A Fresh Start: Blending Victorian and Chinese Decor
As you see above, I’ve been clearing out furniture that has been with me for years. Some of it served me well. Some of it simply took up space because it had always been there. Letting go isn’t always easy, but every piece that leaves makes room for something that better reflects who I am today instead of who I was twenty years ago.
For months I’ve been talking about downsizing, sorting, donating, and trying to decide what still belongs in my life. Today all of that planning finally became real. This morning, at 8:00 sharp, the workers arrived.
The old carpet is disappearing. The worn vinyl flooring is coming up. For the next four days, my house will be noisy, dusty, and probably a little chaotic.
And I couldn’t be happier.
I’m replacing all the carpet with Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. Practical? Absolutely. But this project is about much more than new floors.
As I write this, I’m getting ready to head to Nebraska Furniture Mart to shop for a new bed—and who knows what else may catch my eye. Shopping is much more fun when you aren’t trying to fill a house. Instead, you’re carefully choosing the few pieces that will create the home you really want.
I’ve realized I’m not simply redecorating. I’m creating a home that reflects my interests.
But there has been a cost.
This transformation has required an enormous amount of physical and mental energy. Decisions, contractors, shopping, sorting through decades of possessions, and simply living in the middle of construction have left less time and energy for the SCA than I would have liked.
If you’ve wondered why Jehanne has seemed a little quieter lately, this is why.
The irony isn’t lost on me. Much of what I’m creating is inspired by the same love of history that drew me into the Society in the first place. My future home will reflect my fascination with both Victorian aesthetics and Ming China. In a way, this remodeling isn’t pulling me away from the SCA—it is simply expressing those interests in a different form for a little while.
Soon enough, the dust will settle, the furniture will find its new homes, and I’ll be back to writing, researching, and creating with renewed enthusiasm.
The overall feeling will be Victorian, but with many Chinese accents woven throughout the rooms. That combination may sound unusual, but in many ways it mirrors my own life. One foot stands firmly in late medieval and Renaissance Europe through my SCA persona, Jehanne Bening. The other is happily exploring Ming China through Li Zhenyan. My home is becoming a place where both of those worlds can quietly coexist.
There’s another reason this project feels so important.
Many people move to begin a new chapter in life. I’m fortunate enough to begin one without changing my address. The walls are familiar. The neighborhood is familiar. But when this is finished, I’ll walk upstairs into what feels like an entirely different home.
It’s amazing how changing your surroundings can also change your outlook.
For now, though, I’ll enjoy watching skilled craftsmen transform bare subfloors into something beautiful—one plank at a time.
The next few days should be interesting.
