topic Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between? in Community Chat

Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Oznell — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:00:50 GMT

As far as these decorating mindsets go, I have to confess to leaning more "collector", although with caveats. I've limited my collections to things I really love, and the number in each category is not large.

I have very tiny collections of vintage blue pottery, glass paperweights, wrought iron, brass, amber glass, art, old black-and-white photographs, lanterns and candlesticks.

I love framed maps and globes, but have only one of each. Love everything midcentury modern, with a few items that combine surprisingly well with my antiques and traditional things. The only big collection is books.

It helps that we live in a small 1500 sq. foot 1920's frame cottage. Although we have a big walk-in attic, like a lot of old houses, we have a living room but no family room. The dining room is ahem, cozy, measuring only about 12 by 12. These modest dimensions keep me (somewhat) in check...

Minimalism is something I admire, but could not really aspire to. I never want to be materialistic, but am sentimental and susceptible to certain "meaningful' objects...

How about you? If possible, be specific-- I love to hear about other design philosophies.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

MyGirlsMom — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:08:39 GMT

I'm somewhere in between. Every room in my home is decorated, including the bathrooms.

I lean towards a Mediterranean theme - colors wrought iron, pottery, etc. in kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom, and family room.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Pqfan — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:09:44 GMT

I was "a collector."

We had so much stuff QVC could do some shows from our house and they would be on the air for days.

I tried to keep it organized as much as I could with some success and some failure.

Now I have very few possessions and I like it this way.

It is creeping back up on me but nothing like before.

I aspire to be a minimalist.

I love when you look around and see surfaces that don't necessarily have to have something on them.

Plus it is way easier to keep clean.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

cherry — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:28:05 GMT

I go for cosy. I have a few Hummels and some Seraphim's angels. I have a few pieces of things from my mother and my grammie. I have a shelf in my living room with a small assortment of dollstones.

I have some china bits and bobs, in an old step back cupboard, in my kitchen, that was my great grandmothers. Its filled with tea pots ,and tea sets

My house is wall papered and beamed, with shuttered window treatments.

My best china is Royal Doulton, and the pattern is Canton.It's a tailored oriental. That is in my hutch in the dining room. We have a Franklin fireplace in the dining room, and a tradtional one in the living room. I have a couple of small oils of my grammie as a young child, on the fireplace, in the living room, along with a weller vase filled with silk sweet peas

My everyday set of china, is also Royal Doulton. I keep it in the kitchen cupboards.

I love some of Mary Englebreits prints, and have them in various places, through out the house. My kitchen has a couple of bird houses ,and a mock chicken coop cupboard. It sets on top of the step back cupboard.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Oznell — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:40:44 GMT

I like something about all three of your design viewpoints, MyGirlsMom, pqfan and cherry.

cherry, thank you for being so detailed. I can almost "see" it, and you self-description of "cozy" is most apt!

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Bri21 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 01:47:35 GMT

I'm a cozy minimalist

I don't like clutter and a lot of chotzkes on every surface.

I have frames with family pictures on tables. I like big statement pieces instead of little collections of things

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

libbyannE — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 02:17:26 GMT

Our design style has generally leaned toward minimalism, and our style has been easy to create with Baugaus classics, colorful rugs, and a few antique furniture pieces. The trouble is, life keeps walking in! Like my mother, I have to have my books, although I have finally given away boxes of books in recent years, I have an issue with collecting handbags, and we have too much paper around from investments, etc. so we live with more stuff than our style sensibilities would prefer. We currently are purging our home of unnecessary paper and clothing we no longer wear. We already got rid of a lot of unnecessarily kitchen gadgets and appkiances that only ate up counter space and pullout storage bins. Wish us luck. The handbags? A custom grid of clean-lined floor-to-ceiling cubicles corrals about 30 bags, but I have more in my handbag closet in my office. And that is AFTER selling more than 20 bags on eBay!

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

AuntG — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 02:20:43 GMT

Minimal compared to a lot of people I know, but I'd say in between.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

gulf coast girl — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 02:56:46 GMT

Guess I'm a collector, I have 12 Tiffany style lamps, I love them. I have stained glass window panels, I just love all the different colors. I once collected tea-pots, then decided I hated dusting them, I had about 40, they were pretty, but I gave them away. I think I'm more of a minimalist these days.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Lila Belle — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 02:57:36 GMT

Minimalist, except for books, photos and objects from our travels.

We move a lot and stuff is a burden and a pain to pack.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

ROMARY — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 03:03:58 GMT

I'm in-between, although looking at minimalist style decor is very appealing.............I don't think I'm able to accomplish having that style, though, no matter how hard I would try.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Stormygirl — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 03:04:11 GMT

I would be an uber minimalist.....almost to a fault I suppose LOL. I realized when I became non-mobile I wanted no dust collectors or clutter that I cant take with me to the Urn....so I have given away most of my earthly possessions this past year except a few momentos DH wants. Growing up an orphan in the streets in extreme poverty, hungar I learned that having a roof over my head and alittle food was all that I needed. I dont even own many clothing now. I heard some folks who grow up same become extreme hoarders but that didnt happen here for some reason unknown to me. Alot of my friends who thought their "collections" of milk glass etc would bring in a fortune are finding out they are now being sold on E-Bay etc today for a few bucks.......the value reduced to the sentimental only. So many young people want nothing to do with their parents collections of clocks, dolls, etc and garage sale all of it after their parents pass on. Thatr saddens me sometimes thinking about that lack of "passing on down". But some still do have that soft heart though and certain things do mean alot to people. (smiles) Only thing I can pass on now is my perma-smile.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

RedTop — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 03:12:08 GMT

Minimalist, trying to get rid of more possessions every week. And still urging my family to sort and purge as well. No one needs this much stuff!

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

willdob3 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 03:34:21 GMT

I used to be a collector many years ago. Moved a few times and got rid of my collections. I'm no longer a collector but I'm not a minimalist either. I'm somewhere in between - not yet as close to a minimalist as I'd like to be.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

stevieb — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 03:43:46 GMT

Definitely not minimalistic... While I might like to simplify, I'd never aspire to live in a home that looks like a nicely appointed hotel room... which seems to be the look many designers and decorating magazines have been featuring for a while...

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

ECBG — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:21:01 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I go for cosy. I have a few Hummels and some Seraphim's angels. I have a few pieces of things from my mother and my grammie. I have a shelf in my living room with a small assortment of dollstones.

I have some china bits and bobs, in an old step back cupboard, in my kitchen, that was my great grandmothers. Its filled with tea pots ,and tea sets

My house is wall papered and beamed, with shuttered window treatments.

My best china is Royal Doulton, and the pattern is Canton.It's a tailored oriental. That is in my hutch in the dining room. We have a Franklin fireplace in the dining room, and a tradtional one in the living room. I have a couple of small oils of my grammie as a young child, on the fireplace, in the living room, along with a weller vase filled with silk sweet peas

My everyday set of china, is also Royal Doulton. I keep it in the kitchen cupboards.

I love some of Mary Englebreits prints, and have them in various places, through out the house. My kitchen has a couple of bird houses ,and a mock chicken coop cupboard. It sets on top of the step back cupboard.

@cherryThank you for the walk through your home. Charming!

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

ECBG — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:32:46 GMT

We collect candle molds. Our fireplace in the greatroom is dry stacked grey rock with a hand hewn support beam for the mantle. I must have 20 candle molds which vary in number and date back to 1800.

Candle Mold collection from pinterest.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Snowpuppy — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:36:49 GMT

@Bri21 wrote:
I'm a cozy minimalist

I don't like clutter and a lot of chotzkes on every surface.

I have frames with family pictures on tables.

Cozy minmalist would describe me as well.

Cozy cabin in the forest with 0 trophy mounts. All Amish furniture except for the upholstered pieces. Pull up a rocker in front of the fireplace.

I've moved so often that I find kitsch gets in the way.

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:26:11 GMT

I am a Collector....I like pretty things and reminicsing when I look at them....My house is clean and organized though.....

Re: Collector or Minimalist or Somewhere In Between?

cotton4me — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 11:37:34 GMT

Minimalist. I don't like a lot stuff around. It makes me claustrophic. I like things plain, simple and open.