THE "LOOK"

 The "look" that no one wants: "It looks like my grandmother's house.

Oh, my! Oh, no.

I am a voracious reader. I read everything I can get my hands on including those frightening pamphlets in doctors' offices. Although I don't remember the publication, the reading addiction is how I came across the article warning about how your home may resemble your grandmother's house...and if it does, what you should do about it. As a public service, I'm about to share the basic information with you.

We live in the age of modern and minimal, an insight which translates to the old "Less is more" philosophy. However, in a grandmother's house (or grandfather's house - no gender discrimination here), nothing within is minimal. Nor modern. The way a home was decorated thirty years ago without ever changing the decor to this day is a no-no. Are you guilty? 'Cause, it's a step back in time that no one else really wants to take. 

What are the new no-no's and how important are they? Well, I did have quite an extensive list of what not to do but sadly, misplaced it. Probably because I have a granny memory.

But I do remember several suggestions, like, removing the magnets on the front or side of your refrigerator. No. No. They are a dead giveaway you're living in a grandmother's house, living in the past. No one posts magnets on the fridge anymore. They belong in a drawer now with your scrapbooks.

Then there are those baskets of plastic plants sitting on the ledge above your kitchen cabinets. They fill in the empty spaces with glorious (no) greenery between the cabinets and the ceiling very nicely. Unfortunately, they are a BIG no-no. No! No! No! As dust collectors, they work fine, as decor not so much. We are urged to take them down ASAP. (And if the ceilings are popcorn, wow! Another big NO. Take them down too!)

And did you know bed skirts are also verbatim? It's no secret there's a mattress beneath those ruffles, So. No-no again and again. Remove them. Allow the mattress to go au natural. No one will judge you. Well, maybe in a positive way.

Doillies flash an immediate grandmother's house warning. No. No. No. Once the mainly crocheted lacy items were used to protect the furniture in much the same vein as the hideous plastic covers for the couch and living room chairs. (Remember the scrunch when you sat on them?) Rectangle or round, oilies are useless. They don't do much to protect your furniture. 

And then there are the oak kitchen cabinets. Uh, no! Another dead giveaway that you are living a grandmother's house lifestyle. Even if you are a grandmother. Refresh or reface your cabinets. Preferably before the day is over. In the past, I've painted mine in white, but by the time you read this, white or shades of, may already be a dated, no-no color.

Vertical blinds? OMG! No!