It's too lovely to use.

dreamdaisy

One of my favourite shops in our local town closed yesterday. It specialised in housewares of Scandinavian design, Finnish glass, Danish practical stuff and for years I have longed for (nay, lusted after) a pink washing up bowl by normann. Utterly stunning, it would take some looking after though and the price was ridiculously exorbitant. Even with 20% off (closing down sale) it remained un-affordable (in-affordable? No, un.) So I didn't buy one. I compromised with purchasing the pink rubber with natural bristle dustpan and brush set. Yum-yum.

So, after a day spent gallivanting with Mr DD in one of the prettier parts of Essex we returned home to the bomb site which is our kitchen. After a pleasant afternoon in the local pub (this was yesterday) Mr DD and I made our way home (he slightly wobbling, me flailing wildly) and he cheffed a very good curry. This afternoon I realised I had to clean the floor (five pints and cooking? Accompanied by a large bottle of Stella? Yup, it was messy) so I thought I would christen my lovely new pink domestic toy. Got the box, opened it, sighed with pleasure - then closed the box and used the old green plastic set we have had for years. I could not bring myself to use The Beauty.

This set me thinking. We have a lovely dinner service we never use, a large number of heavy lead crystal wine glasses (and other types) again never used, I am sure there are a few other things lying around that are not used for fear of spoiling them, damaging them, breaking them. Do you have a similar thing? Stuff you love but won't use for fear of spoling it? And if so, what?

The Beauty will be hung up, somewhere visible, where it can collect dust (but not quite in the way that was intended) and I am sure that I will overcome my reluctance to use it - the pan is rubber so washable and practical, I suppose the brush will need some sort of regular cleaning (could it be rinsed under a tap? I dunno) but for the time being I will regard it as a work of art. And if I ever have enough money to spare I shall buy the pink washing up bowl. The two could make a lovely domestic still-life. DD

tkachev

Well I do know where you are coming from DD. I often purchased things in the Laura Ashley sale that remain unused and unpacked just because I liked them eg napkins, cushions even curtains.I have so many unused cushions that I have been forbidden from buying anymore but I keep seeing designs I can't live without.So they are in the attic waiting for my girls to buy their first home(that is what I tell the OH anyway).

But why not treat yourself to that washing up bowl? You can hide it in the wardrobe if you don't want hubby to spot it. Maybe in the next few days it will go down in price...you never know. I love a bargain!

Elizabeth

constable

Buying lovelly things for the home is my favorite pastime. But we live in a small two up two down house so I am rather restricted and am now at the point of wandering what to do next. DD, Elizabeth is right, maybe a few days down the line the price will come down and you will have it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Karen xx

katekelly

I had a 'buy' yesterday as well. I bought an electric steam mop. I've got several ordinary mops but this one cleans without any chemicals so must be good and apparantly kills 99.9% of all germs. Had a go when I got it home and it was ok. The wooden floors looked no different to when they are done usually with a bucket and mop. I would say the only good things are- as previously said lack of chemicals, no lugging a heavy bucket around and it doesn't leave the floors too wet. But still £80 does seem a bit expensive for a mop doesn't it!!!!!

tjt6768

We have an entire front room like that... Lol
It was my penultimate decorating masterpiece before the useless lumps of lard on the end s of my arms decided I could no longer hold a paint brush for more than two minutes or feel the joys of wallpaper paste as I skillfully placed each piece of wallpaper against the wall.. Lol
The room is the only one finished, well, barring the door needing glossing as I dint get round to it before Arthur decided to have fun con el manos... :roll:
We have a beautiful 42" flatscreen tv, wonderful leather sofa-new shelving units etc..... I love that room.. Alas, we never go in.. Very rarely anyway.. Everything we watch barring sky news on a morning is watched through the pc here in the bedroom... As comfy as the sofa is for my joints, and it is comfy, it's no orthopaedic bed to lay on.. When Janet gets home from work she's usually that shattered she gets onto the bed next to me & we watch our series'....
I worked very hard in there, wouldn't want to spoil it by, sitting in there, lol...

katekelly

Hi Tony,

My Mother's front room was like that - used for Christmas or my Dad's Boss visiting. The settee even had plastic covers which came off when in use. Back fired on her once though. The Director from my Dad's work came visiting from the States so Mother did her 'Hostess with the mostest' impression and got the best china out. She made coffee and poured it carefully into the cups. As Mr Director man picked up the scalding hot cup of caffeine there was a loud 'ping' and the cup 'split' and the coffee went all over his white shirt and suit jacket. Luckily he wasn't scalded but his chest was a 'bit pink' after, but at least he laughed about it. He ended up wearing one of my Dad's shirts - I don't think he ever got that back!!

Love Kate xx

tjt6768

I'm not quite that bad, lol....
Rest of the house has the 'lived in look' haha....

daylily

tjt6768 wrote:

We have an entire front room like that... Lol
It was my penultimate decorating masterpiece before the useless lumps of lard on the end s of my arms decided I could no longer hold a paint brush for more than two minutes or feel the joys of wallpaper paste as I skillfully placed each piece of wallpaper against the wall.. Lol
The room is the only one finished, well, barring the door needing glossing as I dint get round to it before Arthur decided to have fun con el manos... :roll:
We have a beautiful 42" flatscreen tv, wonderful leather sofa-new shelving units etc..... I love that room.. Alas, we never go in.. Very rarely anyway.. Everything we watch barring sky news on a morning is watched through the pc here in the bedroom... As comfy as the sofa is for my joints, and it is comfy, it's no orthopaedic bed to lay on.. When Janet gets home from work she's usually that shattered she gets onto the bed next to me & we watch our series'....
I worked very hard in there, wouldn't want to spoil it by, sitting in there, lol...

Tony why don't you rig the 42" up in the bedroom? The TV I mean!!!!

dreamdaisy

I cheerfully admit that I am an extravagant hussy, I love my shiny and sparkly things but even I balk at paying £60 for a washing up bowl. Yup, you read that right. I can get a perfectly good bowl for £1.25 in Wilko's. Mind you, I have not researched the bowl on the net. Hmmmmmmm . . .

valval

i do not put things on one side we use what we have as we do not have much money or space perhaps when the boys leave home we will have the space and money to have special items and rooms you never know what the future holds val

barbara12

Oh DD Its a good job my OH wont get to read this.....everything I buy I use.. or so I tell him.. were do I start....ice cream scoop...wall can opener....cake icing set.....umbrella that doesn't blow inside out...its to heavy ....one things he dose know about a dinner service I bought from an auction....to nice to use....Hy this is good therapy maybe it will put a stop to it all seeing it in typing...and there's the exercise equipment.....I would much rather go to the gym.....bread maker....now I had better stop....

tjt6768

My dear Daylily, if I put the big telly in here then I wouldn't have an excuse for getting another biggish telly for in here, lol...

There's madness in my method :???:

constable

Well here's a good one, ihave always suffered with depression and all of my doctor's have said whether it be very small or what ever to buy yourself something is very good for you. It gives you something that will give you pleasure. Thats my story and i'm sticking to it

Karen xx

tjt6768

Ye Gods, that's practically giving you a prescription for shopping :shock: :shock:

caterina57

A few years ago after my mothers death I decided to move into her old bedroom and completely gutted it - new carpet, bedroom furniture and decoration, and bought lovely new bedding it looked wonderful....in fact too wonderful to use.... I didn't want to crease the bedding and so still slept in my old room for a number of weeks until my sister found out....... and she thought I had lost the plot!
Cath

Wonkylegs

OH Gosh where do I start? :roll:

Craft stuff like numerous cross stitch projects that I'd love to do but my fingers won't. :x

A barely started doll's house which I bought all the decorating stuff for but daren't do in case I make a mess of it. :roll:

Glass-ware that was a wedding present ...... that rarely gets used as we don't drink any more (Flipping meds eh? )

Hmm ...... you've got me thinking now .... dangerous that is

WOnky

joanlawson

I've got a weakness for buying art materials- beautiful tubes of paint, expensive brushes, paper, and canvases. Then I sit looking at them all, waiting for the inspiration, and reluctant to spoil them by actually using them :roll: I've got an old box of paints which I've had for ages, so it's a bit like an old friend. Nine times out of ten, I go back to using that rather than opening the new ones. Silly, isn't it :?:

Joan

dreamdaisy

So how did you start using the one that is now an 'old friend'? It's not silly at all - one of the most pleasing things about art materials is the pristine nature when new: and for canvases one of the most daunting, yes?

The dinner service was bought by yours truly, piece by precious piece, from Habitat on the King's Road in the mid-eighties. The glasses came from a seconds shop somewhere in Kensington, again bought piece by piece and how one can tell they are seconds well, I have no idea. OK, I admit we don't use those as they are still in the boxes I packed them in when we moved here in 1996 - buried far too deep in the glory hole that is the understairs cupboard.

I am able to resist kitchen gadgets etc (except for the Good Grips stuff, you gotta love them for the handles) mainly because we have nowhere to store stuff we might not use! I do still buy (very very occasionally) a pretty brolly but why? I can't use them, not with being on crutches!

The pink dustpan and brush set is installed. It looks fab.

tkachev

I have a lounge that hardly gets used too. Sometimes the children play on the wii but we never sit in there to watch TV. It is a double length room, open fire, wooden floor, shelves filled with books. In fact its main use use now is as a racetrack for the childrens scooters because it has 2 doors and you can go round and round said room via the hallway. And OH uses the back half as a garage bcause nobody goes in there!
Like Tony I spend my time in bedroom or kitchen!

DD What china did you get fom habitat? I have asiatic pheasent late 80's. I have a small collection.

E x

tkachev

dreamdaisy wrote:

I cheerfully admit that I am an extravagant hussy, I love my shiny and sparkly things but even I balk at paying £60 for a washing up bowl. Yup, you read that right. I can get a perfectly good bowl for £1.25 in Wilko's. Mind you, I have not researched the bowl on the net. Hmmmmmmm . . .

Think antiques roadshow in the future! What will it be worth?

E x

julie47

ahhh dd....yes I have a couple of boxes under the stairs of stuff I don't want to use.....I have 2 tea sets...One was my late grandmas and the other my mum got bought as an engagement present over 50 yrs ago.
I used to have them on display in a cabinet with other ornaments but, I am now minimalist and the vases etc are more modern. I too have glasses that are in a top cupboard that only come out at christmas.

I have bought in the past several kitchen gadgets only to be put in a charity bag, simple reason I have no where to put them, I can only use lower cupboards and hate stuff on my work tops....apart from tea coffee and sugar jars. (and kettle)

You got me thinking......I reckon it's time for another clear out.

Juliepf x

fudge

Hello DD have you considered one woman's washing up bowl is another woman's knitting holder - tidy-upper for remote controls mobile phone note pad pens etc etc that we keep close to hand.
A flower display - long stemmed flowers draped casually over the side.
A plant pot holder for several pots
the flowers, pots, would have to be in a container to protect the washing up bowl of course :!:

It's a closing down sale DD - spoil yourself , smile every time you look at it or change its use - you deserve it and it's many uses.

Hope you have a good (as possible) day today

fudge

dreamdaisy

Oh fudge I considered all possible uses (including its proper purpose) but I could not bring myself to spend such an outlandish sum of money on summat so mundane. As to its future worth: zilch. Mass-produced rubber will never add to much, though if I kept it in its box . . . . .

Right, tkachev, the crockery: white background but with fine, slightly dotted blue lines radiating from the centre to the rim of each piece - loads and loads and loads of 'em. They have no pattern name on them. The day-to-day stuff is Blue Denmark, has been for about twenty years now. I am so bored with Blue Denmark. The trouble is we rarely break anything. DD

tkachev

Hi DD
I love all the blue and white crockery.I don't recognise that style though.I have a few blue sponged patterned ones, as well as my favourite asiatic pheasant from Habitat 80's.Funnily enough I was looking at habitat's site a few days ago, first time in years but it didn't seem as good as it used to be.

Elizabeth

dreamdaisy

The blue lines is a lovely set. The only pieces we have used regularly are the large pasta bowls, we had four but are now reduced to two. I honestly cannot remember how many pieces we have under the stairs, but I think it's enough for six. Cups and mugs and everything. I spotted the design in Boots a few years back, they had small rice bowls to match but at the time I was borassic and couldn't buy any.

I saw Habitat in Brighton, but as Mr DD was in tow I did not go in. We have a small one in Norwich. They still have great design as a theme - but yes, I don't like as much of their stuff as before.

The dustpan is still yielding small sighs of pleasure from me.

tjt6768

Wimmin :roll:
Why aren't you always this easily pleased :?: :shock: