And. . . we’re back today with Part 2 of the Q&A! While yesterday’s portion focused primarily on the “why do you rent” type questions, today’s is more fun, with some straight-up silliness from Ryan in his answers. Enjoy!
Q: Ryan, I’m looking at you now, Good Sir. I enjoy reading your What The Hell? posts, especially “Re-purposing”. I was nodding away frantically as John, my hubby, read it and laughed. “But it’s WHITE! It’s SOOOO different, now!”
Ryan: Many thanks! There are a lot of things in the blog world which make me scratch my head. I’m still puzzled by Window Treatments. I didn’t know my windows were sick until Jane told me I needed them. I don’t know when they’ll get better and we can take them down again. I really need to do an update…
Q: What kind of blogs do you like to read, Jane? What is Ryan’s opinion of the blogging world in general?
Ryan: Don’t call me Jane! I think that blog world is pretty silly in general. There are some really useful blogs out there, but the last few years have been such a flood of the “Me toos” that it’s hard to find original content vs. the same ideas mirrored around. Like painting your furniture white. Or how everyone now has Item X from Brand Name Store Y on the mantle because it pulls the room together. Be different! Be awesome!
Jane: I need to add a blogroll so I can share the love. Lately I’ve been disappointed by how many design blogs are just sharing photos off of Pinterest or home magazine websites. I like to read blogs by designers or DIYers who do unique projects and who have their own style. I love Lauren Liess and her fabric line.
Q: How you can make a space your own when you have to live within the restrictions of someone else’s house – aka. you can’t paint and have furniture to work with, but still want the space to feel like your own!
Ryan: Going by my experience in college, hang a lot of posters on your wall. And a pretty computer background helps. For a more serious answer I’ll let Jane tackle this, but I know she’s recommended hanging fabric on the walls. That’s typically less damaging than posters…
Jane: That’s a tough one! If it’s already painted and furnished, you’re really backed into a corner, design-wise. I’d focus on setting out photos and art and maybe mixing in some of your accessories, like pillows, but if it’s a temporary place (say a year or so) I may just focus on saving up money for future living spaces. I think it depends on the space, and how long you’re stuck there. Maybe a “decorating a furnished military housing unit” post could be done on this blog sometime!
Q: How did you and Ryan meet? Do you still work at the same place?
Ryan: In a conference room over a boring meeting. I don’t think it was the first meeting, but at one of them she was zoned out and stabbed a little green progress marker flag into her notebook. It was love at first moon landing.
Jane: Hmm…so I’ve never written our story. Someday I’ll fix that. The short version is that we met in a meeting at work. Ryan liked me but I just liked him as a friend (and I was in a crappy relationship at the time), but he worked with his two best friends and they were determined to get us together. I was oblivious to their efforts for a long time. Months later, after my other relationship ended, Ryan and I went out on a date and the rest is history! And we no longer work together. Sad face 🙁
Q: I can’t think of any witty (or serious) questions, but happy blogiversary! Melissa and I will see you soon!
Ryan: Is this a threat? I’m bolting the doors.
Q: Have you done courses in decorating? (You have such a great sense of style!)
Ryan: Oh why no I haven’t. I’m blushing. Thank you so much! (I know that wasn’t directed at me, but I’ll take it anyway.)
Jane: I have no education in decorating! Thank you for flattering me! In reality, though, it’s on my to-do-someday list. Funny thing is, growing up I thought I wanted to be an interior designer or a fashion designer, but I always came back to interior vs. fashion. I’m starting to realize that, if this interest hasn’t waned in the last 20 years, I probably should take it as a sign and go back to school for design. I’d really like to learn some of the basic foundations of good interior design, rather than just experimenting as I go.
Q: How to decide what is really essential
Ryan: http://zenhabits.net/
All I know is, most of what you have isn’t essential. But about 5 minutes after you get rid of it, you’ll want it for something.
Jane: This is a good topic for a future post. The short answer is, in my opinion, that almost nothing is really essential beyond a safe and clean place to live. If I could go back to my first apartments, I’d spend less money on crap for them and put more money in savings. In my opinion, an emergency fund is more important than any amount of decor.
Also, I’d like to share that Ryan didn’t have furniture when I started dating him. I was horrified, because he had a blank canvas and wasn’t decorating it. Well, he had a desk, a computer, a TV, and a bed in his apartment. We sat on the floor to eat dinner and watch movies. And guess what? It took very little time for him to keep his place clean, and we spent lots of time out adventuring. The fewer things you have, the simpler life is.
I don’t think these are the answers you were looking for, though. . . So I’ll revisit this topic on a future post.
Q: Moving
Ryan: Answering
Q: Just want to say you two are awesome! I really enjoy this blog a ton (for Jane) and the ‘What the Hell?!’ posts are entertaining too (for Ryan). I only started reading a couple months ago but I ended up going all the way back to your first post because I enjoyed reading so much! As a fellow renter and pet owner and crafter (with a better half who has learned to embrace all of those things), this blog just hits all the right notes. Thanks for writing it! 🙂
Ryan: All I have to say is A) Thank you! and B) Your better half probably deserves some cake. Or homemade cookies. It’s for the sacrifices we make. Like our sanity.
Q: What are you going to write about now that you’re ‘done’
Ryan: Done? We’re never done!
Jane: While I jokingly would echo Ryan’s comment, I feel far from done. It’s nice to see that someone thinks we’ve done a good enough job in the house to consider it finished, but I still want to make the basement rooms awesome, put together my sewing studio, make our outdoor spaces more awesome, and then decorate the bathrooms and improve the laundry area. Oh, and finish redoing the bedroom. And build more furniture! In other words, there’s still much Awesomeing to be done!
But I guess we’re done with the Q&A!
Ryan: Thanks everyone for 4 years of support! I’ll see you again for the next The Borrowed Abode 8th Annual Blogiversary Reader Survey Extravaganza-pocalypse! At that point we’ll be in 2017 which means Jane and I will probably be renting a crater on the Moon. Or we might be renting a crater where we’re currently living after a DIY project goes awry. Which will it be? Stay tuned!
http://www.howjoyful.com/
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