Making Choices!!

Making choices is not always easy when it comes to our homes. Have you ever noticed that when you don’t have the money  you find all kinds of things you think you would like to buy? Then  when you have the resources, time and money to get what you want you can not make up your mind?
Why is that? I think it has to do with dreams vs. realities. When we face reality  we will choose the elements based on three things:

• Availability
• Affordability
• Practicality

Those three words will throw us into reality in short order. I personally think these should always be in the formula of what will work in my home.

I am an advocate for planning. Without an over-all plan for the design of a room in our home we cannot make compromises that might possibly have to be made due to, availability, affordability, practicality!! By having an over-all plan for the look and feel we want a room to have, we can make good decisions based on the above criteria.
If you find something you love, but there is no way you can afford what you want how could you possibly make a compromise if you do not have a plan, direction and feel you want  for your room to have?
After you decide on the direction and feel you want for your room to have, you must then think of what the element you want to purchase will add to your room.  What is your objective for wanting this in your room?
For instance:
I am on the hunt for a basket to sit by my reading chair. My objective is :

• storage for design magazines and books
• something to fill an empty space
• needed warmth and texture
• round or oval shape to soften the hard edges of the brick
• size can be as high as 21” by 20 in diameter
• light in color to brighten the area in keeping with my summer look.

You can see from my objectives that a basket will fit the bill perfectly!!

(On the left side of the chair is the area where I would like to place the basket.)

I tried this basket, but it looks a bit small and I think I want a bit lighter color.

I used my laundry basket as a model for what size would possibly work. You should have seen my hubby’s face when I sat this basket in the family room!! He said, “We have spent thousand’s on this room and you are going to use that?!!” I of course cracked-up, and  I re-assured him this was just a prototype of what possible size would work. The basket measures  19in. high X 22in. wide. Now I have the size I need!!

Now for the reality formula!! What is available, affordable and practical.
This is what I have in mind:

Pottery Barn

$129

Extra large basket 21”diameter X 23.25 high.

It is textural, warm and will hold books and magazines. It meets all the criteria except for one, Affordability. This is from Pottery barn and is $129. Not a huge amount of money, but for a basket to hold my items I would like something for less and so would my Hubby!!

I have my objective so now I need to shop around with my plan in mind!!

I know I can get a basket at Homegoods that will probably look very much like the one above, but that will take time and patience. Aah-Hah!!

Another piece to the puzzle in our plan: Patience!! Now, that is a tough one for most of us. I read a post over at Karen’s blog,”Strictly Simple Style,” that made me think about writing this post. She addressed the issue of, “Making Do!” Be sure to visit her blog and read this post!!

Now back to the basket!!! Availability and  Affordability!!!!! Let’s shop around to see what is available and a bit more affordable……..

Ballard

$39.00

It is light in color, oval in shape and the size is a bit smaller at:

18 1/2” deep by 19 1/4” wide, but it would still work. (Sherry sent a picture of this to me. Thank you, Sherry!!)

The price is definitely less, so will the compromise in the overall style be worth it to me?? I think I will look around a bit more…..

Ballard has  a set of three for $119!! Let’s see... divide that by three and it is approximately $36 per basket. The only problem is, I don’t need three and these are rectangular. I think the shape is too harsh with the hard lines of the brick.

Onward we go………

Crate and Barrel

$59.00

Shape is perfect!! Color is light!! Price is better!!

The size is a little over 23.in high X 21in. in diameter. A bit higher but it includes the handles.

Things are looking better to me!!!!

Wisteria

$59.00

Color? Check. Shape? Check. Size 22in wide and 22 in high.

This does appear to be a bit more roughly textured than the one at Crate and Barrel. It is also more like the Pottery Barn basket. Notice the top rim and the handles are the same as the Pottery Barn basket. It is probably because Wisteria is a sister store for Pottery Barn.

I think $59 is reasonable and each of the above baskets meet all of my criteria. So which one will I choose, or will I wait until I can find one at Homegoods?  You know they will have one for around $29.99 or less. That would be a savings of $30, hmmmmm???? What will I do??????

To be continued…………

I need to go shopping!!!!

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Making an overall plan of attack to achieve a look and feel for a room or an element in your room!!

Kathysue