Sunday, January 23, 2011

My Design "Bucket List"


#1 Totally gut and decorate the inside of an Airstream travel trailer.
Then travel across the United States!

#2 Transform a mid-century rancher into a quaint cottage.
Then live in it, in all its single story glory!

Polished Pebble
#3 Pull up the front lawn in #2 and plant a raised bed vegetable garden, with stone walls.

#4 Design a chicken coop for the backyard of #2 and #10 and finally have chickens in my life!

#5 Decorate a rustic cabin in the woods.

#6 Decorate a cottage by the sea.

#7 Design, build and decorate a house from scratch, complete with guest cottage for resale.

#8 Have a store that sells both new and vintage furnishings and accessories.

#9 Travel to Europe, buying for #8!

#10 Live in Europe and remodel a French mas in Provence, or a villa in Tuscany, just like Peter Mayle and Frances Mayes did! Oh, and have chickens in the yard there too!

I realize everything on my design bucket list is for the last half (or quarter) of my life. Creative adventures to keep busy with while enjoying the golden years! While I will probably only check a couple of boxes on the list, like gardening and chickens, it's good to keep dreaming, right?
I plan to elaborate on each item, so be sure to check back for more details, starting with #1, Remodeling an Airstream!

What's on your design "bucket list?"

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37 comments:

Dianne said...

Redoing a mid century ranch, keeping it mid century contemporary, all one level, then living in it and enjoying the sparseness before I return to my permanent home that has my beloved layers. We all really need several houses to do in different styles. :)

Rashon Carraway said...

I would enjoy owning my own shop. Shopping for treasures to put in it. Not so much for income, but certainly for the joys of spreading the love of wonderful items.

Mr. Goodwill Hunting

cottage farm villa said...

I think you are my soul sister!

CC said...

This list makes my heart sing.....Wanna go halves!?!?!? Tee hee

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

A great list! #'s 2 & 4 are on my list! We've been looking for a mid-century house to buy, but I think we have to wait a few more years til our girls move out.

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

1 more thing: Have you seen the Painted house blog? Here's the link to her ranch redo: http://www.tphblog.com/a-ranch-redo/
She also reno'd a house in the mountains. Both are fabulous!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

What a great bucket list. I would love a one story house too. Chickens seem to be all the rage now. We can't have farm animals here right now. Maybe later if our neighbor who sold us this property ever leaves or changes his mind. My mom and step dad just bought an old air stream. I haven't even seen it yet.

Infatuated with Homes and Gardens said...

What a great idea ,many of yours would be on mine too ,what a great idea for alink party I would totally attend this!
~Sharon~

Anonymous said...

Oh dear Delores, I have done everything except #8 - does that mean my days are numbered?

Some of them I'd like to do again...

Sarah said...

Delores, you seem like the kind of gal that will get more than just a few checked off. I'd like to add #10 to my list, but I'm already in my golden years. LOL
I lok forward to your future posts about each of these. ~ sarah

Paige Thomas King said...

i could just cut and paste your list--while I've already done (and continue to tweak) #8. Let me tell you, it really cuts into your ability to do anything else!
thanks for sharing your list!
keep your dreams big!
paige

Anonymous said...

I'd love to move to France and redo an old country inn, perhaps make it a bed and breakfast, with a vineyard in the back, olive trees and yes, a few chickens for fresh eggs.

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Delores,
I will totally join you for the shopping trips to Europe for the store and decorating/designing a beach cottage..time share!?

I hope you get the chickens, they will perfect for your gorgeous setting!

A Toile Tale said...

Delores -
I'm so in tune with your list. I wish you could meet my across the lake neighbor. His hobby is redoing Air Stream trailers. He has several of them situated on his property as party stations. He serves food like a diner in one, has an ultrasuede lounge in one, etc. He also has a couple for travel. I understand there is an organization for those who have an interest in Airstreams. Have you contacted them and asked "Who wants to provide the ends to my bucket list"?
Linda @ A Toile Tale

Linda in AZ * said...

*** I KNEW it, D!!!... We really W*E*R*E "separated at birth!" ***

Hugs,
Linda *

Lana said...

I love every single item on your design bucket list and have thought and dreamed of each!

I'm getting ready to fulfill one of those dreams by living in Italy (we're moving in less than 2 weeks) for a year.

I've been meaning to write you an email and will do that before we head off, but you are truly an inspiration to me. Your home (s) in California is/are the most European looking creations I've seen stateside. The way the Tuscan elements converge with the Scottish Tartans...and the French items...it's truly European, your magnificent design melange!!!

I'll write more soon. You absolutely are an inspiration and amazing!

Hugs, Lana

The Polka Dot Closet said...

What a fabulous bucket list! The cottage, store, Europe, I love it all...The travel trailer, maybe not so much!!LOL

Carol

angela | the painted house said...

Well, goodness gracious, your list could very well be mine!!! :) Except maybe I'd have donkeys instead of chickens, ha!

Thank you so much for stopping by TPH--and thank you to Pam for leading the way. :) Great blog you have here!

Mariette said...

Dearest Delores,

Guess after having worked and lived in almost every continent, we feel at HOME where we are now. Besides, the golden year era is not the best for more adventures! With our 62 visits to Europe to visit our parents, that took care of most of the 'dream money' but we don't regret a thing.

Enjoy your dreams for as long as you can; that keeps life interesting and worth living it!

Love,

Mariette

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

I plan to learn to cook, and soon too, because I'm already on my last 3rd of life!

Marlis said...

I've been wanting chickens, but can't have them in town - so I guess move.
Have a couple of horses, once again move.
Build a cantina in the back yard.
Put in a pond.
Make drapes!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Delores, I have dreamed of doing ALL of these things on your list (except the chickens!). I have even tried many times to talk my husband into trading in our r.v. for an old, broken down Airstream that I could decorate the way I'd like, and oh, a cabin, a beach house, all of the above. What fun! laurie

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Delores, Your bucket list is perfect for me! My parents bought the first airstream ever sold! It was such an attraction that they were on the front page of the local paper and complete strangers would come to the door and ask to see it. I hope everything on your bucket list comes true.
Hugs,
Sherry

Carol S. said...

Go go Delores, you can do it! Love the pictures and the dreams. "creative adventures to keep busy" is a wonderful theme. My kids are jr high school and 6th grade. So little time (and money) keeps me focused on small things (inspired by blogs like yours) for now, like setting a pretty Christmas brunch table for 4. Hmmm...but while we're dreaming, definitely an Adirondack style cabin on a lake is on my bucket list. Go, go, go!!!

Carol S. said...

One more thing....I was at son's volleyball tournament and saw a darling pair of men's green tartan slipper/moccasins abandoned under the bleachers. Thought of you, and really had to control myself from giving them a new home (in case the owner came back). Hate to think of them sitting in a lost and found box!

Anonymous said...

This is an awesome list, and I think you should do it all and share it on the blog! :-) Ok. All might be a stretch, but I'm looking forward to seeing the things that you do.

Heather @ Satisfying Spaces said...

That is a great list. Now I want to go make one!

Lizabeth said...

Wow, I felt like I was reading my own bucket list! I would prefer a motorhome as opposed to the trailer since I've already owned one in the past. I would like goats and chickens!
Having a store that sells both new and vintage furnishings with a perk of going to Europe to find some of the goods is a definite hit on the head for me! I would love to own at least 4 homes; one in a big city; one near the ocean; a cabin retreat; and a family home with lots of bedrooms for guests to stay over. All would be decorated differently, so I would get to enjoy a variety of decorting themes!

BumbleVee said...

I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of an Airstream..... before you rip it apart... always wondered what they look like inside...never seen one up close and personal....

Kathysue said...

Delores, I looooove your bucket list. I have two list, My someday list- things I am pretty sure I will get done someday!! and my Wish list- the things I am pretty sure will never happen but I love to dream about the possibilities.

You have to get the chickens I have a friend that has some and I fell in love with them. I have a great web site for a darling chicken coop if you are interested. You see I have been dreaming of that also.

I live in a one story ranch, if you need to dream over here, come on over and we can have fun dreaming together about changes!!!

The beach cottage is at the top of my Wish list!! Love the ocean!! What a fun post for a Monday, xo Kathysue

Karen said...

Delores,
I recently blogged a "bucket list" but it only had 3 items on it and they were all travel related...I like your list so much better. In fact I will have to give some thought to a list related to my passion (which we share in common). I have always wanted chickens and a coop, but may have to settle for an outdoor bird aviary.
karen

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I could copy a few of yours for sure. Number one would be live in Tuscany/Abruzzi, Umbria for a year. No need to buy, happy to rent a villa with a vineyard view.
Hugs,
Penny
p.s. I am have a book giveaway - French Country...

Tamra said...

Buy the trailer you decorate and travel the US.

Build a garden that looks like #3

Build a chicken coop for my chickens that looks like #4

Own a store that looks like #8

Live on a streen like #9

Make my home look like #10

Renée Finberg said...

this post is too fabulous!!
thank you

Mrs. Serendipity said...

Love your bucket list especially #2! Love the single story ranch! Mrs. S

for the love of a house said...

now that's a bucket list!!

Rachel said...

My husband wants and Airstream, it's the only travel trailer I will go along with.

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