A Little Household Dreaming
Wed, Mar 25, 2009
We just got our Pottery Barn catalog in the mail. Â Even though I haven’t ordered from them in two years, we regularly get their catalogs which is just fine by me. Â It gives me an opportunity to drool over things that I can’t possibly afford (or have space for) right now. Â And let’s face it, sometimes it’s nice to just dream, isn’t it?
So this morning I’m dreaming about a beautiful backyard. Â And in my dream I have a large yard, one that is filled with lovely furniture that would be perfect for lounging on a Saturday afternoon.
(Oops, I want a different color  - white is so hard to keep clean!)
There, that’s better. Â Now where was I? Â Oh right, lounging on a Saturday afternoon. Â I’m sitting under the shade of the umbrella, sipping from a glass of ice-cold lemonade. Â
But it’s starting to get warm, so I think I’ll go sit by the pool.
Ahh…. this is the life.  Enjoying the warm sun while sitting on my beautiful chaise by the water.  I feel myself getting very sleepy, but I don’t want to burn so it’s probably time to go inside.  Maybe I’ll take a nap in the bedroom?
I’ll just slip between the nice, cool sheets of the canopy bed and shut my eyes for a few minutes.
But before I do that, I need to change the color. Â I’m not feeling the yellow with the blue.
There we go, that’s it. Â Sunny, airy, and beautiful. Â Now I can rest easy. Â I’ll just shut my eyes for a couple of minutes…Â
Uh-oh!! Â What time is it? Â I must have overslept! Â We have guests coming for dinner and I haven’t even started cooking! Â I’d better whip something up in my newly remodeled, state of the art kitchen. Â
You know, the one with lots of glass cabinets so I can see all of my beautifully aligned dishes and stemware. Â (sigh)
Okay, dinner’s ready (in my dream, there is no actual cooking involved of course) now it’s time to set the table.
You know what? Â We’d better go to the formal dining room instead so that I can use my new Wedgwood china (the pattern that I love but wouldn’t dare buy because it’s just not practical).
There we go, that’s the ticket. Â I’ll just add my lovely white linen and pewter rings, and we’re all set.
After dinner we’ll retire to the living room for a little conversation and dessert.
Which will be followed up by a movie on the big screen TV. Â (There will be no football, basketball, baseball, or any other ball-related shows on this TV. Â This is my dream, after all.)
Doesn’t it sound perfect? But alas, it is a dream and it’s time to come back to reality.  Do you see what the Pottery Barn catalog does to me?  I could easily spend hours looking through its pages mentally rearranging and organizing my dream house full of lovely furniture, pretty patterns and gorgeous colors.  Hours that could be spent cleaning and organizing my real house (which is adorable and beautiful without all of that fancy furniture). Â
Hmm… Maybe I should discontinue my catalog subscription?
Nah!!!
What about you? Â What do you day dream about? Â A new house, new furniture, new car?
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Tags: furniture, house hold, pottery barn
March 25th, 2009 at 6:37 am
BUILDING our dream house.
I dream and research and think about it all the time. Maybe by the time we could even think about possibly affording to build a house (and found where we are going to live for more than six months.. ugh), I’ll have it ALL figured out.
Or maybe I’m too fickle and too much a perfectionist to ever build a house.
((
March 25th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Ahh calgon, take me away!! haha
What do I dream about? Hmm…lots of things. Mostly, having our own home, but even that dream is a little foggy because I am not sure where it will be!
FYI–last nite hubby was talking about all the jobs he has looked at in DC. I informed him of the “cost of living” comparison showing housing being 79% more expensive in DC than CT. He could hardly believe it!
Jill´s last blog post..wayyy back wednesday: vol. 2
March 25th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Ahhh, your Pottery Barn life sounds lovely! If you invite me, I’ll bring over my Williams-Sonoma life with me and do the cooking and baking!
March 25th, 2009 at 6:59 am
My day dream?? Finding happiness no matter what it takes and the strength to achieve it. I guess that’s a little too much information. LOL
Other than that? I love daydreaming about the beautiful furniture and spacious living too. It’s fun to escape like that once in a while.
Sabrina´s last blog post..Feeling Better
March 25th, 2009 at 7:07 am
What we would do to remodel our house tops the list right now. We’d like to imagine building our dream house, but we can’t figure out a location. And the design would change (of course) depending on if we settled near the beach, mountains, lake, etc.
And my daydream always includes a CLEAN home … magical cleaning elves, a maid, whatever. Doesn’t matter how it happens as long as it’s not ME!
Joanna´s last blog post..Lions And Tigers And Bears, OH MY!
March 25th, 2009 at 7:08 am
You wouldn’t believe how many times we moved from here to there and back again before we were able to build our house. All through those years I saved pictures and thoughts that I wanted. When the real time came it was amazing how many things I really still wanted and we were able to incorporate in our new house! (Colors and all that accent stuff too). One of our daughters built a house and moved in last March and I had her do the same thing as she was waiting and her builder was able to accomodate her as well.
Keep your thoughts and ideas in a special notebook and one day it’ll be a reality! Next Friday will be our 33rd anniversary – and honey, some things really are worth waiting for!!!
Have a pleasant day……….pb
March 25th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Oh you are kiling me! Love Pottery Barn (even take their bi-monthly decorating classes) and saved the catalogs for years until they started coming out with their books. My project this Spring is to work on our backyard and make it as Pottery Barn-like as I can, without breaking the bank.
Cate O’Malley´s last blog post..Dropping the F Bomb
March 25th, 2009 at 7:49 am
You’d look like Daisy Buchanan sipping a mint julep among all that airy/beautiful Pottery Barn stuff.
Joe and I spent the weekend ripping out the backyard with my parents, so right now I’m dreaming of the sky chair we’re going to buy and hang from our old oak tree. (see http://www.skychairs.com)
Heidi´s last blog post..Go dupe yourself.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I’m LOVING your dream… I think I’ll just move in there!
~Tabitha~
freshmommyblog.com
Tabitha Blue´s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday… almost
March 25th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Gorgeous!!! All of it. You and I share very similar taste.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Functional plumbing.
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com´s last blog post..24 Weeks: Flourishing.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Seriously, two seconds after I wrote that, my husband called, so I would like to add to the list.
a) Functional plumbing, and
b) A rat-free attic. Wherein there are no rats. None.
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com´s last blog post..24 Weeks: Flourishing.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I loved the photos! Invite me over now!!! And I daydream about being able to play the piano and playing Claire de Lune. But that’s probably just because I just watched Twilight…
The Wife of Odie´s last blog post..come here, junior
March 25th, 2009 at 9:27 am
I love walking through the single-family home neighborhoods when I take my dogs on the walk. I dream about moving out of our townhouse and into a single-family home with a fenced-in backyard and having kids run around laughing and leaving their toys on the driveway overnight.
Jenny´s last blog post..6 signs I’m an adult…
March 25th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I dream about a vacation in D.C. where I bring two teenagers and Grizzly and we take over your house by storm (but only when it looks like all the pictures above and you have incorporated the wait staff, chefs, and maids that I have added to your dream for you, no really, you’re welcome).
Robynn’s Ravings´s last blog post..Gird Your Loins! I Am Ranting!
March 25th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Oh my gosh! Donald is 6′7″! I can’t believe the CPA is 6′8″; it’s rare we meet anyone who comes within inches of his height, much less someone who is actually taller. Also, we own a Civic too and Donald drives it the most, poor guy. He’s always complaining about how he has to hunch over to see the road and it hurts his back, etc, but it’s the best gas mileage and he works an hour away, soooo….yeah.
How tall are you?
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com´s last blog post..24 Weeks: Flourishing.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I’m curious like Sarah, because if the CPA is 6′8″… you don’t look unbelievely short in your photos, standing next to him. Sarah doesn’t look unbelievably short either, so I’m thinking Sarah much be around 5′6″ – 5′7″?
I daydream about a fabric store in my house. Ridiculous, I know, but it’s MY dream!
Where I could just wander and “shop” (but of course everything is free in my dream) and decide what projects I want to work on next. I’d never need to make those annoying runs for the elastic I thought I had or the thread I ran out of. And I’d always have whatever beautiful fabric I wanted, right at my fingertips.
erin´s last blog post..nature’s recycling program
March 25th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I see I’m not the only one who dreams about a new house!!
Heidi – dig the chair – that’s so cool!
Patty – your words are inspiring and congrats on 33 years, that’s amazing!
Sarah – functional plumbing is always a plus. Hopefully that dream will soon become a reality! (Ps – I hope Donald can handle the rats, I know I sure wouldn’t want to deal with them!)
WofOdie – one day we’re going to get a piano (granted the kids will probably be in high school at that point, but still) and you will be welcome to come over and play!
Robynn – definitely! We’ll have a big party and invite everyone to come because of course the house will have at least six guest bedrooms!
Sarah – really? 6′7″? that’s so cool – another tall person!! I agree with Erin, you must be pretty tall yourself because he doesn’t look that much taller. I’m 5′9″ which works pretty well with the CPA’s 6′8″.
What kind of car would Donald get if he could? We rented a Ford Flex during a recent trip and we loved it because it had so much leg room and inside space.
erin – ha, you’re so cute! Love the fabric store idea. I’ve seen some pictures of people’s craft rooms on various sites and all of the little drawers and compartments where they keep zippers and buttons and such look so cool. I can definitely see why that would be a dream of yours!
March 25th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I heart Pottery Barn… Which reminds me, I have 2 gift certificates! Sweet! Now, which room shall I furnish with my $70…?
I did “borrow” a quilt pattern from a comforter that I saw in their magazine years ago. There’s a post somewhere in my blog about it…I don’t know where though.
That was the first and last quilt I’ve made. Go me!
Courtney´s last blog post..All Day Long…
March 25th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
How about a new house AND new furniture. I’ll take everything you just posted.
But, unfortunately Pottery Barn’s prices aren’t exactly in my price range. 
Ahhh, too bad. Nice dream though!
Terra´s last blog post..Noah at the park
March 25th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Enjoying your photos as Spring moves in, very slowly, to the East Coast. Not surprisingly, I day dream about travel locations.
Gennaro´s last blog post..Unique Ways To Pick Your Next Destination
March 25th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Courtney – Ha!! You’re right, $70 won’t get you a lot from there I’m afraid. Although, I did find some really cool shadow boxes last year on sale for $25. I bought three and used them to display stuff from our wedding. So I guess it is possible.
Terra – yeah, I can’t afford it either! We splurged when we got married and bought our bedding from there. I still love it too, even though my dog went to the bathroom on it. I guess I should get used to that if we’re going to have kids!
Gennaro – I know you do! I just read about how you decided where to go on your study abroad – such a great story!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Love everything about your dream. I would like to add a large craft room to do my scrapbooking and crafts with lots of storage! Also want my six acres manicured with vegetable and flowere gardens.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Can I just live in your dreams? Looked pretty good to me.
-FringeGirl
March 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I dream, ache, pine and drool over a big kitchen. Modern. With a kitchen island.
I would give up SO much for a perfect kitchen!
Anneli´s last blog post..Online friends vs. real life friends
March 25th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
AAhhhh, now I won’t have to physically open my copy!
I’m happy to see the glass lemonade pitcher I’ve been coveting for ages is still in the catalog – maybe this will be the year for it to finally be mine !
Ali @ Kent Chronicles´s last blog post..From the Mouths of Babes – From 2 to 12 in 6 seconds
March 26th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Certainly keep your subscription. It is such a good way to dream! I also dream about a beautiful spot outdoors to relax and entertain friends. I imagine a gorgeous garden and comfortable chairs with dinner and drinks at sunset.
Rae´s last blog post..Nasty-Looking, Yummy-Tasting Granola Blondies
March 26th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Forget the furniture, I will take the pool.
What do I dream of? Goodness, so many things. I am a born dreamer. So traveling around the world, that swimming pool, a new blackberry, that pool, new shoes, that pool, Tibet, California, sun, sand, joy & happiness, and that swimming pool.
http://venusreinvented.blogspot.com
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March 26th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Sandy – you’re totally right! I forgot a craft room.
That would be so nice! I’d love a place to work on my photography.
Domestic Fringe – absolutely! As soon as I get there I’ll invited everyone over to go swimming!
Annelli – I know, a kitchen is definitely at the top of my list too. One of these days I’ll post pictures of our kitchen and you’ll understand why.
Ali – they have great pitchers, don’t they? We got one of the smaller ones when we got married and we use it all the time for get togethers.
Venus – I’m getting the sense that you want a pool?
March 26th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
When I was a kid, I used to draw house plans for the perfect house. I still think about it sometimes, and want to sit down and try to plan out a great big place that I will move into one day. Nowadays, I mostly fantasize about women, and chocolate cake.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I love the outdoor furniture in these catalogs but, honestly….how do folks keep the insects and spiders off of them? Plus this is all obviously set up for folks who don’t have kids or have a troop of nannies ready to take care of them while momma suns herself by the non-fenced in pool.
But Pottery Barn catalogs are so much fun to look at and get great ideas from……we registered there for our wedding. All the pottery/china is on the top shelf of the cabinet (no way the kids eat off of those!) but we regularly use the colorful and fun everyday stuff, towels and placemats.
The colors are what are so great about it all!
March 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
You have exquisite taste; I should know because I covet everything you pictured!
I do love catalog window shopping.
Lara´s last blog post..Bilateral Haze
March 28th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Everything is so beautiful.
I daydream about the day I’ll be able to get out of my wheelchair and be able to take classes at my college for longer than 3 hours a day. (I do go full time, but I like to be able to stay for 8 hours like I used to.)
Madison´s last blog post..
April 26th, 2009 at 9:34 am
If nothing else, looking at Pottery Barn and other catalogs like it will give you great ideas for doing the same thing on a budget. That’s what I do!
Haley´s last blog post..Recent work: Blog postings
November 12th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I think its terrible some of the prices they charge i really do, why does everything have to be so expensive??
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