From House To Home

Q: Dear Christopher: I have two wonderful friends who moved into what I can only call a questionable area of town. They bought an old fixer-upper that they’ve been working on forever. It’s an old mansion that seems to be falling down. Their other friends and I worry about them being in a dangerous part of town. And with all their efforts I see no progress. I worry that they took on more than they can handle and that their optimistic romance about this house is clouding their realistic vision. Should I say anything?  Lorraine in Ohio

A: Dear Lorraine: I admire those who have the vision and courage to tackle a major renovation. It’s a daunting task, especially in a run down neighborhood. But remember, these are the pioneers who often are the thankless trailblazers that bring back old neighborhoods. These are the people that start the process of returning splendor to abandoned areas. These are the dedicated folks who give others the vision of things to come.

Not only would I say nothing negative to these people, in fact I’d rather you encourage their creativity and help them foster the very romantic view that you think is clouding their judgment. Instead of all their friends making them feel like they made a mistake, why don’t you all pitch in on a weekend and help them get some of the work done. If you’re writing me this letter, then it’s obvious that this couple probably has already felt your lack of support for quite some time. There are so few preservation-minded folks willing to step out and do something about our decaying neighborhoods that I think you at least owe it to them to say a kind word rather then shaking your head in dismay. If they are still satisfied with their progress and their vision is still strong, who are you to stand on the sidelines and cast doubt? Plan a potluck dinner on their front lawn and create a moment where you and their friends can gather to show your support—a little TLC goes a long way.

Q: Dear Christopher: I’ve walked by this chest of drawers at least five times at my local weekly flea market. It’s a mess and probably has no value, but it speaks to me. I’m worried that if I buy it and bring it home, it will sit in the garage taking up space because I won’t get out there and restore it. What’s your take on this? Yvonne in Birmingham, AL

A: Dear Yvonne: The fact that you’ve been thinking about the poor orphaned chest of drawers for five weeks and you clearly say it “speaks” to you, tells me you’ve thought about it long enough so it’s not an impulse buy. It also sounds to me like you asked other people’s advice and they’ve warned you that you have a tendency not to finish projects or they just think you’re crazy. In which case you’ll feel guilty if your procrastination gets the better of you and you prove them right—am I getting warm here? I’d say this to that: if this object is still on your mind and you have a clear vision of its potential, I say go for it. But if you’re afraid it may remain in the garage, take it directly to a handyman and let him get the process started for you. Let him do the repairs, strip the finish and get it to a point where you feel you can finish it. If money isn’t an issue, perhaps an investment into something that you might cherish forever is worth a few bucks. Just imagine the moment you put it in place, give it a final polish, and add the perfect lamp on it—you’ll thank yourself for having a little faith that you could see treasure where others saw junk. If you’re not willing to find a solution or invest in your dream then it didn’t mean enough in the first place—it’s like life, right? You can do it!