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D W E L L I N G W I T H D E S I G N
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including this hanger [one of Theo’s favourite items in 2004], where
things would start to find their proper places. (Theo 05 291-305)
Theo is describing such a series of events where one thing leads to another
until the household winds up in a situation where the end result may be something
that nobody was looking for. In Theo’s case, there were practical reasons
for using a particular set of tableware. The set was easily available and, since no
one in the family liked it, it did not matter if the dishes broke, and, indeed, the
risk of breaking a dish was higher because of the renovation. That was the plan.
But then, because the set was not what they were actually going to use, it was
not put into “its place”, but then neither was anything else. Instead, ingredients,
coffee makers and other stuff floated around in the kitchen and, in effect,
the kitchen had become impossible to use. It seems, then, that a displeasing
tableware was preventing Theo’s household from using the kitchen. Said in
this way, it no doubt makes one wonder why they just did not go upstairs and
hunt for a set they found pleasing enough to live with and call it quits. But,
in reality, displacing the annoying set with a more pleasing one would have
required opening up and sorting through all the boxes in the upstairs storage,
an action that was unreasonable as long as the renovation was still in full
swing.
In the sample, there were some occasions which further illustrate how it is
possible to get trapped in a situation where certain previous actions continue
to echo in the present and influence how dwelling with design takes place.
Sanna’s pair of sofas is a case in point (P 256). She presented them as the most
beautiful things that she owned. However, Sanna and Kalevi had covered the
sofas with green canvas because they had acquired a dog.
S: I just laughed that these sofas are really beautiful. When we were living
together just the two of us, without [the dog], we didn’t need anything
like these [covers]. I’ve been laughing about how, when we’re in
our 60’s, we can get rid of them, unless we also then have a dog, then
not even then. (Sanna & Kalevi 05 58-61)
In effect, Sanna was in a situation where her beautiful sofas would be covered
for roughly fifteen years because of their dog and, in any case, at least for several
years because their child would be at a hazardous age. Other interviewees
with small babies also told about the future changes that they were going to
make in the apartment because of kids. Here is Laura: