DECORATING THE HOMEPLACE

I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when I do, I enjoy the Home and Garden network. I get a kick out seeing old drab rooms become new and sparkling and sometimes I get ideas for my own use. But the other day I tuned in to a show that afterwards really got me to thinking.

It was one of those situations where a couple was trying to sell their house and the stars of the show were coming in to do a remake for $2000 or some miraculous amount. One of the first things said about the kitchen was, “Oh, that’s sooo eighties!” Then I looked more closely and thought, “That’s a lot like our kitchen! Oh no, I have an eighties kitchen!” (Our house was built in 1979.)

Fortunately, I didn’t panic and run out to home depot or one of those really expensive kitchen decorating stores. But I did start to think about decorating and why we do it. Of course, we have an eighties kitchen because that’s when it was built. I can understand changing out things when they are worn out or getting a new floor because it is hopelessly stained, but should we really get granite countertops, tile floors, and stainless appliances just because they are “in style”? And what about those houses that were built in the twenties and thirties or even the fifties and their owners try to keep that look going? What’s the difference between those decades and now?

Of course, the same could be said for clothes and fashion. But at least I try to buy reasonably traditional clothes that will stay in style a long time. And there’s quite a difference between the cost of clothes and granite countertops.

So I’ve decided to keep my kitchen the way it is for now or at least as long as everything’s working. Let’s hear it for the eighties!!