Decorating Room

[Raefindel]

You can DEFINATELY get away with sarongs as drapes. That makes it simple.

Sparkley crystals in volume is harder. The're expensive everywhere I've ever seen them, but it gives an elf gift ideas.

[mark12_30]

It's tempting to run out, pick some leaves and try it now. The Problem: It's December... Sigh.

On the other hand... I have several garlands. Ivy, and standard oval leaves.

And there's the ficus tree....

[Lalwendë]

I bought a box of 'raindrop' Christmas decorations from John Lewis a couple of years ago - they weren't expensive at all, and look like little crystals hanging from the tree and twinkle nicely in the light, despite being made of acrylic or plastic or something like that. My mum loves them. Might be worth checking out some Christmas decoration ranges if you want crystals but cheaply.

[mark12_30]

Hmmmm-- good idea! Thanks.

THe scary thing about improving the bedroom is that first Ihave to CLEAN it. No wonder elves live in flets-- one good wind, and it's done.

[mark12_30]

THis shouldn't have taken me so very much by surprise but it hit me that since (as a mom) I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I should make that a place where I am happy. Elvish. Sparkly, viny, leafy.... tendrils, stars, silver lamps? Ideas? Has anybody decorated their kitchen in a middle-earth manner, and what did you do?

I would, once, have decorated as if it was Bag-End. But I think now I am looking for the kitchen in Lorien, or perhaps the kitchens in Mithlond...

What would an elvish kitchen LOOK like?

[mark12_30]

Second question. The basement, around the woodstove.

And over by the laundry, too. Now I realize elves don't have (or need?) washing machines. But they do, some of them, live underground. How do I take a normal basement-- with rafters, a cement floor, and lolly columns, and a single casement window ( the other is in Gary's workshop) and turn it into something less mannish and more elvish...? I'd start with a rug but that's where the wood comes in for the woodstove, so rugs are sort of out.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

THis shouldn't have taken me so very much by surprise but it hit me that since (as a mom) I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I should make that a place where I am happy. Elvish. Sparkly, viny, leafy.... tendrils, stars, silver lamps? Ideas? Has anybody decorated their kitchen in a middle-earth manner, and what did you do?

I would, once, have decorated as if it was Bag-End. But I think now I am looking for the kitchen in Lorien, or perhaps the kitchens in Mithlond...

What would an elvish kitchen LOOK like?

Wouldn't there be several elven styles of kitchen? Assuming that they eat more than just lembas, of course. The flets of Lothlorien don't lend themselves to large ovens, so I would think of something that would include small portable stoves, or even bbqs at the base of the trees and earthen ovens on the ground. Rivendell would be less "en air" as it were and possibly would have large formal kitchens where vegetables would be cleaned and a wall for hanging herbs to dry. But where to place the slaughtering house for chickens, rabbits, other fowls, and larger animals--unless elves are vegetarians. Mirkwood I think would have heavy beamed kitchens, maybe even smokey and dark, real old fairy tale kitchens. And would they have an ice room, lacking modern electrical refrigeration or would there be some elven high art for that? But honestly, I cannot imagine a sort of upstairs/downstairs arrangement for any elven home.

And as for basement, well, one could lay stone on top of cement if one didn't want to go Raefindel's delicate route of painting. But as for

something less mannish and more elvish

I can't help but think of Gilgalad and the long line of elven warriors and wondering what their homes were like. Or did they live in tents like many an army does? Then their laundry facility would be outdoor clothes lines, no?

Just a few thoughts.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

THis shouldn't have taken me so very much by surprise but it hit me that since (as a mom) I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I should make that a place where I am happy. Elvish. Sparkly, viny, leafy.... tendrils, stars, silver lamps? Ideas? Has anybody decorated their kitchen in a middle-earth manner, and what did you do?

I would, once, have decorated as if it was Bag-End. But I think now I am looking for the kitchen in Lorien, or perhaps the kitchens in Mithlond...

What would an elvish kitchen LOOK like?

Hey, do you remember the cottage in Devon for sale with murals of Goblins and Fairies and Elves all over the kitchen walls by Alan Lee, Brian Froud and Charles Vess?

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...highlight=alan

I checked the link on there and you can still see the pics.

[mark12_30]

Bethberry, many interesting ideas.

I think perhaps the first step is (sigh!) to clean it all. The Laundry, that is, and the woodstove 'room'. A few local rugs would be good (that's where the dead rugs end up, of course. So it's another step, finding a not-dead rug. Wish I could put an area rug down there but... really in a laundry, with two boys-- not a good idea. )

THen I think Rae's idea of painting is the next step-- Laundry and woodstove room. The grey cement walls need to be less blackish; I'm not sure if I should go all the way to white; white will show the smoke. Cream will always look dirty around a woodstove. Hmm. Woodstove... brick would be the obvious choice; guess a woodstove is more hobbitish than elvish.


The awkward thing is of course all the appliances... well appliance & water filtration is in the woodstove room; furnace is in the laundry room. How do you disguise a furnace...? Of course one can't, really. Wishful thinking. I must decorate around it or in spite of it. THe freezer...? I guess I could put a poster of trees on it...

[Raefindel]

You said my house was very elven, yet I made no attempt to hide the modern conveniences.

Just bring in what style you can and it will work.