About those vintage cutting boards...With very rare exceptions, cutting boards are made of teak, walnut, or pine. All of those species of wood have volatile oils and a surface cell structure that is quite deadly to bacteria. In scientific studies of wooden cutting boards (they tested teak, pine, and beech) versus "sanitary" polyethylene boards, they could not discover ANY bacteria after five minutes on the wooden boards. Even on wooden boards used to chop raw meat and poultry, even when the boards were wet and left wet. Nope. The wooden boards were more sterile than the supposedly impervious plastic cutting boards. The older and more close-grained the wood, the more effective it is at destroying bacteria. This is true even with 100-year-old wood. A vintage chopping board is one of the safest and most sanitary choices you can make. I can supply the scientific references for you if you are interested. Please, go ahead and use your vintage cutting boards. Wash them with a gentle blend of warm water and soap, oil them with food-safe mineral oil, and chop to your heart's content.
You never cease to amaze me with your thoughtful and realistic ideas. You not only have great ideas, but you are freaking awesome at communicating them as well. Keep up the good work, what you do is so appreciated.
I have a 4 x 5" cutting board and one little bit larger. I'm always moving them into the kitchen where I'm working. So I never really thought about it.. This sound to earth shattering I will have to check this out. Thanks
To me, their dust and grease collectors. I have a cat and a kitchen open to the living room so anything that isn’t going to be used and washed/wiped down daily cannot be left out.
1. I didn't spend money on open shelves because I know my messy husband and kids will never keep them the way I'd like. 2. I didn't spent money on a console entryway table because they don't have storage. Instead, I got a large cabinet and use it to store all my candles, home fragrances and occasional decor. 3. I didn't spend money on ready-made furniture for my livingroom. I got a custom-made sectional sofa that fits perfectly within my space and chose a durable fabric that my kids won't be able to ruin. 4. I didn't buy any trendy large furniture. I opted for the calm peices with the idea that I can always juggle with the small decor peices instead of wasting my money on the expensive large pieces and getting stuck with them. 5. I didn't waste my money on cheap art that does not mean anything to me. Although my walls are bare, I am saving up and looking forward to putting up only the art that I genuinely want to be hung on my walls.
Hi :) can you please tell me the company and durable fabric you used? I am looking to buy my first couch and I am looking for something stylish and durable that can last me several years.
I can't be without my sideboard! It's my fav piece of furniture and is where I enjoy showcasing my personal style! Is that a sideboard behind you in the video? 🤣
really agree with the excessive dining areas in a home. growing up in the 90s, it seems de rigeur to have the eat in kitchen and a formal dining room that is never used. when I bought my second home (a single family house), it was the first time we had an excess of space (my other residence being an apartment in the city). I told my husband that we don't need an EIK plus a dining room; why not just eat in the dining room all the time, and make every meal feel special? and that's what we did. the dining room was further styled like a library so not only do we eat in it every night, we can also read and work during other hours among all the books and decor.
I SO agree. I cannot remember a single time eating at the formal diningroom table. We did ay my grandmas for holidays, but never at my house. I'll be moving into a bigger apartment soon that'll most likely have an eik area with a dining room area. I want to use it as a gym space. Not the most ascetically pleasing, but it's a much better use of the space.
I got a side board to store all of our board games. So they are right there when we have game nights. And we needed a really long one because we have a large dining room. But "side boards" get pretty pricey. So I just found a little 2 door cabinet I really liked and ordered 3 of them to put right next to each other. It works great!
I love extra storage. My sideboard has games, toys all kinds of fun things, As much as I like open shelves there is no way you can store anything in them.
I do not NEED the chaise, BUT I absolutely want it for myself so everyone has to sit elsewhere. 😄Thankfully, my room is a great size so yep, keeping it on the list. I've had a sofa and ottoman for years and definitely ready for the chaise.
Please listen to her. Like you, I just HAD to have a chaise sectional, so I got one. Because of Covid, I waited 10 months to get it and absolutely HATE it. It is awkward to sit on and really uncomfortable. I should have gone with a sofa and added an ottoman. Sooo, $1500 later, I’m trying to find a furniture maker who can convert the chaise part to an end unit for a reasonable price. Strictly my own personal experience..good luck
@@brendaindallas9880 I watch frequently and know the fabric of my life and the set up of my home. Thank you for weighing in, but this particular tip just doesn't apply to me.
I love the chaise life!!!! I seriously have only had a couch with a chaise for my own spaces because I didn't like the lack of one growing in my parent's house. I can imagine the waste of space of the ottomans too.. I am just not a fan of ottomans
@@stefanianzo9907 Yes, if the ottoman doesn't have storage it can be inconvenient at times. I'm looking at furniture now and will DEFINTELY be ordering a chaise.
When I moved into my condo the previous owner abandoned their sideboard, I moved it to the living room where it is now a fancy entertainment center. One less piece of furniture to buy.
Uh, this is why I don't like the open space trend. It feels like living in a studio. Plus the smell from the kitchen can easily get into your couches. You may not smell it because you live in your home, but guests can smell it. It can even get into your clothes. People don't think about stuff like this. I prefer closed kitchens with open walkways.
This is hilarious. I am hands down a chaise sectional fan. I love sprawling out on them, that’s how I’m the most comfortable. And I hate ottomans. Maybe it’s because we have dogs, but they’re always getting moved around and I find it annoying dragging them back into place. I’m suddenly into chandlers, but I agree totally not necessary.
I agree! I do not like ottomans because it gets in the way of a coffee table and then I don't like the way how ottomans look on their own seperate from the couch!! Also... Ottomans as a coffee table??? I would have to purchase sperate pieces to set food items like a server. For this, the chaise sectional is just a cost and life saver for me... I sprawl on the couch as well lol
@@naromiesbeninche6975 that’s what keeps me from going that route but the chaise sofa I want would be too big for my current space so I’m waiting. My son just bought one for his apt and loves it. To each their own. Like she says, we have to do what works for our space and lifestyles. 🥰
@@michellem3879 that's true it more often whichever can fit the place! My thinking is that At least with the sectional I figure that 2 people can lay down at once(me and My hubby).I am moving to Texas soon. I am worried whether the sofa would work for the new place (haven't seen it yet.. only had a 3D virtual tour)but I really want that sectional so we both can get cozy at the same time. @stefani I hate the Ottoman too. I never opened it 🤣🤣🤣
Same we use to have an ottoman and not the best. Also not comfortable over time it always made a gap when you wanted to use as a sectional. We race for who will go on the chaise part since it’s so comfy.
I agree with most of these. I made the mistake of buying a 3-seater sectional years ago and what I’ve found is, I can rarely be bothered to squish into the corner to lay down as it’s too far from the fire/tv. And when we have visitors, they tend to sit uncomfortably on the leg part with no one sitting in the corner seat. A separate ottoman is a much better idea - far more versatile. The only one on your list that I disagreed with was the lumbar pillow. I use the one in my bedroom to support my head when reading, my living room one supports my head when watching tv and the one on my patio dining chair supports my lumbar region. I wouldn’t be without them.
I inherited an antique Stickley buffet that is in my combo living - dining room.I honestly don't know what I'd do for storage without it. Beside that it is beautiful, & we like the ambiance antique furniture gives.
I'm 29 and have many different china sets... living a granny life xD I even have "fine" cuttlery and fabric napkins. Yes, I'm that fancy bitch! And I love it! Sure, it's a lost thing in my generation, but I love it and it needs a comeback! So much fun to chose from different sets for a nice table setting! (Of course not practical for people who move often or live very nomadic).
Im in trouble. We brought our sectional and it will be delivered in early Dec. Love the tips. Wish I heard this 2 months ago. Great content as usual. Thanks KB
You can get a beautiful cutting board that isn't vintage. There are plenty of carpenters, craftsmen and artists that make and sell them. Maintenance isn't complicated, you may just have to treat the wood with an oil regularly (you can use very cheap mineral oil). I bought one as a gift for my husband last year and it's a statement piece in our kitchen that we use every single day.
Wow. I've been shopping for a sectional because I want to somehow divide the space between the dining area and living area. Then the other day I found the perfect small sectional but it is SO expensive! Now, I love the ottoman idea. So much to think about! Also, this condo came with a heavy chandelier in the little breakfast nook area that dictated where the table had to go - but I study there - and hit my head on that chandelier. Changing to a flush mount was the BEST decision.
You might want to consider an armless sofa or loveseat as the divider. I’m doing that to separate the dining area and living area … facing sofas are a lot more conducive to conversation than a sectional and it definitely helps to define the functional spaces
Very thoughtful video, Kiva. Yes, I have a Brookstone lumbar pillow that I use for traveling. Love it! I do, however, also have a dining room sideboard that I have had for over 30 years in a formal dining room. It holds my various table linens, serving pieces and various holiday table decorations. I use everything that I have accumulated over the years. (I know, I know, I am dating myself). I have a wood burning fireplace and love it. I use it often every fall and winter. I often light a fire just for me (not just when I am entertaining during cold months). It is all a matter of priorities and what you love.
Love the video! Not having an ottoman trains people not to put their feet up on the coffee table. As an academic I would prefer the chaise sofa for reading and grading with less stress on my knees. The ottoman is very hard on your knees and hips over time. As you age, it matters.
I'm at the age point where I prefer a recliner lol. Ottoman definitely are rough on the knees, and the chaise is tough to climb in and out of! So I'm more of a recliner type. ( elegant ones...not those big overstuffed man cave types)
I have an atypical approach to pillows. I have them on the sofas, but they're smaller than usual and squashy. You can actually sit down without worrying about them. They provide visual interest and you can pile them up if you want support.
OMG, Kiva, I put chandeliers wherever I can!! Two minis in my walk-in closet. I shop REALLY intensively, have the most gorgeous chandeliers, and have never paid more than $300. I bought one, a knock off of--you know the one--it has branches and crystals for leaves and the color was brassy. A real bargain because they couldn't sell it, it was so ugly. I painted it gold, keeping the darkened recesses and creases and it looks terrific in a stairwell. But I also have recessed and bulbs etc. You just have to SHOP!
I feel like if it works within your life you should get it. I take others advise with a grain of salt! If you love chandeliers and they bring you joy and you’re able to get great deals, then kudos to you!! ✌🏾♥️
@@ms.one-town901 I agree and also feel that applies to everything. There are good pieces of advice and general rules, but what excites one individual may be anathema to another. 💛
Traditional fireplaces funnel the heat right up the chimney with the smoke. If you put in a fireplace insert, it will actually funnel the heat into the room , and keep you cozy without burning through logs really quickly. They’re almost as efficient as wood stoves and fit inside your fireplace. Since you close them, you can just let it burn down safely.
We spend all of our time in the family room, so the formal living room never gets used and the formal dining room never gets used because we always use the breakfast nook in the kitchen. The spaces are fully furnished and decorated "for company" but we never actually have company lol. And in the 11 years I've lived in my home, I'd never thought of my wood burning fireplace as anything other than a spot to decorate around for the holidays.... had never used it once.... until last year when a winter storm hit and we were without electricity and heat for several days, with temps in the low teens.
We lived in a brownstone for about 30 years. I had the most gorgeous fireplace in the living room and never used it once! Who wants all that stuff, maybe smoke idk burning next to your nice furniture! But it was great to decorate!
I can definitely see how ppl’s lives evolve. I have a buffet in my dining room. However I just look at it as storage so anything decor, sunglasses, candles are all in there. I think the big thing is if you already owned something making sure you repurpose for how you live. I also agree with eliminating multiple eating areas. It may depend on how your space is laid out but typically those areas are super close to each other. I think we’re just use to buying certain furniture for certain designated spaces. I knew I didn’t want another full fledged table and chairs so I made the kitchen more cafe/lounge style. It’s not formal. I can drink coffee in the AM or open my laptop to pretend I’m at a coffeehouse. The table can fit two/three plates if need be. But to your point, dining chairs alone are pricey. So I wouldn’t bother unless I entertained a lot.
I live in Europe, in my country kitchen island are not the norm also we have close or semi open concept. I have a Mediterranean/Alentejo kitchen which are large kitchen with a big wood table and a huge stone fireplace that you can cook, never like dining rooms, no matter the occasion we eat in the kitchen, it's warmer, cozy and close to the food😊
I recently purchased both a console and a sideboard. I absolutely LOVE them! They are so beautiful and very functional. I have a very small house and they take up valuable space but since they provide storage, the trade-off is a non-issue.
I’ve used a sideboard for many things. To set up desserts or charcuterie, for off season candles and it’s great for storing board games that are often played on the dining table. I use it also for my sons’s school craft supplies, platters, chargers and placemats.
I have this couch that has a detachable ottoman situation. It was from ikea - its the coolest thing ever bc depending on how your maneuver the cushions around you can create a couch with an ottoman OR attach it on the left or right side again depending on how the cushions are placed on the sofa - instantly become a chaise lounge 😀 definitely affordable and practical for Any living situation!
@@ltgemini1599 I have been legit searching their website and can not find it (I got it a long time ago) can't remember the name ofcourse - I have a feeling they stopped making that model. I'm sure you can get couches in pieces though and put them together how you want so you have lots of options for your space. I have seen sectionals that do that - you put them together to create the sofa you need vs spending money on something that may not fit 🤔
It took me 60+ years, but I finally have a house with enough space for that chaise sofa I always wanted and I’m going to leave my boob fixtures until I’m ready for a change! I’m having trouble with figuring out what to put over the fireplace because my other half has very different likes than I do in the art department and we’re still working on counter stools! The mini upgrade for my bedroom is trying to figure out how to retrofit my gorgeous king sized midcentury modern headboard to my queen sized bed.
Have you thought of placing a mirror above your fireplace? That away it doesn’t have to be a issue between choosing styles of art, plus it can help bounce some light in the space.
OMG, Ive been trying to decide between a traditional sofa or one with a chaise. Less than a minute into this video and Kiva has made the decision for me - love her!
Get the chaise 🤣 I love mine. You don’t NEED it but if your budget and space allows it’s actually a very practical purchase. I don’t regret my purchase one bit
If you love the stacked vintage cutting boards but feel sketchy about using them, just get one of those plastic liner cutting mats to use on top. You can store one behind the wood board.
Another thing that takes up too much room is king sized beds, unless you are very tall and/or wide, or have a very large bedroom to put it in. Sheets cost more, blankets & comforters cost more & king sized mattresses cost more.
We’ve had a king sized bed our whole marriage( 47 years) and love it. It’s worth the extra cost, imho. We even have king beds in 3 guest rooms…. I never considered buying anything else, lol. To each their own! 😊
I love my sideboard, and styling it is not an issue. Mine is actually a repurposed dresser and it holds my decor that I rotate for the seasons, and placemats and such.
I love sideboards too. Several years ago, we moved into a home with a sunroom and I turned it into another dining room with another sideboard--right off the "rec" room that I had already turned into a summer dining room with, of course, a sideboard. I converted a sideboard into a bathroom sink console. I would have more, but I ran out of space lol.
"Go to a better grocery store". You're a girl after my own heart! This is the best upgrade I've ever made. We enjoy the meals we are making so much that we dine out much less and don't miss it.
We always called the sideboard the buffet. You’d place large platters of food on it and guests could serve themselves and sit down. I see a lot of modern dining rooms with just a table and chairs.
Fireplaces draw heat out of your home as they go out. So you need doors to close to prevent that. I’ll have a gas fireplace in my new place, which is easy. No more wood burning fireplaces for me! I graduated from Girl Scouts a long time ago!
I love your honest advice, I too am guilty of some of these and have ended up selling things like a purple chandelier for example as it served no purpose and my colour scheme is more neutral as I have evolved in taste 🙂🇬🇧
I think of a sideboard as a landing space. As one brings food from the kitchen to the eaters, it's an elegant solution for the need for a staging area. Just like in a restaurant, the server drops the tray on the sideboard and serves from there. It's also a nice space for a buffet spread.
I really love playing your videos in the morning when I'm cooking breakfast! Love your tips and communication style. Really appreciate what you're sharing with the world, it genuinely has a positive impact! Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more. I have a massive dining area that is empty due to not knowing what to do with it. We have no family or company and never eat at a table. Someday I will figure it out. I love all your videos. Such good info.
You are soooo right for all of these things in the video!! 4 years ago I realized that my dining table and chairs are useless to me and they just took up valuable space in my living room and that the space could be better used otherwise. Since I live on my own, I usually eat with a tray on my lap on the couch in front of the TV, as I always did even younger at my parents' house. So I sent my IKEA dining table to my parents' basement (they have plenty of storage) and rearranged the 4 chairs throughout the house so that they would serve a purpose as well. Now the vacant space is used as a dancing practice area (my favorite hobby) and I couldn't be more happy! Also there was a fortunate timing when all of that happened, just before COVID locked us in our homes, so I had the space I needed for my online dancing lessons. When I will need a dining table, I will search for a small expandable one, so that it doesn't take up space in my appartment. You are wonderfu Kiva! Keep up the good job!!!
Ooooh I relate to that! If you want space for dancing in your home, it's ridiculous how much furniture all of a sudden is not needed anymore.😊 (I decluttered my bedframe for that matter and sleep on a matress on the floor which I fold up against the wall during the day.)
I agree sideboards can create "commotion" in a small dining space. I just took the sideboard out of our dining room today and it feels SO MUCH better! Ours always had to many plants on it and it drove me bonkers. It looks so much more minimalist now- which is what I lean towards. I don't know why it took me so long! Thanks for validating me haha
We are renting a little furnished house while we build and the whole damned living room is taken up by a giant awkward chaise sectional. I like the couch and ottoman idea, but I’m still searching because it’s hard to find smaller scaled furniture anymore. We will definitely have a fireplace so that we can have heat when the power goes out (as it does on occasion in the mountains). But I think a lot of what you are wisely saying is not to buy things you won’t actually use. Which is a pretty good general rule for life.
I use my lumbar pillow. It really helps. Might be the type of sofa I have. AND I live in Pittsburgh too and have a gas FP. I’ve had wood burning FPs in other houses but didn’t use them much. The house I’m in already had a gas FP and it is sooo easy to use. I have realistic logs and it’s beautiful. Highly recommend converting if you think lighting and cleaning a wood burning FP is more trouble than it’s worth.
We had a sofa and matching ottoman. It's not the same as a chaise sofa. If you're trying to lay on the ottoman portion as if it's a chaise, your butt ends up in the space between the two pieces. Our space is small and the ottoman was in the way no matter what we did with it. I replaced the entire thing with a chaise. It's sized like a sofa but one side is open like a chaise. Fits my small living room but not two people laying flat. No big deal. It's become my "nest." My husband perches on the chaise or sits somewhere else.
Aunt Kiva has spoken more words of wisdom than we could have thought possible. Say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our pocketbooks- and hearts,of course.
I am a dumpster diver so that's where my standards are, but "vintage" cutting board?! What a scam! That's just a gross old cutting board. I would not cross that line. Even if they were 100 percent germ free, no. It's somehow reminiscent of how young mothers (I am starting to gag just thinking about it) will use the baby's spoon to clean off the spit/babyfood combo pack that the baby just globbed out of its mouth and then mom will eat it herself. I'd rather spend any day in a dumpster than have to watch a parent do that.
So glad I found this channel… I just moved and I haven’t bought much furniture just a couch and the cubes because I want to be aware of how I’m decorating it….I have so much extra space in my living room and still trying to figure out how I want to use it… and I don’t want my home to be cluttered
You must have huge homes in Pittsburgh, KB, if you can fit a piano in your living room! With these items, I think context is all important. A chandelier can look superb in a Parisienne or Grand Millenial setting, sideboards can be used as a cocktail bar, a TV stand or for hiding ugly items like printers, toys & shoes, a fireplace can be a lovely feature of a living room (as long as it’s authentic & used) & dining in the middle of the kitchen is not everyone’s cup of tea. I agree with you on the lumbar pillows & vintage chopping board though. What I don’t like are glass TV stands or open, clear cupboards where you can see tech wires. Grrr.
I believe the point she is trying to make is not to buy things just because they look nice, but invest in what you TRULY need. For example, I understand her point with the chase, but for my husband and me it suits us perfectly for 2 reasons: 1) We have a small apartment with only 1 tv that is in the living room, so we relax on the chaise every single night after dinner to watch a show. 2) We have a small group of family/friends in our town, so we never entertain large parties. She is simply giving broad directions on how we could save money and invest only in things that truly serves a purpose in our lifestyle
would you mind switching the audio on your videos from stereo to mono before exporting in the future? it's really distracting to have the audio be so unequal between your ears
Great tips as always :) Regarding lighting: one additional tip I would give - know in the US dimers and smart bulbs are pretty accessible, but for me - renting and in Brazil - I REALLY loved some bulbs I got that are self-dimering and would really recommend!
This one seems to miss the mark more often than not, but I can agree about the sofa/chaise. Unattractive, awkward, impractical, limits furniture placement, and still doesn't seat more than two people comfortably. I can't agree about sideboards, they are too useful for serving food/drinks when entertaining. Cutting boards? Plenty of ways to disinfect for the germaphobes among us. What you cut up on your board two days ago is a much bigger threat to your health than what someone cut up on it 50 years ago. Dining rooms, fireplaces, pianos? I don't think gutting the graciousness from modern homes is a viable approach to design. Many of us can't afford these things anyway, but when we can, saving money isn't as important as the pleasure they bring to our lives.
I bought 6 dining room chairs instead of 8. I used the same seat cushions in the kitchen & just bring them in for entertaining. It looks nice & now it’s more spacious in the dining room as a result.
I don't know why I thought you were Canadian and based in Toronto :) You are just the sweetest, I love your channel! Looking on your website now too! Cheers from Nova Scotia!
I guess recliner chairs and sofas are passe' now a days but they solve the problem of where you put your feet and reclining comfortably. In my area (SW Fl.) when you go into a furniture store they primarily sell recliners, with a few non recliners for the buyers who go with the trends. I think us old farts like our recliners.
My TV is mounted on wall and a little high. I have a sofa with recliners. I don't like the look of it but it is so comfortable. I tried not using recliners to see if I could get comfortable and I couldn't! Putting my legs up on table even with pillow was not comfortable. Plus my neck was uncomfortable trying to look up at TV. They do seem outdated but they sure are comfortable.
I completely agree with the chaise sectional segment. I opted for a sofa and two chairs instead, and though only one person can lay down at a time, I can seat more people this way. Plus, my kids have found a way to “lay down” on the chairs.
I love my fireplace. I literally would not buy a home without at least one. I have gas logs but love wood burning best. We use it all winter. I used them all winter even when I lived in a beach town (Huntington Beach, California) which was the first 54 years of my life. Nothing better to warm up a home. 🥰. That said, I don’t get them for bedrooms unless you have a large sitting area. Just too hot for sleeping. 🤷🏻♀️
Kiva! As usual, your information is appreciated. I use my server to hold my platters, chargers, teacup and saucer collection, teapots, candles, and my set of Christmas dishes. My server is a functional piece, and it's a beautiful espresso color. I have two gorgeous lamps on top at either end, two lovely tall chunky candlesticks, and three art deco pieces (small glass clock and two wooden busts). Maybe it's because I'm older (67), however I love my server! By the way, I live in an 800-square foot apartment with a small kitchen and limited cabinet space.
Whether you can do without a chandelier depends upon the room. Giant rooms with high ceilings need chandeliers. Anything smaller would throw the balance off. Using sideboards also depends on the size of the room. Large elegant dining rooms need them for formal dinner banquets as a place to put serving trays.
Am I the only person left in the world who hates stool-height tables/chairs? I totally agree that having both an eat-in kitchen island and a dining table is unnecessary -- but I would rather ditch the island, way before the dining table! (And in fact I did exactly that in my in-progress home remodel, where we chose not to expand the kitchen to fit an island because it would have required putting the dining table in a closed room off to the side rather than in the middle of the common area flow.)
💯 agree on the vintage cutting board! I never understood this trend. It really grossed me out & I would never use one, therefore never buy one. I buy the shape/style I like new & use it. The more you use it (and wash it), it will age & patina naturally & you know where it’s been!
I have a chaise sectional because it fits perfectly beside the window - the armrest is against the wall, the chaise part is along the radiator that's below the window. I wouldn't want the armrest blocking the heat. So for me it's just perfect.
My partner doesn't like wood smoke, the house has a fireplace. He sealed up the flue and we use it for vase storage. We got a fire screen that has a mid-century modern feel to it and I also put a Himalayan Salt Lamp in the firebox behind a large glass platter and the ambient glow of the ''fire'' is better than a fire, no ash mess.
I got a chaise and an ottoman. It was the best decision since I needed the long part for separating an open concept space but I also couldn't find a coffee table that worked. An ottoman does require a rug though since it will slide on wood floor.
Ultimately, what one *needs* in their house is very much dependent on one’s lifestyle. As a 30-something I love to host dinner and cocktail parties. Therefore, a side table is a necessity for me to store my linens (I’m all about cloth napkins), vintage glassware, serving dishes, bar glassware, candles, etc. My bar cart is also a necessity to store my 30+ bottles of alcohol because I’m always making a signature cocktail for my parties.
I'm pretty minimal. The only thing I have more of are pillows. Since I live in a studio, my bed needs to look good during the day and not 'look' like just my bed. Dual purpose furniture is what it's all about. Also, The more horizontal space you have, the more it can create clutter. Thanks Kiva! 😁💜
I agree with you. It’s just my husband and myself, how much seating do we need not much. I am cutting back on throw pillows. You help me save a lot of money. 😃
I had no idea that vintage cutting boards were a thing. I love my wooden cutting boards but in general, I don't buy vintage items for my kitchen. The materials they used way back when weren't regulated or tested for food safety the way we do now. I use glass and food safe wood in my kitchen and that's basically it. Great video!
We just got our sofa with a 35X35 inch ottoman and it's perfect! You can move in around, you can move it to the side if you need to open up the room or move it to the other side of the coffee table for parallel siting. My parents have an chaise sectional and it's very limiting especially if you ever want to rearrange the direction of your living room.
About those vintage cutting boards...With very rare exceptions, cutting boards are made of teak, walnut, or pine. All of those species of wood have volatile oils and a surface cell structure that is quite deadly to bacteria. In scientific studies of wooden cutting boards (they tested teak, pine, and beech) versus "sanitary" polyethylene boards, they could not discover ANY bacteria after five minutes on the wooden boards. Even on wooden boards used to chop raw meat and poultry, even when the boards were wet and left wet. Nope. The wooden boards were more sterile than the supposedly impervious plastic cutting boards. The older and more close-grained the wood, the more effective it is at destroying bacteria. This is true even with 100-year-old wood. A vintage chopping board is one of the safest and most sanitary choices you can make. I can supply the scientific references for you if you are interested. Please, go ahead and use your vintage cutting boards. Wash them with a gentle blend of warm water and soap, oil them with food-safe mineral oil, and chop to your heart's content.
I am always telling people that wood is self cleaning. I just did know all the science. Thankyou for that.
@@lililijo You are welcome, Liz! 😊
Yes! Wood boards are great and a pleasure to use. I was thinking no, no, no, when she was slamming them.
@@LadyInBlue3 Thanks!
I agree
You never cease to amaze me with your thoughtful and realistic ideas. You not only have great ideas, but you are freaking awesome at communicating them as well. Keep up the good work, what you do is so appreciated.
You are too sweet! Thank you so much for your kind words! 💕💕
Am I the only person who actually dislikes the vintage cutting boards layered on the kitchen counter? I'm just not a fan of the trend at all. 🤷♀️
I’m with you on this one. Functional cutting boards belong in a cabinet in my house. Otherwise, they’re just clutter to me!
I don’t like it, clutter and dust collectors to me!
I have a 4 x 5" cutting board and one little bit larger. I'm always moving them into the kitchen where I'm working. So I never really thought about it.. This sound to earth shattering I will have to check this out. Thanks
Yes VERY trendy indeed. I seriously don’t get this one. Like why a used vintage cutting board? Weird
To me, their dust and grease collectors. I have a cat and a kitchen open to the living room so anything that isn’t going to be used and washed/wiped down daily cannot be left out.
Love your videos, but you really Really need to work on the sound. It's very bad lol
1. I didn't spend money on open shelves because I know my messy husband and kids will never keep them the way I'd like.
2. I didn't spent money on a console entryway table because they don't have storage. Instead, I got a large cabinet and use it to store all my candles, home fragrances and occasional decor.
3. I didn't spend money on ready-made furniture for my livingroom. I got a custom-made sectional sofa that fits perfectly within my space and chose a durable fabric that my kids won't be able to ruin.
4. I didn't buy any trendy large furniture. I opted for the calm peices with the idea that I can always juggle with the small decor peices instead of wasting my money on the expensive large pieces and getting stuck with them.
5. I didn't waste my money on cheap art that does not mean anything to me. Although my walls are bare, I am saving up and looking forward to putting up only the art that I genuinely want to be hung on my walls.
Hi :) can you please tell me the company and durable fabric you used? I am looking to buy my first couch and I am looking for something stylish and durable that can last me several years.
I can't be without my sideboard! It's my fav piece of furniture and is where I enjoy showcasing my personal style! Is that a sideboard behind you in the video? 🤣
Lol 😂 😂
Lol we need a need answers Kiva 😂
It looks like a desk.
Please fix the sound
really agree with the excessive dining areas in a home. growing up in the 90s, it seems de rigeur to have the eat in kitchen and a formal dining room that is never used. when I bought my second home (a single family house), it was the first time we had an excess of space (my other residence being an apartment in the city). I told my husband that we don't need an EIK plus a dining room; why not just eat in the dining room all the time, and make every meal feel special? and that's what we did. the dining room was further styled like a library so not only do we eat in it every night, we can also read and work during other hours among all the books and decor.
I SO agree. I cannot remember a single time eating at the formal diningroom table. We did ay my grandmas for holidays, but never at my house. I'll be moving into a bigger apartment soon that'll most likely have an eik area with a dining room area. I want to use it as a gym space. Not the most ascetically pleasing, but it's a much better use of the space.
I just bought a new home and NOT having a formal dining and living room was one of my main priorities.
😂 I put my hamster 75 gallon tank on the formal dining room buffet/sideboard... if not, no use is made of that room
I got a side board to store all of our board games. So they are right there when we have game nights. And we needed a really long one because we have a large dining room. But "side boards" get pretty pricey. So I just found a little 2 door cabinet I really liked and ordered 3 of them to put right next to each other. It works great!
Our board games live in our sideboard as well! Also our masks and sanitizers lol
They are very expensive! I just got one from a yard sale for $40 that im going to revamp
I will never give up my chaise sectional, lol. We actually have an ottoman-type chaise you explain, AND the chaise for both of us. It's perfect.
Ha, ha, me same, it's in my bedroom and it's my sacred space. I need comfort...so yeah chaise not going anywhere!!
Same!! I’ll never trade in a chaise for an ottoman 😂😂😂 I need to lay down without sliding
I'm looking for a couch sectional w chaise. A sliding ottoman is what I was concerned about and falling through the crack!
I love mine, too, but I never entertain. I've had the sofa for a few months now and I've had one person over.
Yup I am getting a sectional. I love them!
I love extra storage. My sideboard has games, toys all kinds of fun things, As much as I like open shelves there is no way you can store anything in them.
Giiiiirl don’t come for me and my chaise! That’s the comfiest spot in my house 😂
I do not NEED the chaise, BUT I absolutely want it for myself so everyone has to sit elsewhere. 😄Thankfully, my room is a great size so yep, keeping it on the list. I've had a sofa and ottoman for years and definitely ready for the chaise.
Please listen to her. Like you, I just HAD to have a chaise sectional, so I got one. Because of Covid, I waited 10 months to get it and absolutely HATE it. It is awkward to sit on and really uncomfortable. I should have gone with a sofa and added an ottoman. Sooo, $1500 later, I’m trying to find a furniture maker who can convert the chaise part to an end unit for a reasonable price. Strictly my own personal experience..good luck
@@brendaindallas9880 I watch frequently and know the fabric of my life and the set up of my home. Thank you for weighing in, but this particular tip just doesn't apply to me.
I love the chaise life!!!! I seriously have only had a couch with a chaise for my own spaces because I didn't like the lack of one growing in my parent's house. I can imagine the waste of space of the ottomans too.. I am just not a fan of ottomans
@@stefanianzo9907 Yes, if the ottoman doesn't have storage it can be inconvenient at times. I'm looking at furniture now and will DEFINTELY be ordering a chaise.
Yes you have to have a huge room for a chaise lounge sofa or you will trip over it for sure! Lol!
Get a gas-log fireplace, they are marvelous = fire looks great, heats the room+, plus no clean up afterwards.
When I moved into my condo the previous owner abandoned their sideboard, I moved it to the living room where it is now a fancy entertainment center. One less piece of furniture to buy.
With the loss of kitchen space due to open architecture, a sideboard may become more and more useful to us.
Great point!
Uh, this is why I don't like the open space trend. It feels like living in a studio. Plus the smell from the kitchen can easily get into your couches. You may not smell it because you live in your home, but guests can smell it. It can even get into your clothes. People don't think about stuff like this. I prefer closed kitchens with open walkways.
This is hilarious. I am hands down a chaise sectional fan. I love sprawling out on them, that’s how I’m the most comfortable. And I hate ottomans. Maybe it’s because we have dogs, but they’re always getting moved around and I find it annoying dragging them back into place. I’m suddenly into chandlers, but I agree totally not necessary.
I have a sofa with Ottoman for 3 years and I hate it. Moving to L sectional. Sorry KB 😞
I agree! I do not like ottomans because it gets in the way of a coffee table and then I don't like the way how ottomans look on their own seperate from the couch!! Also... Ottomans as a coffee table??? I would have to purchase sperate pieces to set food items like a server. For this, the chaise sectional is just a cost and life saver for me... I sprawl on the couch as well lol
@@naromiesbeninche6975 that’s what keeps me from going that route but the chaise sofa I want would be too big for my current space so I’m waiting. My son just bought one for his apt and loves it. To each their own. Like she says, we have to do what works for our space and lifestyles. 🥰
@@michellem3879 that's true it more often whichever can fit the place! My thinking is that At least with the sectional I figure that 2 people can lay down at once(me and My hubby).I am moving to Texas soon. I am worried whether the sofa would work for the new place (haven't seen it yet.. only had a 3D virtual tour)but I really want that sectional so we both can get cozy at the same time.
@stefani I hate the Ottoman too. I never opened it 🤣🤣🤣
Same we use to have an ottoman and not the best. Also not comfortable over time it always made a gap when you wanted to use as a sectional. We race for who will go on the chaise part since it’s so comfy.
I agree with most of these. I made the mistake of buying a 3-seater sectional years ago and what I’ve found is, I can rarely be bothered to squish into the corner to lay down as it’s too far from the fire/tv. And when we have visitors, they tend to sit uncomfortably on the leg part with no one sitting in the corner seat. A separate ottoman is a much better idea - far more versatile. The only one on your list that I disagreed with was the lumbar pillow. I use the one in my bedroom to support my head when reading, my living room one supports my head when watching tv and the one on my patio dining chair supports my lumbar region. I wouldn’t be without them.
I inherited an antique Stickley buffet that is in my combo living - dining room.I honestly don't know what I'd do for storage without it. Beside that it is beautiful, & we like the ambiance antique furniture gives.
I'm 29 and have many different china sets... living a granny life xD
I even have "fine" cuttlery and fabric napkins. Yes, I'm that fancy bitch! And I love it!
Sure, it's a lost thing in my generation, but I love it and it needs a comeback! So much fun to chose from different sets for a nice table setting!
(Of course not practical for people who move often or live very nomadic).
Im in trouble. We brought our sectional and it will be delivered in early Dec. Love the tips. Wish I heard this 2 months ago. Great content as usual. Thanks KB
You can get a beautiful cutting board that isn't vintage. There are plenty of carpenters, craftsmen and artists that make and sell them. Maintenance isn't complicated, you may just have to treat the wood with an oil regularly (you can use very cheap mineral oil). I bought one as a gift for my husband last year and it's a statement piece in our kitchen that we use every single day.
Wow. I've been shopping for a sectional because I want to somehow divide the space between the dining area and living area. Then the other day I found the perfect small sectional but it is SO expensive! Now, I love the ottoman idea. So much to think about! Also, this condo came with a heavy chandelier in the little breakfast nook area that dictated where the table had to go - but I study there - and hit my head on that chandelier. Changing to a flush mount was the BEST decision.
You might want to consider an armless sofa or loveseat as the divider. I’m doing that to separate the dining area and living area … facing sofas are a lot more conducive to conversation than a sectional and it definitely helps to define the functional spaces
Very thoughtful video, Kiva. Yes, I have a Brookstone lumbar pillow that I use for traveling. Love it!
I do, however, also have a dining room sideboard that I have had for over 30 years in a formal dining room. It holds my various table linens, serving pieces and various holiday table decorations. I use everything that I have accumulated over the years. (I know, I know, I am dating myself). I have a wood burning fireplace and love it. I use it often every fall and winter. I often light a fire just for me (not just when I am entertaining during cold months). It is all a matter of priorities and what you love.
Love the video! Not having an ottoman trains people not to put their feet up on the coffee table. As an academic I would prefer the chaise sofa for reading and grading with less stress on my knees. The ottoman is very hard on your knees and hips over time. As you age, it matters.
I'm at the age point where I prefer a recliner lol. Ottoman definitely are rough on the knees, and the chaise is tough to climb in and out of! So I'm more of a recliner type. ( elegant ones...not those big overstuffed man cave types)
I grade on my chez lounge all the time!
I have an atypical approach to pillows. I have them on the sofas, but they're smaller than usual and squashy. You can actually sit down without worrying about them. They provide visual interest and you can pile them up if you want support.
OMG, Kiva, I put chandeliers wherever I can!! Two minis in my walk-in closet. I shop REALLY intensively, have the most gorgeous chandeliers, and have never paid more than $300. I bought one, a knock off of--you know the one--it has branches and crystals for leaves and the color was brassy. A real bargain because they couldn't sell it, it was so ugly. I painted it gold, keeping the darkened recesses and creases and it looks terrific in a stairwell. But I also have recessed and bulbs etc. You just have to SHOP!
#teamchandelier here too!
@@andreathorpe7035 😍😍😍
I feel like if it works within your life you should get it. I take others advise with a grain of salt! If you love chandeliers and they bring you joy and you’re able to get great deals, then kudos to you!! ✌🏾♥️
@@ms.one-town901 I agree and also feel that applies to everything. There are good pieces of advice and general rules, but what excites one individual may be anathema to another. 💛
Traditional fireplaces funnel the heat right up the chimney with the smoke. If you put in a fireplace insert, it will actually funnel the heat into the room , and keep you cozy without burning through logs really quickly. They’re almost as efficient as wood stoves and fit inside your fireplace. Since you close them, you can just let it burn down safely.
We spend all of our time in the family room, so the formal living room never gets used and the formal dining room never gets used because we always use the breakfast nook in the kitchen. The spaces are fully furnished and decorated "for company" but we never actually have company lol. And in the 11 years I've lived in my home, I'd never thought of my wood burning fireplace as anything other than a spot to decorate around for the holidays.... had never used it once.... until last year when a winter storm hit and we were without electricity and heat for several days, with temps in the low teens.
We lived in a brownstone for about 30 years. I had the most gorgeous fireplace in the living room and never used it once! Who wants all that stuff, maybe smoke idk burning next to your nice furniture! But it was great to decorate!
I don’t want to be rude but I’m sorry it’s confusing to hear you in just one earphone…
The audio is low and in one headphone for me
I can definitely see how ppl’s lives evolve. I have a buffet in my dining room. However I just look at it as storage so anything decor, sunglasses, candles are all in there. I think the big thing is if you already owned something making sure you repurpose for how you live. I also agree with eliminating multiple eating areas. It may depend on how your space is laid out but typically those areas are super close to each other. I think we’re just use to buying certain furniture for certain designated spaces. I knew I didn’t want another full fledged table and chairs so I made the kitchen more cafe/lounge style. It’s not formal. I can drink coffee in the AM or open my laptop to pretend I’m at a coffeehouse. The table can fit two/three plates if need be. But to your point, dining chairs alone are pricey. So I wouldn’t bother unless I entertained a lot.
I live in Europe, in my country kitchen island are not the norm also we have close or semi open concept.
I have a Mediterranean/Alentejo kitchen which are large kitchen with a big wood table and a huge stone fireplace that you can cook, never like dining rooms, no matter the occasion we eat in the kitchen, it's warmer, cozy and close to the food😊
I recently purchased both a console and a sideboard. I absolutely LOVE them! They are so beautiful and very functional. I have a very small house and they take up valuable space but since they provide storage, the trade-off is a non-issue.
I definitely can do without cutting boards being displayed
I’ve used a sideboard for many things. To set up desserts or charcuterie, for off season candles and it’s great for storing board games that are often played on the dining table. I use it also for my sons’s school craft supplies, platters, chargers and placemats.
I have this couch that has a detachable ottoman situation. It was from ikea - its the coolest thing ever bc depending on how your maneuver the cushions around you can create a couch with an ottoman OR attach it on the left or right side again depending on how the cushions are placed on the sofa - instantly become a chaise lounge 😀 definitely affordable and practical for Any living situation!
Ooooo...whats it called, please? 😃
@@ltgemini1599 I have been legit searching their website and can not find it (I got it a long time ago) can't remember the name ofcourse - I have a feeling they stopped making that model. I'm sure you can get couches in pieces though and put them together how you want so you have lots of options for your space. I have seen sectionals that do that - you put them together to create the sofa you need vs spending money on something that may not fit 🤔
@@DavidOwenCreates Thank you for the update!
@@ltgemini1599 sorry I couldn't find it!!
It took me 60+ years, but I finally have a house with enough space for that chaise sofa I always wanted and I’m going to leave my boob fixtures until I’m ready for a change! I’m having trouble with figuring out what to put over the fireplace because my other half has very different likes than I do in the art department and we’re still working on counter stools!
The mini upgrade for my bedroom is trying to figure out how to retrofit my gorgeous king sized midcentury modern headboard to my queen sized bed.
Have you thought of placing a mirror above your fireplace? That away it doesn’t have to be a issue between choosing styles of art, plus it can help bounce some light in the space.
You could get a Samsung frame tv above it and then display both your styles of art on a rotation?
OMG, Ive been trying to decide between a traditional sofa or one with a chaise. Less than a minute into this video and Kiva has made the decision for me - love her!
I love my chaise 💁
Get the chaise 🤣 I love mine. You don’t NEED it but if your budget and space allows it’s actually a very practical purchase. I don’t regret my purchase one bit
I love my chaise. My best spot in the living room. Can even nap in it. Best decision I made.
Get the chaise lol. Normally I agree w most of her points but this is one of those exceptions. 😂🙂 It can be such a great piece!
I love my sectional with the chaise and ottoman. Yes my livingroom is big. I miss your hair color.
I'm sure it looks beautiful in your living room! Thanks for watching Torrie! 💕
Like this look on her
I like her current hair color better, tbh.
I love this hair color - natural and beautiful.
Um just bought a chaise sectional and a chandelier and I have a real fireplace and a fake one 😂😂😂
If you love the stacked vintage cutting boards but feel sketchy about using them, just get one of those plastic liner cutting mats to use on top. You can store one behind the wood board.
Another thing that takes up too much room is king sized beds, unless you are very tall and/or wide, or have a very large bedroom to put it in. Sheets cost more, blankets & comforters cost more & king sized mattresses cost more.
We tried downsizing from a king to a Queen bed, but we quickly discovered that our two dogs hogged the space, and we had to return to King!!🤣
Lol I'm looking forward to getting a king! It's worth the extra cost to get to sprawl more. Been the husband and dog, they steal all my room lol
@@tamiewert808 I forgot to mention dogs too!
After having a Queen forever I’m finally getting a king next week for my new house and I can’t wait! We need room for the kids in the bed though lol
We’ve had a king sized bed our whole marriage( 47 years) and love it. It’s worth the extra cost, imho. We even have king beds in 3 guest rooms…. I never considered buying anything else, lol. To each their own! 😊
I love my sideboard, and styling it is not an issue. Mine is actually a repurposed dresser and it holds my decor that I rotate for the seasons, and placemats and such.
I love sideboards too. Several years ago, we moved into a home with a sunroom and I turned it into another dining room with another sideboard--right off the "rec" room that I had already turned into a summer dining room with, of course, a sideboard. I converted a sideboard into a bathroom sink console. I would have more, but I ran out of space lol.
@@glittermama nice! Do you have any pics of the one you converted to the sink console? That sounds like a great diy!
"Go to a better grocery store". You're a girl after my own heart! This is the best upgrade I've ever made. We enjoy the meals we are making so much that we dine out much less and don't miss it.
We always called the sideboard the buffet. You’d place large platters of food on it and guests could serve themselves and sit down. I see a lot of modern dining rooms with just a table and chairs.
A lumbar pillow ... A shield against kicking toddlers in the middle of the night 😂. Or my nest. Don't enter the nest LOL!
Fireplaces draw heat out of your home as they go out. So you need doors to close to prevent that. I’ll have a gas fireplace in my new place, which is easy. No more wood burning fireplaces for me! I graduated from Girl Scouts a long time ago!
I love your honest advice, I too am guilty of some of these and have ended up selling things like a purple chandelier for example as it served no purpose and my colour scheme is more neutral as I have evolved in taste 🙂🇬🇧
I store liquor in my sideboard and use as a bar I had a huge wall to fill in my dinning area.
Same!
I think of a sideboard as a landing space. As one brings food from the kitchen to the eaters, it's an elegant solution for the need for a staging area. Just like in a restaurant, the server drops the tray on the sideboard and serves from there. It's also a nice space for a buffet spread.
I really love playing your videos in the morning when I'm cooking breakfast! Love your tips and communication style. Really appreciate what you're sharing with the world, it genuinely has a positive impact! Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more. I have a massive dining area that is empty due to not knowing what to do with it. We have no family or company and never eat at a table. Someday I will figure it out. I love all your videos. Such good info.
You are soooo right for all of these things in the video!! 4 years ago I realized that my dining table and chairs are useless to me and they just took up valuable space in my living room and that the space could be better used otherwise. Since I live on my own, I usually eat with a tray on my lap on the couch in front of the TV, as I always did even younger at my parents' house. So I sent my IKEA dining table to my parents' basement (they have plenty of storage) and rearranged the 4 chairs throughout the house so that they would serve a purpose as well. Now the vacant space is used as a dancing practice area (my favorite hobby) and I couldn't be more happy! Also there was a fortunate timing when all of that happened, just before COVID locked us in our homes, so I had the space I needed for my online dancing lessons. When I will need a dining table, I will search for a small expandable one, so that it doesn't take up space in my appartment. You are wonderfu Kiva! Keep up the good job!!!
Ooooh I relate to that! If you want space for dancing in your home, it's ridiculous how much furniture all of a sudden is not needed anymore.😊 (I decluttered my bedframe for that matter and sleep on a matress on the floor which I fold up against the wall during the day.)
As I'm looking for a home to downsize to, I'm discovering a fireplace is a must. Of course, we live in Chicago.
Agreed it’s a must! I live in Chicago and that small addition makes home feel like a luxury.
I'm watching with earphones in, music left ear, voice right, so weird..
My party plates are a set of 12 melamine dinner plates printed with the head of Boba Fett.
I don't display them.
I agree sideboards can create "commotion" in a small dining space. I just took the sideboard out of our dining room today and it feels SO MUCH better! Ours always had to many plants on it and it drove me bonkers. It looks so much more minimalist now- which is what I lean towards. I don't know why it took me so long! Thanks for validating me haha
We are renting a little furnished house while we build and the whole damned living room is taken up by a giant awkward chaise sectional. I like the couch and ottoman idea, but I’m still searching because it’s hard to find smaller scaled furniture anymore. We will definitely have a fireplace so that we can have heat when the power goes out (as it does on occasion in the mountains). But I think a lot of what you are wisely saying is not to buy things you won’t actually use. Which is a pretty good general rule for life.
May I ask where you’re building? We just came back from the N GA mountains & we love it there. Good luck with your build!
@@camm8832 Same mountain range - we’re in east Tennessee. Thanks!
I use my lumbar pillow. It really helps. Might be the type of sofa I have. AND I live in Pittsburgh too and have a gas FP. I’ve had wood burning FPs in other houses but didn’t use them much. The house I’m in already had a gas FP and it is sooo easy to use. I have realistic logs and it’s beautiful. Highly recommend converting if you think lighting and cleaning a wood burning FP is more trouble than it’s worth.
We had a sofa and matching ottoman. It's not the same as a chaise sofa. If you're trying to lay on the ottoman portion as if it's a chaise, your butt ends up in the space between the two pieces. Our space is small and the ottoman was in the way no matter what we did with it. I replaced the entire thing with a chaise. It's sized like a sofa but one side is open like a chaise. Fits my small living room but not two people laying flat. No big deal. It's become my "nest." My husband perches on the chaise or sits somewhere else.
Aunt Kiva has spoken more words of wisdom than we could have thought possible. Say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our pocketbooks- and hearts,of course.
You are so on point! Bold! Practical! Very smart as well!!!
Thanks so much Janet! 💕💕
I am a dumpster diver so that's where my standards are, but "vintage" cutting board?! What a scam! That's just a gross old cutting board. I would not cross that line. Even if they were 100 percent germ free, no. It's somehow reminiscent of how young mothers (I am starting to gag just thinking about it) will use the baby's spoon to clean off the spit/babyfood combo pack that the baby just globbed out of its mouth and then mom will eat it herself. I'd rather spend any day in a dumpster than have to watch a parent do that.
So glad I found this channel… I just moved and I haven’t bought much furniture just a couch and the cubes because I want to be aware of how I’m decorating it….I have so much extra space in my living room and still trying to figure out how I want to use it… and I don’t want my home to be cluttered
Same! Good luck!
You never lied about dining chairs 😂😩 $250 each for my wishbone chairs. I currently still only have two and we mostly eat at the island.
You must have huge homes in Pittsburgh, KB, if you can fit a piano in your living room! With these items, I think context is all important. A chandelier can look superb in a Parisienne or Grand Millenial setting, sideboards can be used as a cocktail bar, a TV stand or for hiding ugly items like printers, toys & shoes, a fireplace can be a lovely feature of a living room (as long as it’s authentic & used) & dining in the middle of the kitchen is not everyone’s cup of tea. I agree with you on the lumbar pillows & vintage chopping board though. What I don’t like are glass TV stands or open, clear cupboards where you can see tech wires. Grrr.
I believe the point she is trying to make is not to buy things just because they look nice, but invest in what you TRULY need. For example, I understand her point with the chase, but for my husband and me it suits us perfectly for 2 reasons: 1) We have a small apartment with only 1 tv that is in the living room, so we relax on the chaise every single night after dinner to watch a show. 2) We have a small group of family/friends in our town, so we never entertain large parties.
She is simply giving broad directions on how we could save money and invest only in things that truly serves a purpose in our lifestyle
Great video but I have sound only in one earphone.
That's weird! Let me try to figure out why that is happening!
Yeah, me too. I thought it was my headphones.
@@KivaBrent The sound has been bad for all of your recent videos
would you mind switching the audio on your videos from stereo to mono before exporting in the future? it's really distracting to have the audio be so unequal between your ears
Great tips as always :)
Regarding lighting: one additional tip I would give - know in the US dimers and smart bulbs are pretty accessible, but for me - renting and in Brazil - I REALLY loved some bulbs I got that are self-dimering and would really recommend!
This one seems to miss the mark more often than not, but I can agree about the sofa/chaise. Unattractive, awkward, impractical, limits furniture placement, and still doesn't seat more than two people comfortably. I can't agree about sideboards, they are too useful for serving food/drinks when entertaining. Cutting boards? Plenty of ways to disinfect for the germaphobes among us. What you cut up on your board two days ago is a much bigger threat to your health than what someone cut up on it 50 years ago. Dining rooms, fireplaces, pianos? I don't think gutting the graciousness from modern homes is a viable approach to design. Many of us can't afford these things anyway, but when we can, saving money isn't as important as the pleasure they bring to our lives.
Wow Kiva! Such an unexpected yet welcomed video. I need more of these. My bank account sends you a hug! 🥰
Hi Miriam! Sometimes it's good to give our wallets a break 😂😂😂
@@KivaBrent 1000% 🤙🏼
I bought 6 dining room chairs instead of 8. I used the same seat cushions in the kitchen & just bring them in for entertaining. It looks nice & now it’s more spacious in the dining room as a result.
I don't know why I thought you were Canadian and based in Toronto :) You are just the sweetest, I love your channel! Looking on your website now too! Cheers from Nova Scotia!
Thank you so much!! 💕
I guess recliner chairs and sofas are passe' now a days but they solve the problem of where you put your feet and reclining comfortably. In my area (SW Fl.) when you go into a furniture store they primarily sell recliners, with a few non recliners for the buyers who go with the trends. I think us old farts like our recliners.
My TV is mounted on wall and a little high. I have a sofa with recliners. I don't like the look of it but it is so comfortable. I tried not using recliners to see if I could get comfortable and I couldn't! Putting my legs up on table even with pillow was not comfortable. Plus my neck was uncomfortable trying to look up at TV. They do seem outdated but they sure are comfortable.
I completely agree with the chaise sectional segment. I opted for a sofa and two chairs instead, and though only one person can lay down at a time, I can seat more people this way.
Plus, my kids have found a way to “lay down” on the chairs.
I am first yea!
Hi!! Happy Friday!
I love my fireplace. I literally would not buy a home without at least one. I have gas logs but love wood burning best. We use it all winter. I used them all winter even when I lived in a beach town (Huntington Beach, California) which was the first 54 years of my life. Nothing better to warm up a home. 🥰. That said, I don’t get them for bedrooms unless you have a large sitting area. Just too hot for sleeping. 🤷🏻♀️
Not sure if it is me but the sound is off on this video. Still love your videos though. I just want to be able to hear you more
Awesome video, as always, Kiva. You're the best. I especially appreciated your advice on all the dining spaces in our homes!!
Kiva! As usual, your information is appreciated.
I use my server to hold my platters, chargers, teacup and saucer collection, teapots, candles, and my set of Christmas dishes. My server is a functional piece, and it's a beautiful espresso color. I have two gorgeous lamps on top at either end, two lovely tall chunky candlesticks, and three art deco pieces (small glass clock and two wooden busts). Maybe it's because I'm older (67), however I love my server!
By the way, I live in an 800-square foot apartment with a small kitchen and limited cabinet space.
Whether you can do without a chandelier depends upon the room. Giant rooms with high ceilings need chandeliers. Anything smaller would throw the balance off. Using sideboards also depends on the size of the room. Large elegant dining rooms need them for formal dinner banquets as a place to put serving trays.
You dont need tree salon/coffee tables when you're living room isn't that big. It's trendy, but you dont need it.
I think I'm the ONLY person on the planet who doesn't like chandeliers
Am I the only person left in the world who hates stool-height tables/chairs? I totally agree that having both an eat-in kitchen island and a dining table is unnecessary -- but I would rather ditch the island, way before the dining table! (And in fact I did exactly that in my in-progress home remodel, where we chose not to expand the kitchen to fit an island because it would have required putting the dining table in a closed room off to the side rather than in the middle of the common area flow.)
I love a beautiful chaise but I hate it being part of a sofa. I like a little separation.
💯 agree on the vintage cutting board! I never understood this trend. It really grossed me out & I would never use one, therefore never buy one. I buy the shape/style I like new & use it. The more you use it (and wash it), it will age & patina naturally & you know where it’s been!
Omg! The fireplace thing! I laughed so hard!🤣
love the video but sound tho
I have a chaise sectional because it fits perfectly beside the window - the armrest is against the wall, the chaise part is along the radiator that's below the window. I wouldn't want the armrest blocking the heat. So for me it's just perfect.
My partner doesn't like wood smoke, the house has a fireplace. He sealed up the flue and we use it for vase storage. We got a fire screen that has a mid-century modern feel to it and I also put a Himalayan Salt Lamp in the firebox behind a large glass platter and the ambient glow of the ''fire'' is better than a fire, no ash mess.
I got a chaise and an ottoman. It was the best decision since I needed the long part for separating an open concept space but I also couldn't find a coffee table that worked. An ottoman does require a rug though since it will slide on wood floor.
Ultimately, what one *needs* in their house is very much dependent on one’s lifestyle. As a 30-something I love to host dinner and cocktail parties. Therefore, a side table is a necessity for me to store my linens (I’m all about cloth napkins), vintage glassware, serving dishes, bar glassware, candles, etc. My bar cart is also a necessity to store my 30+ bottles of alcohol because I’m always making a signature cocktail for my parties.
I'm pretty minimal. The only thing I have more of are pillows. Since I live in a studio, my bed needs to look good during the day and not 'look' like just my bed. Dual purpose furniture is what it's all about. Also, The more horizontal space you have, the more it can create clutter. Thanks Kiva! 😁💜
I agree with you. It’s just my husband and myself, how much seating do we need not much. I am cutting back on throw pillows. You help me save a lot of money. 😃
I had no idea that vintage cutting boards were a thing. I love my wooden cutting boards but in general, I don't buy vintage items for my kitchen. The materials they used way back when weren't regulated or tested for food safety the way we do now. I use glass and food safe wood in my kitchen and that's basically it. Great video!
I can always use advice to save money and be smart.
We can still have a lively home space without clutter! Thanks KB for your video 😃
Thanks so much for watching Erin!! 💕
We just got our sofa with a 35X35 inch ottoman and it's perfect! You can move in around, you can move it to the side if you need to open up the room or move it to the other side of the coffee table for parallel siting. My parents have an chaise sectional and it's very limiting especially if you ever want to rearrange the direction of your living room.
something's up with your audio, your voice only comes out of the right side of my headphones, but the intro music is in both sides
Nooooooooooo not the chaise sectional!!!! Where will you lay on lazy afternoons! You’re right about not being able to accommodate
Sanitize those cutting boards. I can't believe they cost THAT much! I can get them for like $10! Also, love my antique sideboard!
My dilemma is that I love the look of my decor bed pillows but hate moving them all the time.
I totally understand that!! 😂
First World Problem! 🌎🇺🇸