50 Shades of Beige

​Ever since we started dating, Mike has asked my opinion on things for the house, and I love it! It makes me feel valued and decorating is fun for me. We went together to choose the bedroom furniture, the couch, the dining room set, and the artwork we’ve hung throughout the house. And that was all in the first six months of dating. When it came time to have the house painted, I didn’t get to select the color palette, but he did ask for my opinion on which of the ones he chose did I like. I think it’s sweet and I like feeling like I have a say in important decisions. It’s his house but he’s never once made me feel like I live in his house, rather that we live in a house together. Here’s the thing…Mike likes everything to be neutral and I like color. I have done some small decorating that adds color to the kitchen and bedroom, we always have fresh flowers on the table, but from the walls and floor to the couch and linens, they are all variations of browns and beiges and grays. It drives me nuts!
We are currently doing a rather large DIY backyard overhaul. One of the conversations we keep having is about the plants to put in the new backyard. Do you know how expensive these things are?? And fingers crossed they survive! Windowsill succulents and cacti under my care apparently have a 50/50 shot at surviving, I’m not sure I’m up to the task of nurturing young agave, especially when we’re approaching a season where frost is a possibility. Even when my brother had his yard redone professionally, not all the plants made it, so what hope do I have?! Last night, Mike proposed the idea of buying metal plants rather than real ones and I thought it was a great idea! It would continue to cut long-term costs to not have real plants. We’re already doing away with the grass in an effort to lessen the water bill and general cost of maintenance. I had actually suggested adding a metal agave plant or two as a simple, colorful decoration about a year or so ago when I was trying to find easy ways to brighten things up, though he doesn’t recall that. Sometimes I feel like Claire Dunphy when Phil told her his friend encouraged him to order a wedge salad at lunch, it was the greatest thing ever and had she heard of it. Spoiler: she’s been recommending it to him for years.
I got excited that we could then be adding some color now too! Until he says “well, no, I think I want the rust color type ones.” Let me tell you, I got mad! I said I didn’t understand his love affair with beige when there are so many colors we could use, and it won’t look over the top. Maybe it’s because he’s lived in Phoenix his whole life and Arizona is so freaking brown, that he’s used to looking at life in sepia. I’d just like some color in my little corner of the world! Maybe when I say ‘color,’ he’s picturing fuchsia when I’m really referring to something more subtle. He also might feel he doesn’t have the ability to coordinate colors, judging by his wardrobe. I don’t know, but there will be a follow up when it’s all done, hopefully by the end of the year.
(pictured is an example of something I’d like a fake version of, not too crazy, right??)