The Rural Voice, 2000-08, Page 50Home Decorating
Helping students decorate their first home
By Patti Robertson
Q. Patti. would you please repeat some
of the details from one of your
previous columns about furnishing a
college kid's apartment. When you
originally wrote about it I wasn't
paying a lot of attention as our kids
were only in grade eight. This year our
twins head off to different cities to
attend university. HELP! I need all the
tricks and tips you can give me!
N.S. Goderich
A. Well. let me firstly offer my
sympathy to you. Our two girls were at
least a year apart at going off to school
and even then it's a strain on anyone's
budget. You're actually keeping up an
additional household.
The following tricks work well at
any stage in life, not only for those
starting out, but for those starting over.
The first trick is to co-ordinate, co-
ordinate, co-ordinate. I cannot stress
the importance of this. All the
elements of the entire apartment
should be considered, the furnishings
and their colourations, the colour of
the walls, the floors, the window
treatments, etc.
Paint of course is the most cost
effective product at one's disposal to
either give the walls a fresh coat, and
or actually painting furnishings to
blend and match, thereby tying all the
bits and pieces together. (I actually
suggest you choose fairly safe
colourations as often with college kids
these furnishings end up going on with
them for a few years until they truly
are established and furnishing is a
priority in their budget — you know,
after student loans, a car, etc.)
So we want to peruse our
belongings whether begged, borrowed,
or bought at a yard sale and look for a
common colour denominator that will
make us feel good. This common
colouration will be the secret to
pulling a "look" together. As far as
colour selections, think of warm taupe,
almond glow, cornmeal yellow, peach
blush, all of these are quietly neutral
with warmth and not strong enough to
overpower the
other elements.
As far as
collecting all the
bits and pieces
one needs to start
a "new home
hit the Saturday
yard sales ... or
as I prefer to call
it "lawn shop-
ping". The trea-
sures at yard
sales are endless
and inexpensive.
Bedspreads and
linens, kitchen
pots, pans,
dishes, utensils, g asses, etc., let's not
forget ornaments, mirrors, furnishings,
etc. It's all yours for a few bucks here
and there and your time. I found with
our gals they became very discerning
shoppers when putting their pads
together. The trick at yard sales is not
to buy it because it's cheap and you
need it, but rather does it call to you
and will it add interest and charm to
your new digs.
Also you'll no doubt be surprised,
if you put a call out for help to friends,
neighbours, and relatives, how many
of these people in our lives are storing
odds and ends and would be glad to
contribute their use or even a donation
of their "stuff". (We have an oriental
rug that is now in Ward's
PATT/ ROBERTSON'S
ai r
II 11
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135 1 it loxia Si., WINGHAM
157-21172
• Custom-made Window
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• Fine Domestic &
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46 THE RURAL VOICE
photographic studio that has literally
been to three different "college/starter"
homes, plus we used it in two separate
areas of our home before it was moved
to the studio.) So ask around! Check
out thrift shoppes, secondhand stores
and junk shops and literally "shop" for
the treasures that will be featured in
your home. Always make sure you.
have a complete set of measurements
with you of window sizes, wall sizes,
the measurements of any nooks and
crannies for which you are specifically
looking for that "special piece".
As much as possible one needs to
picture how one is going to live in
their space and what their daily routine
will be, i.e. studying and where and
how will they do this. When Hailey
was in university she had a Targe table,
donated by the neighbours, that
doubled as her study area, ironing
surface, dining table, etc. The chairs
that went with the set had really beaten
up seats, but a trip to Zellers provided
her with colour co-ordinated chair
pads so that took care of the problem.
Recognizing the space one is about
to move into and flowing with the
most positive aspects of the areas and
combining this with your creativity
will serve you well. If you are nervous
about your interior design skills, ask
for help. Often there is a creative
friend nearby or check out advice from
the staff at a decorating products store,
so often for the price of a gallon of
paint you can avail yourself to some
good sound advice from the sales
clerk. Some of the most unique and
truly creative spaces I have ever been
in were pulled together by the kids
themselves, they don't tend to have
our "grown-up" hang-ups, so they still
see things fresh and expressively.
Above all else, enjoy this process
and don't stress it. This is such a
unique growing experience for the
entire family and a lot of the odds and
ends that you incorporate into the new
setting will become treasured and long
remembered even after one can afford
newer, bigger, better.
Those first starter pieces will
always bring a smile of remembrance.
All my very best to all the kids headed
off to school and the families who
support them.0
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.