How can I make my long and dark front entrance feel welcoming?
I need some help making my front entrance feel more inviting. My front door opens up into this narrow hallway that’s nearly 20 feet long and only 3’7″ across. I’d love to make my entrance feel bright and more welcoming, but I’ve been struggling to find a good way.
How do we buy a house when we can’t agree on a location?
I was looking at houses in Georgia (where I am from) and noticed houses that are gorgeous and are cheaper than where we are currently living and looking to buy in Alabama. Why is the price so different? I don’t know, but I am willing to move from one state to another. The problem: my husband isn’t willing to move. How do you buy a house together when neither of you agrees on the location?
What do you know about vintage mobile home restoration?
Our new vintage mobile home.[/caption]My husband and I recently purchased a totally sweet vintage (1967, baby!) mobile home, and we are really excited to finally be home owners. While it took me a minute to get over my middle-class judgements about “trailer trash,” etc., I am now all in and thrilled that while it may not be our dream home, it is OURS. (Also, the wood paneling is pretty amazing.) But because of my total lack of experience with mobile-home living, I feel really unprepared for the quirks and particularities that will come with our new home.
Coping with a partner’s (undiagnosed) depression
My partner of two years has been struggling with patterns of feeling moody, withdrawn, and overwhelmed. He’s recently admitted that he thinks he might be depressed, but he is still reluctant to see a doctor or therapist to figure things out. I want to be there for my partner, whom I care about deeply, but at what point do I need to step back and look out for my own emotional well-being? I’d appreciate any advice from those who have helped a friend partner with depression or had to encourage someone to seek therapy.
How to protect vertical blinds when renting with cats
The rental that we have has vertical blinds on every window and door covering. I’m terrified of them being destroyed by our two seven-month-old kittens. Have you faced this situation, and what did you do about kitten-protecting vertical blinds?
Should you talk about money with people who have different financial priorities?
I have a friend who often makes remarks about having no money. “We can’t afford to buy fruits and vegetables.” “I hope you’re not getting sick, because we can’t afford a visit to the doctor.” “We can’t make it to your place for game night because we can’t afford the gas.” It’s true that they don’t have much, raising a family of three on just a teacher’s salary. But it seems (to me) like the money they do have is spent frivolously or unnecessarily. I don’t have a problem with people indulging when they have the disposable income. But I’m getting more and more uncomfortable. Commenting about being poor followed by showing a link to a costume jacket that he hopes to purchase frustrates me. Should I speak up and say something, or just chalk it up to different priorities?
What are your experiences with the new generation IUDs?
as anyone used a new-generation intrauterine device (IUD)? My doctor brought it up, and it sounds like a great form of birth control. I like the idea of local medical interventions (a hormone-relasing IUD) when possible, rather than systemic (the pill). However, I frankly am still a little creeped out by something in my uterus. Clearly everyone should only take medical advice from their doctors, but I am asking for personal advice here. Have any Offbeat readers had favorable or negative experiences with one of the new generation IUDs? How did it fit into your lifestyle?
What can I do with our oddly-placed extra room?
While we’ve lived with a roommate, the extra room has been used as our office, but once he’s out, we’re relocating our office to the second bedroom, for maximum privacy and minimal cat hair! Our problem now is what to do with what used to be our office space — the “in-between” room you need to walk through to get to the master. It’s not really feasible as a guest room because of the lack of privacy. Any ideas what to do with this overblown hallway space?