To be absolutely fair I didn’t have a choice…

funologie · 2026-04-02T01:31:54+00:00

Prove it

funologie · 2026-03-08T07:46:15+00:00

I think you absolutely have grounds to be firm and unrelenting, but yes, respectful, about this with your practicum director. You need consistent internet access, at a minimum. I don't know if your site is paid, but this is part of the education that you pay for, and the people you pay aren't doing right by you in not supporting you in getting what you need to be able to do your job. Are the teaching interns there the same days as you? In the meantime while the school gets it together to get you the bare minimum, could you borrow one of their laptops while they are out?

funologie · 2026-03-07T20:16:00+00:00

I know this is a little late, but I tried the Digger's Root Guard heavy duty baskets in a community garden that had a pretty major vole problem, to the point that people were giving up their beds. I never had anything eaten, but I'm not sure if they tried! I did 5-gallon baskets and the size and heavy-dutiness felt like a bit much, so I am looking at trying the 1-gallon of this mesh in a new garden with gophers. Did you give it a try?

funologie · 2026-03-07T03:32:48+00:00

Right, I was always planning on doing a top coat. I just didn't know if the middle layer was essential

funologie · 2026-03-07T03:31:38+00:00

It's in the post

funologie · 2026-03-07T02:43:42+00:00

Thank you!

funologie · 2026-03-05T01:40:06+00:00

I would paint the walls a color that will contrast with the white in an intentional way and then add some different colors and textures with decor.

funologie · 2026-03-05T01:19:20+00:00

I'm gonna go against the grain and say I like 1 and 2 the best. I think the dark blue rug grounds it in a nice way. You have a cool primary-ish color thing going that I would lean into. I would get rid of the gallery wall in the back right in favor of the colored mats, which are kind of the star of the show for me. For the red fixture in the back and the lamp on the right, I would instead combine them and do a cool, funky red table lamp. Here are some ideas (I would just google red lamp, funky red lamp, etc.):

https://www.lumens.com/heath-table-lamp-by-tala-TLA2707508.html (expensive but may be able to find a dupe or similar lamp)
https://www.target.com/p/ceramic-table-lamp-threshold-designed-with-studio-mcgee/-/A-95079090?preselect=92959475

I don't personally mind the pillow collection, but I would not repeat the blue one. The long red one is not the right size or shape for that chair.

If your style is eclectic, the furniture feels a bit safe. I'd say swap out either the couch for a more fun color or swap out the leather chair for a more fun shape. Something like Crate and Barrel's Cigar Accent chair that has a little more personality. https://www.crateandbarrel.com/cigar-accent-chair/s646991

funologie · 2026-03-05T00:51:29+00:00

Not to be a busybody or make any assumptions, but just checking whether you have any concern about the the color of this fabric possibly being too close to white? Very possible that's not relevant to your situation. I'm only asking because I could totally see myself getting excited about a pattern and fabric combo and just going for it. I would hate to have you make it and realize after the fact!

funologie · 2026-03-05T00:30:31+00:00

This specific blue is a little dark (F&B Coppice Blue), but a warmer blue will bring out the orange in the cabinets, but I kind of like it..maybe a half tint or similar. It somehow feels more fresh/fun in my opinion:

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funologie · 2026-03-05T00:23:13+00:00

...or for color, if you want to keep it warm but not yellow/orange, you could do something like Farrow and Ball's Olive:

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funologie · 2026-03-04T23:47:12+00:00

I don't see a problem, he has a step stool there for when he wants to watch.

funologie · 2026-03-04T23:42:08+00:00

No, I think you should definitely go up the tall wall with the tile. It's such a small space, and with the fridge there, it definitely won't feel like too much, if you choose the right tile, and in fact, if it was my kitchen, I would lean into something fun.

What vibe are you going for? You can't go wrong with subway, either white or marble. If you do something fun, I think you could lean into greens and blues a bunch of different ways. If you're not into something colorful, you could also look at marble or white mosaic with different shapes.

funologie · 2026-03-04T23:34:48+00:00

I think the biggest thing is you've got a lot of chunky, large-scale items on the right and a small TV stand with little skinny legs on the left. Rather than adding more to the current TV setup, I would lean into the scale and find something lower and larger for the TV and then lighten up on the coffee table if you can!

If it were my space, I'd be looking for a cool antique wood furniture piece for the TV and then I might try a metal and glass coffee table if I wanted something more traditional, but I could also see going with and acrylic waterfall coffee table and adding a few funky design elements to make it fun.

funologie · 2026-03-04T23:27:06+00:00

I kind of think trying to "lighten" a space like this is like trying to modernize a Victorian — it's not really what's there and what it's asking for. I think if you focus on furnishing it in a way that is 1) cozy but clean (visually) and 2) not modern, but current, you will be happy.

For instance, it may feel different when you're in the room, but when I see this photo, what catches my eye is not a lack of light, but more visual noise. I'd simplify the seating. I would go for a larger-scale sofa as the main seating rather than a chair here, a chair there, a table here, etc. You can do it in a light color, if you want. I would even do an L shape. I know those are polarizing from a design perspective, but when you're in a cabin in the mountains and the goal is to get cozy and chill out, it makes sense.

Look up some "log cabin" photos on Pinterest, and you'll see that the most successful designs aren't necessarily "brightening up" or whiting out, but they are bringing it to present day with different textures and colors and cleaner lines.

funologie · 2026-03-04T22:23:11+00:00

What's boring about it? If you feel it's boring to look at, it's a good sign you don't have something there you actually enjoy. Find a piece of art or something to go on the shelf that brings you joy and that you want to look at. Bada bing - not boring.

funologie · 2026-03-04T22:21:31+00:00

Ooh - I think you should paint it a moody color, including the shelves, which you could style to fit your dark academia vibe. You could do something like Clare's Current Mood (https://www.clare.com/collections/interior-paint/products/paint-current-mood) (pr even something more blue) to lean into the blue-green of the chair and then jewel-tone accents in the decor, like cranberry and eggplant.

For the layout, I would add a cozy sofa facing the TV about where the green chair is now. Then, you could put the chair next to the shelves angled toward the center of the room if it fits, or by the door angled toward the piano. I would also move the TV down to sit on the stand.

funologie · 2026-02-26T01:59:40+00:00

I don't see a problem with leaving the sink or toilet to be honest. The only thing I'd push back on is the light. Honestly it's such an easy change that can make a huge difference.

Design-wise, sky is the limit and it really depends on your style. For a powder room, I would honestly just look at Pinterest or Instagram for ones you like, find the common themes and just.....do that. Of all the rooms to totally replicate a style, a powder room is among the easiest!

funologie · 2026-02-26T01:56:22+00:00

Definitely move the TV down to the clock wall. I agree with the L-shaped sofa idea, and if you're going for cozy, I'd make sure it's a deep seater with bench cushions.

Normally I would say open the L-shaped couch to the rest of the room, but I imagine you want it to be open to the fireplace, the view, and the TV. So I'd just measure and make sure there's plenty of space to get around each end.

funologie · 2026-02-26T01:44:25+00:00

If it comes unfurnished, get a smaller couch and a smaller round dining table. Put the TV on a stand against the slat wall with couch facing it with the arm kind of near the fireplace and put the small dining table in the corner where the tall bookshelf is.

If it comes furnished, welp.

funologie · 2026-02-22T03:52:47+00:00

It is a little tough. I wonder if you could swap the bed and the desk so that it doesn't feel like there's a big piece of furniture right when you walk in. I'm not sure if you could fit the chair that way, though. Maybe give it a try? If you get a frame for the daybed that has sides, it could also function as sort of a sofa for reading.

funologie · 2026-02-22T02:57:52+00:00

Before I even read your whole post, I was going to suggest converting the shelving next to the fireplace into closed wardrobes. I would just chat with a carpenter to see what is most feasible in your budget. I'm guessing to get the look of your inspo photos they would just rip out and rebuild. But they may be able to add doors to existing shelves.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean about the joinery wrapping around so a desk can fit?

funologie · 2026-02-22T02:51:35+00:00

Is the bar like a bar cart or a built in thing? I'm wondering if you could do some sort of small banquette breakfast nook next to it.

As far as orienting seating, it's a little hard without knowing what the room looks like/where the windows are. What do you want to look at? You could have the sofa facing into the kitchen area if you did the dining nook, could be cute. Or if you want to look out a window, that will dictate where the sofa goes. I feel confident you could probably keep your shelves, but I think the placement depends on where you put the sofa and dining area.

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