One person's trash...

I think it's cool that people have different tastes, styles, likes, and dislikes. It's what makes us all unique, to some extent. But, just as I am sure some people don't understand my taste and why I like the things I like, I sometimes am baffled by people's preferences, choices, and purchases. My hubby and I tend to have similar tastes, most of the time, but there are things we don't always agree on. For example, he dreams of having a kitchen with a rooster theme. Not my style- at all. I can see where he's coming from, but I just don't get the appeal. I enjoy holidays, and adding little touches to my home to showcase them. Yesterday, I made these little Easter decorations, which I thought were simple and cute:

Robin's eggs!

Clinton's response: "Well, I don't hate them." So, we accept that we don't always see eye to eye, and move on (except, my little decoration is still in the house, but there is not one rooster in our kitchen...oops).

Over our three year quest for the perfect home, we saw some amazing places which were decorated beautifully. We also saw some gross places, made even grosser with the decorations/use of space, some beautiful places decorated terribly, and some gross places that tricked you into thinking they were nice because the owners worked it with the decor. Yes...this is called being judgmental. In my defence, when you're looking to purchase something that's going to put you thousands and thousands of dollars in debt, you're going to pick it apart. And its owners. It's just the way it works. You wouldn't believe some of the things we saw- "finished" basements that were basically a step up from a cave (and not a cool man cave...an actual cave. Like where wild animals live); murals upon murals upon murals; carpet on the walls (still scarred from this); stucco that hung six inches from the ceiling, like dripping paint; "bedrooms" the size of closets; I could go on forever. We saw a lot of scary stuff.

When we viewed the home we ended up buying, it had been vacant for six months. All the walls were painted white, and the flooring was new. Perfect! This really allowed us to picture our things in the house, and plan what we would like to do in every room. We didn't have to overlook any swamp-green carpet, or the 100x100 picture of someone's grandparents over the bed. However, walking through an empty house, you get used to the idea that it's empty and you tend to overlook a few things. There was one thing I didn't notice until we moved in, and it has been staring me in the face ever since. It mocks me when I enter the room, and constantly reminds me of its presence whenever I show someone who has never been here the house. It is this:

Ugh! Do you know what that is? Guess...I'll give you a minute.





It's supposedly a towel rack. Look at all those hooks! The worst thing about it is that it's in our 1/2 bath, where the only towel needed is a hand towel. How many hand towels is one expected to have available in the bathroom? According to this monstrosity, seven. Yeah right- I don't know if we even own that many. So, for the last six weeks, we have had one solitary towel hanging awkwardly on that...thing. And it just looked SO SLOPPY.

I often entered the bathroom to find that towel laying lifelessly on the floor. I can only assume these were failed suicide attempts. It looks like a rag, hanging in someone's garage. Plus, the rack is GOLD, which is not my taste at all.

Yesterday, I got so tired of looking at this that I finally decided it was time to get rid of it. Goodbye nemesis! So, I went to the Dollarama (yes, this is where I shop for household essentials as I judge other people's tacky tastes) and picked up a towel holder. Any fixture that you can make better by replacing with something you purchased at the dollar store definitely has to go. Last night, I played handyman, and installed the new towel rack all by myself. Simple project? Yes. Did I mess it up? Yes- sort of. I thought I had installed the mounting bracket backwards, so I unscrewed it, and reinstalled the other way...only to discover it was right the first time. Dang, that's why women should cook and clean and men should do all that manly stuff, right? Shucks, I should have known better.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 15 gruesome minutes of blood, sweat, tears, and curse words, I give you our new towel holder:

It's glorious! So simple, so fresh- I could look at it all day! It's amazing how one tiny thing can make the biggest difference. It is also amazing that I just blogged for half an hour on a towel rack. Do you think I need some more excitement in my life or what? However, regardless of how lame I am and how the things that get me excited are even lamer, I remain proud of this new fixture in our little bathroom. I keep opening the door and looking at it...ahhh I love you, towel ring. I was so inspired when finished, that I actually hung a picture in that same bathroom that has been leaning against the wall since we moved in:

Clinton found that picture at an old second-hand store a few years back. I never would have thought to purchase it, but he loved it- and I am so glad he did. It has become one of my faves. The train sticks out- it's 3D! So cool. So there you have it- my Saturday night, and I could not have asked for better. Until next time...

Oh, and PS- suggestions on what I should do with the old rack? I was thinking of maybe spray painting it white and installing it in my closet to hang my purses off. Yes? No? Feedback please!