Househunting grumble.
Why do they advertise places as remodeled, updated, or worst, modernized, like it's a good thing? The atrocities perpetrated upon the Victorian and Edwardian buildings of this city are a shame. Graceless, demoralizing and cheap in the rottenest sense of the word. Utterly loveless. Leave well enough alone or keep it simple.
Things that do not work, ever, in a nice old building include:
- carpet
- mirrored sliding closet doors
- shower stall
- windows in metal casings
- anything from the 1980s
- anything made of plastic
- featureless hollow doors
These things make me want to cry. I know it costs more to replace or repair the pretty stuff, and I know the pretty stuff is cranky and it's easier to rip it out and throw in berber this and sheetrock that, but god damn, do those small uglinesses make life seem heavier where a touch of grace and beauty can make it seem so much lighter.
Things that do not work, ever, in a nice old building include:
- carpet
- mirrored sliding closet doors
- shower stall
- windows in metal casings
- anything from the 1980s
- anything made of plastic
- featureless hollow doors
These things make me want to cry. I know it costs more to replace or repair the pretty stuff, and I know the pretty stuff is cranky and it's easier to rip it out and throw in berber this and sheetrock that, but god damn, do those small uglinesses make life seem heavier where a touch of grace and beauty can make it seem so much lighter.