[Golfingnut]

We spent the first 40 years of marriage with traditional homes with standard Better Homes and gardens FURNITURE.

We decided to go for comfort 4 years ago when we moved to the villages. No formal dining room, just a round table with four chairs. We threw out the living room furniture and put in wrap around theater seating, large screen TV and a Bose sound system to bring the action right into the room with you. This setup seemed a bit strange to us at first, but now, we often say we should have done this long ago. Our kids would have loved the relaxed atmosphere as well.

Anyway, I feel so at home in this style as opposed to the traditional look that I wanted to offer our experience to anyone considering this approach to living at home.

[dotti105]

Sounds like you know how to relax and really enjoy your home!! We also plan to "live" in our home and our idea of comfort is much like yours.

Never again will I own anything that I do not actually use and enjoy; Use FREQUENTLY and enjoy!

Life is too short to spend time cleaning and tip toeing around useless formal furnishings. IMHO.

But of course, to each his own, some prefer the formal decor and cudos to them. I am just ready to relax and have some fun after years to being a slave to my home!!

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[Lovey2]

Sounds fabulous!! Although I love the look of the picture perfect homes, formally decorated and pristine, I am over it also! Had the whole living rm/family rm thing...and everyone STILL ended up in my kitchen! So I like the open informal living space most of us have here and the more relaxed living that encourages. My neighbor, every time he comes in here, comments that my house is so comforting to him. He just feels comfort and calm. No better compliment for me right now...I love it!

[graciegirl]

Yes. We LIVE in our house and it feels comfortable to us. We brought our old furniture with us and use it every day. BUT it isn't casual looking exactly.


Perhaps someone who has been in our home can say whether it feels comfortable.


It was what we had and we are using it. AND enjoying it.


I use tablecloths and cloth napkins when we have company which as of late is often...but they jump in and out of washer and dryers without ironing. I use nice dishes ( not for Big groups) and they survive the dishwasher, who cares if their metal gets a bit worn.


I like our old big soft velvet couches because you can wash chip dip off them, and I keep a lot of SpotShot for the rugs. I like things tidy and I can still clean things up. Sweetie is a HUGE help and we LOVE having company, and hopefully making them feel comfortable and welcomed. But we live here and use the big table that used to be kept for company.


So my advice is to bring or buy things you love and find comfort and a little beauty in and enjoy. This is NOT a dress rehearsal.






The white chairs below can and are wiped off with soap and water when they need it and they are recliners too.

[senior citizen]

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[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Lovey2

Sounds fabulous!! Although I love the look of the picture perfect homes, formally decorated and pristine, I am over it also! Had the whole living rm/family rm thing...and everyone STILL ended up in my kitchen! So I like the open informal living space most of us have here and the more relaxed living that encourages. My neighbor, every time he comes in here, comments that my house is so comforting to him. He just feels comfort and calm. No better compliment for me right now...I love it!

Just reading all the comments dictates an addition to my OP.

[I][B]when I say comfortable, I should clarify that I mean physically NOT emotionally comfortable. In the past, we had unused pieces of furniture for no other reason than it looked pretty. We know our living area does not fit the vision of Martha Stewart, but our living room has ZERO items without a specific purpose related to comfort. No straight back hard chairs, no nic nac shelves or racks to clean around etc. nothing wrong with attempting to empress friends and family, we are just more into enjoying our retirement without the hassle of spending time prepping a house for entertaining. When we entertain and we do often we set up around our pool and outdoor lounging area.

[Enjoying Life]

Thank you Gracie for posting a picture, I would love to see more pictures of lived in homes.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Yes. We LIVE in our house and it feels comfortable to us. We brought our old furniture with us and use it every day. BUT it isn't casual looking exactly.


Perhaps someone who has been in our home can say whether it feels comfortable.


It was what we had and we are using it. AND enjoying it.


I use tablecloths and cloth napkins when we have company which as of late is often...but they jump in and out of washer and dryers without ironing. I use nice dishes ( not for Big groups) and they survive the dishwasher, who cares if their metal gets a bit worn.


I like our old big soft velvet couches because you can wash chip dip off them, and I keep a lot of SpotShot for the rugs. I like things tidy and I can still clean things up. Sweetie is a HUGE help and we LOVE having company, and hopefully making them feel comfortable and welcomed. But we live here and use the big table that used to be kept for company.


So my advice is to bring or buy things you love and find comfort and a little beauty in and enjoy. This is NOT a dress rehearsal.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Yes. We LIVE in our house and it feels comfortable to us. We brought our old furniture with us and use it every day. BUT it isn't casual looking exactly.


Perhaps someone who has been in our home can say whether it feels comfortable.


It was what we had and we are using it. AND enjoying it.


I use tablecloths and cloth napkins when we have company which as of late is often...but they jump in and out of washer and dryers without ironing. I use nice dishes ( not for Big groups) and they survive the dishwasher, who cares if their metal gets a bit worn.


I like our old big soft velvet couches because you can wash chip dip off them, and I keep a lot of SpotShot for the rugs. I like things tidy and I can still clean things up. Sweetie is a HUGE help and we LOVE having company, and hopefully making them feel comfortable and welcomed. But we live here and use the big table that used to be kept for company.


So my advice is to bring or buy things you love and find comfort and a little beauty in and enjoy. This is NOT a dress rehearsal.

Gracie, you have traditional furniture that is very comfortable and inviting to sit in, on, or at. Traditional doesn't have to mean stuffy and uncomfortable, and I would have brought your furniture too, as it fits your home so well.

We have contemporary casual furniture, but in the traditional layout--living room, dining room. I like being able to seat people at a table. I like having a sideboard for storage of dishes I still like to use. I like the way it looks--not having a dining room would feel strange to me--and I feel very comfortable in my house. There's nothing I need to put away if dogs or kids visit. And if anything breaks... oh, well. It didn't cost a fortune to begin with.

[senior citizen]

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[Lovey2]

Gracie!! Your home is fabulous, warm, comfortable, loving and very inviting!! From the moment YOU meet someone at the front door, all that is conveyed in just a smile. AND...you let us wander freely to see all your lovely things!! Yes, comfortable AND lovely!!

[senior citizen]

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[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Just reading all the comments dictates an addition to my OP.

[I][B]when I say comfortable, I should clarify that I mean physically NOT emotionally comfortable. In the past, we had unused pieces of furniture for no other reason than it looked pretty. We know our living area does not fit the vision of Martha Stewart, but our living room has ZERO items without a specific purpose related to comfort. No straight back hard chairs, no nic nac shelves or racks to clean around etc. nothing wrong with attempting to empress friends and family, we are just more into enjoying our retirement without the hassle of spending time prepping a house for entertaining. When we entertain and we do often we set up around our pool and outdoor lounging area.

Well, when I am PHYSICALLY comfortable, that does something good for my emotions!! I think we are all on the same page, just express it differently. Your set up sounds cozy, comfortable and a fabulous place to relax and watch a good show!

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

i knew exactly what you meant and i totally agree and plan to do the same. We've been tossing out all the old "stuff" you mention above (to the salvation army). Our plan also is to create a relaxing area under the birdcage by the pool........florida is absolutely perfect for outdoor entertaining.........

i actually think our daughter was quite surprised when they came for the long weekend over thanksgiving time and noticed so much already gone. I don't want to be a slave to dusting, waxing, polishing, etc.

less is more.