Not Lit, Just Open
Photo courtesy of Gratisography
Friday, June 5th, 2026The moving is still happening. I’ve been struggling with making decisions lately - even seemingly simple ones - and things have started to slog.
The bedroom is coming along now that the new mattress is here. The kitchen is functional - so long as no one looks in the cupboards. The living/dining areas are on hold until the couch arrives and the holy grails of dining chairs are found. The bathrooms are a continual experiment in balancing functionality while minimizing visual clutter.
The entryway has been confounding me.
Not to get all Marie Kondo and shit, but I want the first thing I see when I walk in my door to spark joy.
I also need it to be functional. I want a specific place to store all the dog supplies - extra poo bags, grooming supplies, medications, raincoats and sweaters, etc.
This was really the area I was trying to sort through next. Yes, I know the other areas still have unfinished tasks, but my brain said “Here”, so “here” is what I’m trying to figure out.
Right now, the pink wicker giraffe wearing the thick gold chain with the brightly colored felt six shooter hanging from it is what’s anchoring the spot. The basket in the body of the giraffe is where I’ve been storing the dog leashes for easy access. On the floor, there’s another basket for outside dog toys along with a plant to class it up a bit. On the wall, the yellow “hello” coat hanger would be hung so it could be framed in the panes of glass as you walk up to the door
I ordered a dirty pink colored plastic cart-thing off Amazon - it was a knock off of one created by a designer in the 70’s. It’s one of those that have a variety of drawers and cubbies and shelves to hold all the piddly shit.
It’s a little bit ugly and that’s part of what I like about it.
It finally came in the other day and I put it in position and immediately knew it was the wrong thing. I kind of knew that when I ordered it, but I did it anyway. I spent more time repackaging it for return than I did deciding whether to keep it.
The sloga continues…
The last time I lived in a space that felt settled was when I lived alone in my Brooklyn apartment, twenty years ago. Since then, it’s been a constant battle against the encroachment of more and more stuff and optimizing for places to put it.
In an effort to make some - any - progress, I decided to put together an IKEA cabinet that I had been sitting unboxed in the hallway for a week or so. It’s a fun piece, but I didn’t think it was quite right for where I wanted it. I was fairly certain I was going to return it unopened, but it never hurts to try, right?
I like the details of it - the turned legs, the fluted texture, the open and closed storage. The fact that it’s all pale periwinkle powder coated metal makes those details completely unexpected and that’s the part I love.
After trying a couple different spots, I realized I was right. It wasn’t going to work where I wanted it.
Ideally, it would go in the hallway leading from the front door to the office, but it’s a bit too deep for that.
A couple of quick measurements later, and I discovered that it would j-u-s-t fit as the primary piece in the entryway. Once I put it in place, it was immediately apparent that was where it needed to go. I added a fancy pottery bowl for bits and pieces, a small lamp to brighten things up, and the basket for easily accessible dog things. Above it on the wall, will go the “hello” sign. Inside, it holds my shoes - another issue I needed to solve. Later, I put a candle on the top, not lit, just open.
I love this arrangement. I keep going back to look at it. It’s so clean and minimal and functional. I smile when I smell the candle all the way up in the living area when I walk by the stairs. I get a flutter in my stomach each time I come in the front door.
I want every room to make me feel the way the bedroom and entryway do - spacious, and a little giddy inside.
The next morning, I ordered bedside tables. I could keep scrolling for something more like what I had in mind, or I could just order the set that wasn’t what I’d planned but is 100% the right vibe.
The kitchen is getting a crock for cooking utensils and a tray for olive oil, salt, pepper, etc. Two more things to settle visual clutter and coordinate with other pieces I enjoy.
Tonight I went to IKEA for some ambiance - some fun lamps and cute bluetooth speakers. Wally is making it quite clear that he does not like the big lights and now I can play his Persian jazz through the whole house.
This was the first time I went shopping for “details”.
Over the last week - because it’s been a bit sloggy - I’ve been wondering when it will finally feel like I’m living in the house rather than in a continuous state of moving in.
I never felt like I was living in the last house I owned. It felt more like we had moved in and were just staying there until we weren’t anymore.
The house is far from finished. The garage is controlled chaos. The office closet is filled with abandonments.
But I took a break from shopping for solutions and took a moment to gather atmosphere.
I’ve got a candle scenting the house and Persian Jazz playing throughout and that feels less like moving in and more like living here.
Stay Gritty