that I had forgotten. Thanks ! It sure annoys me to have a cluster of 5 different "ruby reds" or "deep blues".

If you don't like bright colors, you might enjoy the darker jewel colors that were popular a couple years back.

Another good idea.... I do like bright colors, but only in small doses. I don't want to go home to a carnival every night.

If you keep your eye on what is visually pleasing to you, by the time you've assembled your furnishings, the white won't seem so bland or bright.

I hope so.... I'm thinking that very thick drapes will drown some of this blessed sunshine and city lights, which can, in turn, block the bright effects.

As far as lines go, I had in mind a simple chaise lounge and a couple of wing-backs, but now that I've been in the apartment, I don't think that will work well. It's all so stark that we'll have to soften it with some things more plush/cozy.

My coffee table cost me $4. at a yard sale and $12. to paint, finish, and hack the legs off.

Those are always my favorite finds. We won't be doing it all at once, that's for sure, but there are things that simply cannot wait, like beds/linens, drapes (to protect me from this blessed sunshine), desk, dishes, and something to sit on in the living area. If I can get that all pulled together well, I'll breathe easier.

All colors can be nice, if pulled together right. I'm a colorful person, but not psychedelic. :)

Red Hat Society Red, you say? Why, violet. Of course.

Funny you should mention that. We each got one, and hers is violet. I'll be surprised if she settles into one color scheme, except for the rainbow effect.

Thank you so much for the link !! I'll have a looksee and try to pull myself together with it.

Good luck with your new place! Aren't new beginnings great?

Indeed. :) Thanks for the well wishes.

You've got a sound idea here. If I can narrow myself down to one focal point, and then work off that, it can tie in together. The slight trouble with that is that my daughter is an artist, contemporary anime, and she's just full of surprises. Won't it be just my luck to build the whole foundation off of a forest green and rose rug, and then get that purple castle that I asked her for months ago painted on a huge canvas? Lols......

Do you suppose I should vary from room to room, or have a single foundation that flows through the apartment?

I'm just in the middle of remodeling our upstairs so I'm in that mode. One of my sons chose a beautiful rich color called Ancient Copper. My other son chose light olive walls with one wall painted camouflage. It took me days to do that!

I can see that !

I think you'd definitely have to stick to the same color tones even if they are different colors. I mean to say that it would be hard to have a pastel room opening into a vibrant red room.

Right, right..... I had considered, since I couldn't pick from deep green, blue, red, or black, to just do them all, but as we talk it out, I'm not feeling that so much. I'm really feeling a deep, dark red right now. If I can't find heavy drapes in that, though, I'll have to reconsider....again.

You can always change it if it doesn't make you happy.

Nnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

This is a lot of work !!!!

Too old for this..... My back is just about to slip out of place again (I can feel it going), which means I'm at risk of being forced to spend 3 to 6 weeks bedridden whether I want it or not. It gets dark at 6pm, and in crime-riddled Orlando, that means my curfew is an absolute 4pm. I've got classes to tend for work, which amounts to about 4 hours per day for the rest of the year. All this shopping is cramping my pocketbook, too. I want to pay for it and be finished with it for a few years.

:)

Only now do I find out about anti-inflammatory drugs made to heal the hurt.

When I saw a doctor a few years ago about a different pain, I learned that prescription-strength ibuprofen was just concentrated OTC, and I could get the same effects by taking a handful (4, to be precise) of the OTC for the same relief. This little glitch in my back isn't even touched by several doses. I haven't decided if it is a nerve that gets pinched or if it is a disk that slips, but it is nothing short of unholy. The episodes are getting worse, though, as the last one left me crawling, and, for a few days, unable to get off the floor or roll over without crying. *pout*

River, you are missing out on your free labor. You should have your daughter paint!

The management just repainted this apartment..... It's a waste to have it done again. :)

I've always found a muscle relaxant to do more good than most pain killers.

Muscle relaxers do tend to help when I come across them, but I'm not one to shell out several dozens of dollars to be able to get them, and most doctors I've seen are so selfish with prescriptions that it's not nearly worth it to me to pay them to tell me I'm the one who doesn't know what I need.

I know it is not sciatica. I know this because a. I can literally feel it 'bump' when it either pinches or disconnects, whichever the case is that sends me into OMFG there went my day.......and b. I have had episodes of actual inflamed sciatica in a different portion of my back.

There is a spot that I can pinpoint that simply weak. I've learned to identify the warning signs, and can sometimes take precautionary measures to be sure that it doesn't progress, but there are times, like bending down at the clothes dryer, or going to the toilet to sit down, when I do -something- the wrong way, and that's just that.

It's been happening for about 8 years now, roughly twice a year, sometimes less when I'm extra careful. The last episode was in April of this year. Literally could not roll myself over for days without carefully putting much, much, much thought into it, let alone stand up and walk to the bathroom. Had to crawl, and was laughed at when I couldn't get myself out of the tub.....

Yes, you are right. I should have it x-rayed. Maybe I'll get around to that this year, when I've got a little extra money or if I can find affordable insurance.

I've found that certain exercises help if I do them regularly.

Yes ma'am, they sure can. Now that I've got floor space to work with, it's much easier to do my low-impact stretches and am looking forward to working out more often.

Your idea of starting before even getting out of bed is really good, and it hadn't occurred to me that something so simple could make such a difference. Thank you for sharing it with me. :)

Really am glad that you were able to overcome and come so far in spite of all you've went through. As a surviving battered wife, I can identify with how challenging it can be to move beyond them and into yourself. But.... That's another topic.

Some days I can't think of any other reason I had a child.

Uh oh, neenie !!! Lols.... It sounds like maybe yours is having a few too many bad days. Mine does give me a hard time occasionally, but that's okay. I just take it out of her pizza rolls and fried shrimp allowance. :)

When do they give you some?

They do....sometimes.... In little bitty ways..... I've seen mine voluntarily notice that there were dirty dishes, and even wash them. She even prefers to do her own laundry, although she doesn't often get to it as quickly as I think it ought to be done.

My place is pretty small and darker colors would make the rooms seem somewhat claustrophobic.

We are equal opposites here. I thrive in quiet, small, dark places. Can't begin to guess why, but my eyes don't filter light well, and it's literally painful at times to be in too much light.

As for what I put on my walls, it's pretty much a combination of really old hand & farm tools along with black & white photography.

That's a very homey, quaint effect, and I love it generally, when others do it. My sister uses much the same, and she always manages to pull it together well. When I tried to do it before, though, I just ended up looking 'junky'. Might have just been all in my head, though. :)

Hi Soovivers !!! Where've you been hiding? Haven't seen you in days....

River - I'm so glad you are getting your own place!

*Bounces excitedly..... It sure is nice to put this year behind us.

You noted in your bathroom that the lighter colors make the place seem larger, and I'm thinking that was the concept used in this apartment, too. I've always been partial to the angle of dark colors with lots of mirrors to open up a space, but....wasn't me deciding this time. :)

The kitchen I will be working with is a very small rectangle, so there's not much to be done there aside from a little rug and the dishes that reflect our tastes.

The living area is a bit rectangular, open to the dining area, with 2---too big windows and the door to the terrace AND the fireplace on the opposite wall. I'm worried that by the time I cover all that glass it will look like one solid drape-sheet on the whole wall short of the fireplace.

My bedroom is a simple little square, and I have to be careful with the lines I put in there or feel like I'm sleeping in a box.

The back issue.....yeah.....OI...... I can't have back surgery. I've no one to care for me during recovery, and it would be impossible to pay the bills without being able to be up and about for months. I have a spur in one ankle, so I'm familiar with those, and the problem in my back doesn't appear to be a spur, but I dunno. The last episode back in the spring was probably the most unholy experience I've had with it. Lols..... I talked to God a lot those few weeks, and we decided that we didn't think it was in my best interest to keep pushing my body so hard. That's why I need the little old lady status. Just some things I can't be doing anymore. :)

11 busy signals..... :)

We are cleared to move in tomorrow, but apparently that's gonna have to wait......

I finally got an answer from an automated system. I just despise talking to those things. $305 deposit, and I don't even get to talk to a person !!!!! Took a brisk walk down the road and paid it. Money in the "bank". There's next Christmas for us. :)

Good luck with your apartment, I hope you and your daughter will be very, very happy there.

Thank you for well wishes. Don't remember ever being quite so happy as I am feeling these days. :)