City Mouse vs. Country Mouse

This is the scene in our kitchen right now, and there is something about it that I just like a whole lot.

I love that the branches are stuffed into an old pickle jar. And I love the basket with the oranges. I feel like I should take that basket, pull on rubber boots and wander out to a fictional shed in my backyard to collect fresh eggs before baking the day away.

But… I have a dilemma. A constant push and pull between the city and the country. I guess the truth is that I am a city girl. I have always lived in the city, save a couple of years in the country when I was about 17-19 years old. I live in Toronto right now in an established neighbourhood with old homes that are close together. Public transportation is at the end of my street, and I can walk to do some groceries, grab a coffee, etc. And I really like that!

But then there are times when I fantasize about getting a couple of acres in the country. Chop off our Christmas tree on our own property, maybe even get a few chickens!

I think this city vs. country war is going on in my decorating style as well. The city girl in me loves straight lines. It is a running joke between Derek and I whenever we are shopping for furniture or house stuff because he makes fun of me for ALWAYS saying: “I want something clean and modern”. And I really do say that all.the.time.

The country girl in me is known for saying “warm and cozy”. I actually think I should do a search on this blog to see how many times I have used that phrase. Again, I say that all.the.time!

The perfect example would be our “diningroom”. The table is modern and has clean lines. For the city girl!

But then to “warm and cozy” it up, we added some woven banana leaf chairs. For the country girl!

Who says “clean and modern” and “warm and cozy” are mutually exclusive. It does not have to be one or the other. I suppose I just need to keep working on finding a happy balance, and in the process hopefully also create a happy and welcoming home.

How about you: Are you a city mouse or a country mouse? And does your decorating style reflect that?

Samantha

Hayley

January 31, 2017

I’m definitely a city mouse! I’ve lived in Toronto my whole life and couldn’t imagine living in a rural area. I also say “clean and modern” all the time, and I’m a fan of straight lines, so I guess it reflects in my decorating. The two definitely don’t have to be mutually exclusive though- you can be both city and country 🙂

Kristin

February 1, 2017

I totally hear ya. I am a city girl at heart, but I love country-ish stylings… I also love a sleek and modern look, but I also love fresh plants, unfinished wood, funky baskets… totally feel ya!
Funny thing is, I grew up by the ocean. Not really city, but not really country either!