TV Addiction Leads to Decorating Plan

By Ellen Kersey
Yearbook Advisor

My husband Earl’s primary interests did not – in the past – include decorating. But the home design network and his addiction changed all that. His favorites seem to be (a) the first time buyers: which apartment in Paris will they choose?; (b) the couple having their potential rental remodeled: do we go with Plan A, which is less expensive, or Plan B, which costs more but will result in higher rental fees?; (c) the couple getting their bedroom or kitchen or family room remodeled: “This is awesome! We never expected such a great change!”

First came the wood laminate floors in the living room and kitchen. The newly painted walls were next. “White walls are fine” used to be his mantra. But not anymore.

Not only did we paint the living room and kitchen, but we (when I say “we,” I include our 22-year-old grandson, who did the high parts) also painted the flat surface above the couch in a dark purple. This was to be the background for the light fixture which would illuminate the fancy glass bottles (purchased at Ross Dress for Less – the best place in town for such decorating items, according to our neighbor).

Shopping became a regular, husband-initiated activity. No longer did I shop alone. Now it was the two of us, setting out on our decorating adventure to find the perfect item for this spot or that.

 The new leather reclining furniture was next. An area rug had to be within our budget, have colors that matched our furniture, and he preferred the one with multicolored modular blocks.

Then came the tall basket filled with tall dried grassy things purchased at Michael’s, where Earl became a regular customer.

The large round curvy vase (when it’s humungous, we pronounce it VAAAZ, rather than VASE) at Costco caught his eye on our trip there. “This would be perfect with some purple floral arrangements in it,” he said, and the VAAAZ was our next purchase. (I did point out that even a few months ago, he would never have even glanced at this item.) A return to Michael’s was necessitated to purchase this arrangement.

Coming home from school last week, I spied the tags on the kitchen table. “What has he purchased now?” I asked myself. Looking around, I saw them: two new maroon pillows on the new couch.

He says he is finished now – that is, until next summer when the plan is to attack our bedroom, which has all white walls. “Lavender,” he says. “I think we’ll paint it lavender.”