By Juan C. Ayllon For many, coming out of a long, cold winter's thaw, springtime is a great time to spruce things up and make some fresh, new changes. And, for our household, we're no different. Last year, we shoveled truckloads of river rock around several sides of our home, repainted our deck and replaced our living room furniture, and now, in our ongoing efforts to make our home more comfy, Belle and I are redecorating and simplifying our family room (which serves as our listening and media space) in search of a cleaner, more modern aesthetic. Some of the changes include:
like the acoustic absorption panel that I place over the fireplace's screen during serious sessions, it will also normally be tucked away. The overhanging shelf, which was introduced last to keep the turntable and tube DAC (now sold) out of reach from my toddler grandson appears to be overkill, as he's settled down a bit and rarely comes down to the family room during visits. Having the loveseat in place of the large couch at the rear reduces the dampening and visually opens up the rear of the room, allows more natural light, and gives us a better view of the backyard when the curtains are pulled open. We still need to sell the Thomasville couch set, which is still very nice. Originally quite expensive, it's of high quality; though roughly 20 years old, it has great bones and is in great shape in part due to our reconditioning it several years back (you can read about that HERE). Unfortunately, it's just too big for our sensibilities (and when I say OUR, I mean mostly Belle, however, I'm in agreement!). So, having recently celebrated my 60th birthday and now on spring break (I'm a full time educator), while Belle's at work, I am doing a little spring cleaning, reorganizing and preparing for the new season. Come, join the fun! Freshen up and reinvigorate your listening space, and you just might be surprised at the results. What may have become a little stale with time may take on a new luster and aural pleasure. Overwhelmed? Just start small and build from there. In time, you may find a renew sense of pride and pleasure in your spruced-up environs. Here's to new beginnings!
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
May 2024
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