You are about to move into a completely new house: A place designed just for you. No one has ever lived there before, there is nothing to change, fix or adjust. Just slip yourself into its pristine perfection.
Oh wait, one question. Do you install your old stuff?
Consider the hours you've spent, deliberately choosing every aspect of this new home. The style of it is no accident. You are not putting up with the taste or decisions of anyone else. Everything, from the sinks to the staircase banisters, you gave your stamp of approval. So it all works together, right?
In other places, over periods of time, you've bought into various elements. That classic English walnut dinning table has graced eight quite different homes, as well as a tiny apartment. Mission pieces gradually inhabited every room. Leather furniture may be timeless, but you have it in four distinct styles -- all of it well used, still utterly serviceable.
To say nothing of the little things. Lamps, candlesticks, vases, picture frames -- even the artwork -- eclectic, to the max. Some of these objects d'art have been with you throughout your life. Much has been added lovingly, and by choice. Each piece holds memories and imparts feelings, however subconsciously, via its mere presence.
Expect your architect to chafe at the thought of all this mish-mash of belongings taking up residence in your carefully designed abode. And thank the stars that shades of Frank Lloyd Wright are not involved, because -- his genius aside -- you probably would not want that control artist designing
every chair, lamp, and rug. Much less your wardrobe.
You, yourself, have been exacting enough. It had to be that fireplace surround, right? Those tiles, in the bathrooms. Rather particular about those switch plates, weren't you? The doorknobs. How could you not!
Here is where the rubber meets the road.
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