Does a “themed house” = grandma’s house?

Life is full of lines.  Very fine lines sometimes.  For example, there’s a line between being able to eat and enjoy the donuts and eating to consider one’s health.  There’s a line between using time productively and being able to throw purposeful-ness to the wind and just relax.  And there’s a line between living on a budget and relaxing the grip on the wallet occasionally.  (Yes, I really believe that.)

Managing life successfully means learning to find and walk all the lines.

I believe that good taste, too, comes from finding the line between not enough and too much.

I think houses that are well put together have elements throughout that help make them appear unified, as opposed to being a random collection of stuff.  I also think this happens naturally for lots of people, as most people tend to be drawn to the same kinds of colors, and styles and things.

Daresay I call them themes?

When I think of a “themed house” I inevitably think of lots of grandmas’ houses that I’ve been to.  I used to visit my friend’s grandma’s house in the town where we grew up.  For some reason, her grandmother began collecting Fisher Price people (yes, really) and sticking them in every spare niche of her home.  (If she was still alive, she’d be rich of course.  I wonder if she passed this inheritance down to my friend?)  It was quirky, it was endearing; it was a lot of Fisher Price people.

I walked into a cabin years ago that some friends had bought fully furnished, and the place had a bear theme.  Everywhere you looked was a bear.  Stuffed bears, bear pillows, bear rugs, they even had a window on the front door with an etching of a bear when you entered.  It was a lot of bears.

I love reading old “Taste of Home” magazines.  (Seriously, the recipes are great!)  Each old magazine has a section celebrating “Country Themed Kitchens” where the best one each month won $50, or something like that.  Every kitchen featured was overloaded with either tractors, roosters or apples (etc.) in the form of curtains, salt shakers, statues and dishes, etc.  And the more the better!

So I’m a little hesitant to admit that The House of Goodwill has some themes.  And I’ve been wondering, where is the line between a unified-looking house in good taste vs. a “themed” house?

I’ve been collecting some duck stuff (hey, it’s a lake house!) but I’ve found myself reeling it in just a bit lately.  I’m a little afraid of turning my beautiful airbnb into grandma’s house.

I promise: my house will have just enough ducks.

As evidence, I will share a few thrifted ducks I’ve bought, and a few ducks I’ve seen and passed up.

I loved these cross stitched ducks so much, I shelled out the BIG money for them ($20) from an antique store.

This little $4 duck statue was at the same antique store.  Cute!!

I paid more big money ($10) for this little guy.  I love vintage wall pockets, because you can put tiny little flower arrangements on your walls.

Believe it or not, I passed up this $5 bargain at Goodwill.  Unfortunately, no towels will be hanging over ducks at this house.

This cookie jar reminds me of some random duck drinking glasses my mom bought somewhere and had this strange attachment to when I was growing up.  I'm pretty sure they contained the classic ducks + hearts pattern too.

And finally, we have some duck "fashion soap" at Goodwill.  The fine print reads, "For somebody who prefers the most in quality and style."  Sadly, perhaps, my renters will not be able to cleanse themselves with fashion soap.

**Note**  Do we grow into good taste?  I hope so!  I would just like to admit, I was right there with ‘em in 1996.  If I had bought The House of Goodwill at that time, I would probably be entering the themed kitchen contest in "Taste of Home" myself, with more ducks than you’ve ever seen in one place.  Viva the 1990s!